But for him the gale would not have saved the British force in Newport.[132] D'Estaing, having repaired his ships, sailed with his whole force for Martinique on the 4th of November; on the same day Commodore Hotham left New York for Barbadoes, with five sixty-four and fifty-gun ships and a convoy of five thousand troops, destined for the conquest of Sta.

Lucia Island.

On the way a heavy gale of wind injured the French fleet more than the English, the French flag-ship losing her main and mizzen topmasts.

The loss of these spars, and the fact that twelve unencumbered ships-of-war reached Martinique only one day before the convoy of fifty-nine English transports reached Barbadoes, a hundred miles farther on, tells badly for the professional skill which then and now is a determining feature in naval war.
Admiral Barrington, commanding at Barbadoes, showed the same energy as Howe.

The transports arrived on the 10th; the troops were kept on board; sailed on the morning of the 12th for Sta.