ABLE DEFENCE AND RETREAT FROM GREATLY SUPERIOR FORCE, OF ADMIRAL THE HON. W. CORNWALLIS.-JUNE 16, 1795.

From the time of the volunteer Xenophon downwards, without particularizing those who have so commanded with success, we may venture to say that the skill requisite to withdraw the weaker force from a superior has been held in the highest estimation. In fact, excluded from the various consolations that offer themselves to the course of victory, with equal prowess to the proudest conqueror, he who he who preserves his forces amid the various difficulties that every where present themselves in retiring from a proximate enemy, more powerful from numbers, means or locality, calls into action all the human powers of every class and of every state. The term active cunctation, though it reaches not the true dignity of this species of service, seems nearer to the description of it than the general term retreat, though rendered

respectable by the great names which accompany it.

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How admirable, then, is the spirit which so judiciously produced the honors of the present occasion. Accustomed only to "sink, burn, and destroy, as per margin," " with but rarely that necessity to decline combat, which so often occurs in operations by land; liable even to juridical enquiry for the very perils of the waters and terrors of the storm! it was most sensible in His Majesty's ministers to seize the opportunity for affording the lesson of this peculiar praise.

Deeply is it to be regretted that we are for the present denied the pleasure of recording the terms in which the appreciation of Parliament was conveyed. Those of the distinguished veteran are however inserted from the journals.

The pithy contents of a despatch attributed to more than one old English Admiral, and more characteristical than the “Veni, vidi, vici” of Cæsar.

Royal Sovereign at Spithead, Dec. 19th, 1795.

My Lord,

I have had the honour of receiving your Lordship's letter, with the vote of thanks of the House of Lords upon the conduct of a squadron of His Majesty's ships under my orders, when in the presence of a French fleet, on the 16th and 17th days of June last.

I beg leave to assure your Lordship, that I most sensibly feel the very high honour conferred upon me by the vote of the House of Lords; but I cannot, my Lord, take merit to myself upon the occasion; it was the undaunted spirit of the captains, officers, and men of every description on board those ships, whose firm countenance, it appeared, was sufficient to deter the enemy. I will not fail to communicate to them, the distinguished and honourable manner which it has pleased the House of Lords to reward their good services.

Permit me, my Lord, at the same time to express my sense of the very obliging manner in which your Lordship (zealous

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whenever the honour and interest of the country is in the smallest degree concerned) has been pleased to convey the thanks of the House of Lords to me.

I have the honour to be, with the highest respect, my Lord, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant,

W. CORNWALLIS.

Martis 2 die Februarii, 1796.

Royal Sovereign at Spithead, Dec. 30th, 1795.
Sir,

I had the honour of receiving your letter, with the thanks of the House of Commons upon the conduct of a squadron of his Majesty's ships under my orders, on the 16th and 17th days of June last.

I feel, Sir, most sensibly, the very high honour conferred upon me by this vote.

To have in any degree obtained the favourable opinion of the House of Commons, was indeed far beyond any thing I could have aspired to.

It was the undaunted spirit of the Captains, officers, and men of every description

on board of those ships, which deterred the enemy from making a more vigorous attack I will not fail to communicate to them the distinguished and honorable manner which it has pleased the House of Commons to reward their good services.

Permit me, Sir, to add, that I am deeply impressed with the very obliging manner in which you have been pleased to convey the vote of thanks.

I have the honour to be with the greatest respect, Sir, your most obedient humble

servant,

The Right Hon.

W. CORNWALLIS.

The Speaker, &c. &c.

The Mars, it is but just to add, bore the first brunt of the enemy, till the Admiral bore up to her support; and with the Triumph being then sternmost, had in course the honours of the retreat, and were much exposed to the enemy's fire. Of the Triumph Admiral Cornwallis said from her firm