He had therefore made the best of his situation, and chosen the strongest position which he could possibly take in an open road.

The commissary of the fleet said they were moored in such a manner as to bid defiance to a force more than double their own.

This presumption could not then be thought unreasonable.

Admiral Barrington, when moored in a similar manner off St.Lucia, in the year 1778, beat off the Comte d'Estaign in three several attacks, though his force was inferior by almost one-third to that which assailed it.

Here, the advantage in numbers, both in ships, guns, and men, was in favour of the French.