Excerpt from A Short Account of the Naval Actions of the Last War: In Order to Prove That the French Nation Never Gave Such Slender Proofs of Maritime Greatness as During That Period
IN order to difpel a notion extremely prejudicial to the honour of this country, that the French have not only equalled, but furpafi'ed us as a maritime nation, whether in maneuvering, failing, or fight ing a fleet, I have taken up the pen. The idea has no doubt been zealoufly pro pagated by our indufirious natural enemies, who well know, that if fuch an opinion were once generally embraced, it would produce the very eff'ec'ts they wifh to flow from it. Permit the French to have the reputa'i'ion of'fuperior genius, courage, and abilities, and you immediately damp the fpirits of our officers and feamen; who, in that cafe, would not plough the ocean.
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