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Updated: July 17, 2025
D'Orvilliers explained that he wished to pass along the enemy's fleet from end to end, to leeward, because in its disordered state there was a fair promise of advantage, and by going to leeward presenting his weather side to the enemy he could use the weather lower-deck guns, whereas, in the then state of the sea, the lee lower ports could not be opened.
I assume that then, either by the engagement I shall have fought with the enemy, or by their retreat into their ports, I shall be certain of their situation and of the success of the operation." It will be observed that d'Orvilliers, accounted then and now one of the best officers of his day in the French navy, takes here into full account the British "fleet in being."
"If I give that up, we shall have a war with the Iroquois that will shake New France as she has never been shaken before." D'Orvilliers started to speak, but checked the words. Menard slung his musket behind his shoulders. "Wait, Menard. I don't know what to say. I must have time to think. If you wish, I will not give notice of your arrival to the Governor.
Keppel was to leeward and wished to force an action; in order to do this he signalled a general chase to windward, so that his fastest ships might overtake the slower ones of the enemy. Granting equal original fleet-speed, this was quite correct. D'Orvilliers, to windward, had no intention of fighting except on his own terms.
The original scheme of the French Ministry was to seize the Isle of Wight, securing Spithead as an anchorage for the fleet, and to prosecute their enterprise from this near and reasonably secure base. Referring to this first project, d'Orvilliers wrote: "We will seek the enemy at St.
And now we've driven the foe ashore, Never to fight with Britons more. Let each fill a glass To his favourite lass; A health to our captain and officers true, And all that belong to the jovial crew Of the gallant Arethusa. On the 23rd of June Admiral Keppel's fleet came in sight of that of the French under the command of the Comte D'Orvilliers.
Not to speak of the better condition of the French ships, Keppel, by running off the wind, had given his opponent full opportunity to reach his fleet and to attack. Instead of so doing, d'Orvilliers drew up under the British lee, out of range, and offered battle; a gallant defiance, but to a crippled foe. Time was thus given to the British to refit their ships sufficiently to bear down again.
"Then it rests with me." "What do you mean?" "I gave another pledge, d'Orvilliers. If the Governor won't do this I shall have to do it myself." Save for a moment's hesitation Menard's voice was cool and even; but he had stopped walking and was looking closely at the commandant. D'Orvilliers was gazing at the floor. "What do you mean by that?" he said slowly, and then suddenly he got up.
If d'Orvilliers had refused to carry out his orders and send them to Quebec, it would have cost him his commission." "And you, M'sieu?" "I was the only officer on detached service at the Fort. D'Orvilliers could not look me in the face when he ordered me to take them." "You will tell them this?" "This? Yes, and more. I will pledge the honour of New France that La Grange shall suffer.
He had been mortified by the necessity of avoiding action, and of even retiring into port, with the inadequate numbers before under his command, and his mind was fixed now to compel an engagement, if he met the French. The Brest fleet also put to sea, the day before Keppel, under the command of Admiral the Comte d'Orvilliers. It contained thirty-two ships of the line.
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