The year 1747 was remarkable for other naval successes; about the middle of June, COMMODORE FOX, with six ships of war, cruising in the latitude of Cape Ortegal, in Galicia, took about forty French ships, richly laden from St. Domingo, after they had been abandoned by their convoy. The fourteenth of October, 1747, was rendered memorable as another day of triumph for the British Navy. REAR-ADMIRAL EDWARD HAWKE sailed from Plymouth in the beginning of August, with fourteen ships of the line, with instructions to intercept a fleet of French merchant-ships bound for the West Indies: the British fleet cruised for some time on the coast of Bretagne, and the French ships sailed from the isle of Aix under convoy of nine ships of the line, besides frigates, commanded by M. de l’Etendiere. The two squadrons came in sight of each other in the latitude of Belle Isle. The battle commenced about eleven in the forenoon, and lasted until night, when all the French squadron, except two ships, the “Intrepide” and “Tonnant,” which escaped in the dark, had struck to the English flag. After despatching a sloop to Commodore Legge, commanding a squadron in the Leeward Islands, to take proper measures to intercept the French ships in the passage to Martinique, and other French islands, ADMIRAL HAWKE conducted his prizes to Spithead, and was rewarded with the Order of the Bath; and the thanks of a grateful country were rendered to all the officers, seamen, and Marines of the squadron. In the latter part of 1747, _Admiral Boscawen_ had sailed from England with a fleet of ships, and a number of Marines, and other forces, in order to reinforce the British fleet in the East Indies, with instructions to make an attack upon the _Island of Mauritius_, and subsequently to effect the conquest of _Pondicherry_, which was the chief object of the expedition. After having reconnoitred the coast of the Mauritius, it was ascertained that the powerful means of defence everywhere presented, and the dangers in many places of approaching the land, would involve a great sacrifice of men, and render success ultimately doubtful; the coming on of the autumnal monsoons had also an influence in the decision of a council, which was to relinquish the attempt, and to proceed without delay for the _Coast of Coromandel_, according to the prescribed plan of operations. [Sidenote: 1748]