THE NAVAL WAR IN EUROPEAN WATERS, 1779.

ALLIED FLEETS INVADE THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.

RODNEY DESTROYS TWO SPANISH SQUADRONS AND RELIEVES GIBRALTAR Spain declares War against Great Britain 116 Delays in Junction of French and Spanish Fleets 116 They enter the Channel.

Alarm in England 117 Plans of the French Government 118 Their Change and Failure.

The Allied Fleets return to Brest 119 Criticism of the British Ministry 120 Divergent views of France and Spain 120 Prominence given to Gibraltar, and the resulting Effect upon the general War 121 Exhaustion of Supplies at Gibraltar 121 Rodney with the Channel Fleet Sails for its Relief, with ultimate Destination to Leeward Islands Command 121 He Captures a large Spanish Convoy 122 And Destroys a Second Spanish Squadron of Eleven Sail-of-the-Line 123 Distinction of this Engagement 124 Gibraltar and Minorca Relieved 125 Rodney proceeds to the West Indies 126 The Channel Fleet returns to England 126.