This should have been stopped on its way, or, failing that, its arrival in America should have been preceded by a British reinforcement.

As it was, the government was saved from a tremendous disaster only by the efficiency of its Admiral and the inefficiency of his antagonist.

As is not too uncommon, gratitude was swamped by the instinct of self-preservation from the national wrath, excited by this, and by other simultaneous evidences of neglect.

An attempt was made to disparage Howe's conduct, and to prove that his force was even superior to that of the French, by adding together the guns in all his ships, disregarding their classes, or by combining groups of his small vessels against d'Estaing's larger units.

The instrument of the attack was a naval officer, of some rank but slender professional credit, who at this most opportune moment underwent a political conversion, which earned him employment on the one hand, and the charge of apostasy on the other.