File:West Indian tales of old (1915) (14781712385).jpg

Identifier: westindiantaleso00aspi (find matches)
Title: West Indian tales of old
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Aspinall, Algernon Edward, Sir, 1871-1952
Subjects: Legends -- West Indies, British West Indies, British -- History West Indies, British -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, Duckworth and Co
Contributing Library: Brown University Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brown University

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
ents for a contemplated descent onJamaica, Rodney proceeded without delay to St. Lucia,which he had long regarded as an ideal naval base.Indeed, it was in consequence of his representations thatthat island was captured from the French in 1778, whenCount dEstaing was defeated by a powerful body ofEnglish troops which were landed at Grand Cul deSac Bay. Near the northernmost point of St. Lucia there is aspacious bay over which a tiny island about a mile anda half long and barely three-quarters of a mile widestands sentinel. This island has two small hills; onthe lesser of these are the ruins of an old fort. Thebay is Gros Ilet Bay which sheltered the British fleetbefore the Battle of the Saints, and it was from the wallsof the old fort—known ever since as Fort Rodney—thatthe admiral watched with his glass the movements ofthe French vessels off Martinique ; and it was here thathe was kept informed by a chain of swift schooners ofthe offensive preparations which were being hurriedly84
Text Appearing After Image:
THE BATTLE OF THE SAINTS pressed forward in Fort Royal Bay some twenty-fivemiles away. De Grasse in his flagship, the Ville de Paris, was await-ing reinforcements which were daily expected to arrivefrom France. This Ville de Paris was what was thenconsidered a very magnificent vessel. Equipped withone hundred and ten guns, she had been presented bythe City of Paris to Louis XV. when the French navyhad been reduced to a state of decay at the close of thelast war. No pains or expense had been spared torender this noble ship worthy of the great city and ofthe monarch to whom she was presented. She is indeedsaid to have cost no less than £176,000 to build and fitout for sea, an immense sum of money to spend on aship in those days. On board she carried no fewer than1300 men, while the French fleet as a whole bore anentire train of artillery, with battering cannon andtravelling carriages, intended for the attack on Jamaica. De Grasses intention had been to sail for San Domingoand to join f

Note About Images