The Virginia Gazette

BOSTON, May 18.

The publick have seen the polite letter of Admiral Parker to the French Admiral, de la Mothe Piquet, but no particular account has yet been published.
Lately of the action in Fort Royal bay, between these Admirals to which that letter refers, in which the British commander generously pays an eulogium to his adversary. The following is taken from the Gazette de France, of the 8th of February.

The Sieur de Flotte, Commander of the King's frigate the Aurora, who left Martinique the 28th of December, arrived at Cadiz the 22d of January last, and immediately sent his despatches to our Court.

The Aurora sailed from Marseilles the month of October, having under her convoy 26 sail of merchant ships, destined to the windward islands. As the Sieur de Flotte approached Martinique on the 15th of December, about nine o'clock in the morning, he discovered the British fleet and counted 14 sail of the line: They were however so far distant that he hoped his convoy might have entered the port of Fort Royal before the enemy could have come up to interrupt them. Unluckily, the wind died away by degrees, while his enemy had a brisk breeze. The Elizabeth of 74 guns, and an English frigate came up near the Aurora, which fired her stern guns, to protect the convoy, principally from the frigate which endeavoured to pass the Aurora. Some balls from the Elizabeth wounded her sails and rigging, but the Sieur de Flotte continued his course, though the wind was unfavourable for gaining Fort Royal.

About nine o'clock in the morning signals were made along the coasts of Martinique, that a convoy of 26 sail was near, and that this convoy was pursued by 14 ships of the line, and a frigate of the enemy.

The Marquis de Bouille, Governor General of the colony, immediately gave the necessary orders that the batteries on the coast should make ready for their reception.

At two o'clock, part of the convoy, with the Aurora, appeared in full view before Fort Royal, while the batteries on the coast kept up a fire on the van of the British squadron, with as much effect as the distance would allow. Immediately the Sieur de la Mothe Picquet, Commander in Chief of the King's naval forces at Martinique, made sail with the Annibal, of 74 guns, and was soon after followed by the Vengeur, of 64, commanded by the Chevalier de Reiz, and the Réfléchi, by the Sieur Clésart de Saville, the only ships that were at that time ready to come to sail and engage. The Sieur de la Mothe Picquet made directly for the convoy, in hopes of saving part of it. With his single ship he fought three of the enemy's ships of the line that had cut off the convoy: He disengaged the frigate Aurora, and with her eight merchant ships which must infallibly have been taken but for this manoeuvre, as bold as it was well executed. The two other French ships of the line were not backward in coming to the assistance of the Annibal: They maintained a severe fight against seven of the enemy's line of battle ships, in the great road of Fort Royal, between the batteries, which kept up a constant fire, but at a great distance, the English being afraid to venture too far into the road, or to approach too near the batteries.

Night coming on, the Sieur de la Mothe Picquet, finding there was no possibility of saving the rest of the convoy, the enemy having already boarded them, and that the vessels he had disengaged were safe in the harbour, he returned to Fort Royal with his three ships, and the English put out to sea.

Eight ships of this convoy were drove ashore on the coast; four of these were defended by the batteries against the fire of the English ships, one of which was damaged; the other four that took refuge in small creeks were burnt by the enemy, but their cargoes were saved. The English having landed part of their force to take these cargoes, were repulsed with loss, several times, by the troops of the King and the militia. It is computed the enemy lost about 60 killed in their boats in these attempts. Of 26 vessels which made up the convoy, 12 were saved, 4 others were burnt after their cargoes had been taken out, 10 fell into the hands of the enemy. The Sieur de Sartine, Minister and Secretary of State in the marine department, having given his Majesty an account of these fresh proofs of the bravery and abilities of de la Mothe Picquet, his Majesty was pleased to name him a Commander of the Order of St. Louis; and as he cannot be formally invested by his Majesty with this dignity till his return, he is in the mean time permitted to wear the decorations proper to it.