Admiral (afterwards Lord) Graves having requested leave to return to England in 1782, was appointed by Lord Rodney to command the convoy sent home with a numerous fleet of merchantmen from the West Indies in the month of July. He accordingly hoisted the flag on board the _Ramilies_, of seventy-four guns, and sailed on the 25th from Bluefields, having under his orders the _Canada_ and _Centaur_, of seventy-four guns each, with the _Pallas_ frigate of thirty-six guns, and the following French ships taken by Lord Rodney and Sir Samuel Hood, out of the armament commanded by the Count de Grasse, viz., the _Ville de Paris_, of one hundred and ten guns; the _Glorieux_ and _Hector_, of seventy-four guns each; the _Ardent_, _Caton_, and _Jason_, of sixty-four guns each. These were originally British ships and had been in so many actions and so long absent from England, as to have become extremely out of condition, while that of the prizes was still more deplorable; and the following authentic account of the various disasters which attended this distressed convoy will be found equally melancholy and interesting. Soon after the fleet had sailed, the officers of the _Ardent_ united in signing such a representation of her miserable plight as induced Admiral Graves to order her back to Port Royal; and the _Jason_ by not putting to sea with the convoy, from the want of water, never joined him at all. The rest proceeded, and after the vessels that were bound for New York had separated, the whole convoy was reduced to ninety-two or three sail. On September 8th, the _Caton_ springing a leak, made such alarming complaints, that the admiral directed her and the _Pallas_, which had also become leaky, to bear away immediately and keep company together, making for Halifax, which then bore north-north-west and was about eighty-seven leagues distant. The afternoon of September 16th, showing indications of a gale and foul weather from the south-east quarter, every preparation was made on board the flag ship for such an event, not only on account of her own safety, but also by way of example to the rest of the fleet. The admiral collected the ships about six o'clock, and brought to under his main sail on the larboard tack, having all his other sails furled, and his top-gallant yards and masts lowered down.