Admirals, with all the officers and men engaged in the action in which the late victory was gained over the French Fleet." The thanks to all the officers to be transmitted by Lord Howe himself; and the thanks to Lord Howe himself to be transmitted by the Lord Chancellor. Lord Grenville added to his motion the following simple eulogy; "that for prudence and wisdom of design, skill and courage in execution, and for the glory of the British character, it was an action which had never been surpassed even in the history of the British Navy." The motion was received in this house, of which the Earl was a member, with the most particular eulogia. The Duke of Grafton took a fine retrospect of the noble Earl's life, which need be no further noticed, since these pages will be followed by a short reference to biographical facts. The Duke of Bedford attributed to this triumph the creation of a wish in the French for peace. The Earl of Lauderdale shewed the constitutional character of our Navy, from the public feeling, since while coldness attended the occurrence of success by land, when the news of the victory of our grand fleet arrived, every heart beat with rapture, and every countenance sparkled with joy! Lord Sydney agreed in all the principles of all the speakers, but conceived that all intimated the propriety of fighting the enemy by sea and land; and that following up this example of one of the greatest men that ever lived, was the mean through which to hope for a glorious peace. The Duke of Clarence wound up the whole by congratulating the country that this great victory proved-that the country had still as great superiority as ever at sea, and that it is not to be conquered by France! The thanks passed both Houses of Parliament unanimously. These being communicated to Earl Howe, by the Lord Chancellor Loughborough, and the Right Honourable Henry Addington from their respective houses, the following answers were returned and entered on the journals of parliament. (JOURNALS OF THE LORDS-Veneris 20 die Junii, 1794.) The Queen Charlotte at Spithead, 18th June, 1794. Acknowledging my obligations in respect of the very flattering terms in which your lordship has been pleased to make known to me the highly esteemed honour conferred upon me by the unanimous resolution of thanks of the House of Lords, signified in your letter of the 14th instant, I am to intreat that you will have the farther goodness to assure their lordships of the deep impression I shall ever retain of their condescending notice. The merit I would assume on this occasion consists in my good fortune, in as much as I held the chief command, when so many resolute principal and subordinate officers, as well as brave men serving under their orders, were employed at that time in the fleet; and I must add, that if there is cause for triumph in the late defeat of the enemy at sea, it is truly the triumph of the British sailors, whose animated and persevering courage, I believe, in no instance has been exceeded. I shall therefore have a great increase of happiness in obeying the commands of the House of Lords, by communicating to those several descriptions of persons the sense their lordships have deigned to express of their good conduct. I have the honour to remain, with the greatest respect, my lord, your lordship's most obedient humble servant, HOWE. The Right Hon. the Lord Chancellor. (JOURNALS OF THE COMMONS. Luna The Queen Charlotte at Spithead, 21st June, 1794. Favoured with your letter of the 17th, and the communication of the resolutions of the House of Commons on the happy event of the late actions between His Majesty's ships under my command, and the Brest fleet, I am to request you will have the goodness to assure the house of the most sensible impression I shall ever retain of the honour thereby conferred upon me from which conviction, that earnest endeavours may thus, in the indulgent sentiments of the house, obtain the applause due to eminent services, great encouragement will naturally result for exciting future Naval commanders to merit such testimonies of approbation. The appointment of the house to make those resolutions known which regard the commendable exertions of the Admirals, Captains, inferior officers, seamen and soldiers of the fleet, will be conformed to without delay. I am further to intreat that you, Sir, will be pleased to accept of my very grateful thanks for the obliging terms in which you have signified those declarations of the house to me; and that you will be persuad |