When was it published?

October 13, 1758 in The New Hampshire Gazette

Foreign News October 13, 1758

The New Hampshire Gazette

Q: What keywords are associated?

French Navy, Ship Loss, Crew Desertion, Toulon Sailors, Raisonable Captured, Naval Battle

Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire

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What is this article about?

Report on French naval losses: Du Quesne blames crew desertion for ship damage in battle; De Clue notes desertions before engaging English at Cartagena, returning to Toulon understrength. Toulon sailors, often Italian, deemed inferior to brave Brest Frenchmen, yet Raisonable lost to equal English ship.

Clipping

OCR Quality

95% Excellent

Full Text

LONDON, July 7. In the Relation sent by M. du Quesne to his court of the loss of his Ship, he throws the fault upon his men, who, on seeing their main and mizen masts carried away by the first broadsides of the enemy, ran from their quarters, and could not be brought back. M. de Clue, on the other hand, says, that when he was going to sail from Carthagena, to fight the English, many of the men belonging to his ships deserted, or hid themselves; so that he did not bring back half the men to Toulon that he carried out. It has been often remarked, that the soldiers belonging to the department of Toulon are much worse than those belonging to the department of Brest. Many of them are Italians, Genoese, and Neapolitans, who in the day of battle, not being animated by zeal for the glory and safety of their country, seldom exert themselves. But those of Brest are true Frenchmen and brave seamen: nevertheless we have lost the Raisonable (our correspondent adds) manned by these men, and commanded by a gallant captain who struck to a ship of equal force.

What sub-type of article is it?

Naval Affairs War Report

What keywords are associated?

French Navy Ship Loss Crew Desertion Toulon Sailors Raisonable Captured Naval Battle

What entities or persons were involved?

M. Du Quesne M. De Clue

Where did it happen?

Toulon

Foreign News Details

Primary Location

Toulon

Key Persons

M. Du Quesne M. De Clue

Outcome

loss of the raisonable to a ship of equal force; main and mizen masts carried away; many desertions from ships at cartagena, returning to toulon with half the men.

Event Details

In the Relation sent by M. du Quesne to his court of the loss of his Ship, he throws the fault upon his men, who, on seeing their main and mizen masts carried away by the first broadsides of the enemy, ran from their quarters, and could not be brought back. M. de Clue, on the other hand, says, that when he was going to sail from Carthagena, to fight the English, many of the men belonging to his ships deserted, or hid themselves; so that he did not bring back half the men to Toulon that he carried out. It has been often remarked, that the soldiers belonging to the department of Toulon are much worse than those belonging to the department of Brest. Many of them are Italians, Genoese, and Neapolitans, who in the day of battle, not being animated by zeal for the glory and safety of their country, seldom exert themselves. But those of Brest are true Frenchmen and brave seamen: nevertheless we have lost the Raisonable (our correspondent adds) manned by these men, and commanded by a gallant captain who struck to a ship of equal force.