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Updated: June 4, 2025
We were now kept actively engaged, but my readers would not be interested were I to give a detailed account of the various incidents of the unfortunate expedition to Quiberon. After taking possession of two islands commanding the bay, we were despatched, in company with the Standard, sixty-four, to summon the Governor of Belle Isle to deliver up the island for the use of the French king.
When, at last, on November 20, 1759, Conflans came out of Brest and fought Hawke at Quiberon Bay, the French fleet was nearly destroyed, and the dream of taking London ended in complete disaster. Though Quebec was in their hands, the position of the British during the winter of 1759-60 was dangerous.
In the Channel and Bay of Biscay, the first year of war passed quietly. Lord Howe, commanding the British Channel fleet, had behind him a long, fine record as a disciplinarian and tactician; he had fought with Hawke at Quiberon Bay, protected New York and Rhode Island against d'Estaing in 1778, and later thrown relief into Gibraltar in the face of superior force.
This detachment of the Channel fleet, which was destined to protect the ill-fated expedition to Quiberon Bay, under Sir J.B. Warren, continued for some time on the coast; but the Orion, being one of the ships which had suffered most, was ordered to Portsmouth. On his arrival, Sir James wrote the following letter to his brother Richard. Orion, off St. Helens, 12th July 1795.
Here, this is what you must say: 'He took upon himself, in a book recently published, the responsibility for all the blunders of the expedition to Quiberon, thus proving the nature of his loyalty, which did not shrink from any sacrifice. That's clever and witty, and exalts La Billardiere." Du Bruel. "At whose expense?" Du Bruel. "No.
As Conflans, leading his fleet, was rounding the Cardinals, as the southernmost rocks at the entrance of Quiberon Bay are called, the leading English ships brought the French rear to action.
The first, whom you must have heard of as 'Le Grand Jacques, is the Comte de Fontain; the other is La Billardiere, whom I mentioned to you just now." "Have you forgotten Quiberon, where La Billardiere played so equivocal a part?" she said, struck by a sudden recollection. "La Billardiere took a great deal upon himself. Serving princes is far from lying on a bed of roses."
Six were wholly lost to their navy; the seven that got into Vilaine only escaped to Brest by twos, two years later, while the Rochefort division was effectually blocked by occupying Basque Roads, the islands of which and of Quiberon were cultivated as kitchen gardens for the refreshment of British crews.
Hanover was saved by the memorable victory on the Weser, and England was spared the humiliation and perils of an invasion by the destruction of a French fleet by Admiral Hawke in Quiberon Bay.
Was he to do justice to those royalist soldiers, mutilated in the fields of Germany, La Vendee, and Quiberon, arrayed under the white standard of the Bourbons, in the firm belief that they were serving the cause of their king against a usurping tyranny; or to the million of citizens, who, forming around the frontiers a wall of brass, had so often saved their country from the inveterate hostility of its enemies, and had borne to so transcendent a height the glory of the French eagle?
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