He looked upon Grenada, they say, as the real objective of his efforts, and considered the English fleet a very secondary concern.

Ramatuelle, a naval tactician who served actively in this war and wrote under the Empire, cites this case, which he couples with that of Yorktown and others, as exemplifying the true policy of naval war.

His words, which probably reflect the current opinion of his service in that day, as they certainly do the policy of French governments, call for more than passing mention, as they involve principles worthy of most serious discussion:-- "The French navy has always preferred the glory of assuring or preserving a conquest to that, more brilliant perhaps, but actually less real, of taking a few ships; and in that it has approached more nearly the true end to be proposed in war.

What in fact would the loss of a few ships matter to the English?
The essential point is to attack them in their possessions, the immediate source of their commercial wealth and of their maritime power.

The war of 1778 furnishes examples which prove the devotion of the French admirals to the true interests of the country.