On the twenty-sixth of July, lord Berkeley returned to St.Helen's, where he quitted the fleet, and the command devolved upon sir Cloudesley Shovel.
This officer having received instructions to make an attempt upon Dunkirk, sailed round to the Downs, where he was joined by M.Meesters, with six-and-twenty Dutch pilots.

On the twelfth of September he appeared before Dunkirk; and next day sent in the Charles galley, with two bomb-ketches, and as many of the machines called infernals.

These were set on fire without effect, and the design miscarried; then Shovel steered to Calais, which having bombarded with little success, he returned to the coast of England; and the bomb-ketches and machines were sent into the river Thames.
ADMIRAL RUSSEL RELIEVES BARCELONA.
During these transactions, admiral Russel with the grand fleet sailed for the Mediterranean; and being joined by rear-admiral Neville from Cadiz, together with Callemberg and Evertzen, he steered towards Barcelona, which was besieged by the French fleet and army.

At his approach, Tourville retired with precipitation into the harbour of Toulon; and Noailles abandoned his enterprise.

The Spanish affairs were in such a deplorable condition, that without this timely assistance the kingdom must have been undone.