A train of success had elated De Grasse, who, with a mighty force, put to sea from Martinique on the 8th of April, in the certain confidence of adding Jamaica to his other conquests. The British Fleet soon followed him, and a partial affair took place on the 9th; when an opportunity was lost by the French, of making a serious impression on the English van, under Sir Samuel Hood, unsupported by the centre and rear, from a casual failure of wind, under the island of Dominique. Little hope of bringing the enemy to a decisive battle continued from that day, until the 11th, when a general chace was directed against two ships, whose recent damages had forced to leeward of their fleet, and exposed them to capture. Observing their danger, De Grasse, who might have weathered Guadaloupe, sacrificing that object, bore up to save them. The Zelé falling on board the Ville de Paris during the night, by which she lost her main-mast, was chaced in the morning by the Monarch, to support which ship the French Admiral hazarded all, with his united force. Captain Reynolds was then recalled to his station in the line, and the conflict began at seven, on the 12th of April. That glorious day, with its important consequences, at so critical a period of our history, must be recognized by the latest posterity. To particularize any belongs not to me on so great an occasion, where all were entitled to praise. The high talents of Sir Charles Douglas afforded his gallant superior much useful aid through the day. De Grasse being carried a captive to that island which he had but a little while ago viewed the certain spot of his triumphs as a conqueror, is an impressive example of the vicissitudes of fortune. He had the mortification to witness those grateful effusions of its natives, poured forth to their saviours, which, under different circumstances, would have been offered to him under the constrained forms of political adulation. In this long-contested action four Captains of Marines were wounded, but only two were named in the public dispatch--Bell and Bagg. Lieut. Mounier was killed, and the Subalterns Breedon, Buchan, Harris, and Laban were wounded. Respecting Lieut. Mounier, of the Torbay, I am led to notice the following anecdote, as having been narrated to me by Lieut. Collins of that ship. In the morning, after the two hostile fleets had formed the line and were approaching each other, Mounier, whose spirit in single combat had previously been fatally experienced by his antagonist, expressed a sensation of an immediate change in his destiny. Under this impression he requested Lieut. Collins to play a game at picquet to divert the time, until they opened fire. This they continued to do, when each went to his respective station. The sad presentiment was soon realized to poor Mounier, who was early in the battle cut in two, and the greater part of his remains were scattered on the sea.