universal Mourning expressed, in some Degree, the true Sense the People had of his Merit, and the Effects that had been derived to them from thence. Indeed, they had been inconsolable, but for the Hopes they had still left in Admiral _Pocock_. Hopes! that did not deceive them, and which have been productive of new Honours to the _British_ Flag. It was to the Attention of the Administration at Home, that the Company and the Subjects of _Great Britain_ in _India_ owed these potent and timely Succours; and, which was of no less Consequence, the prudent and happy Choice of the Officers who commanded them. The _French_, though deficient elsewhere, had a considerable Naval Force in the _Indies_, and were for this Reason very confident of their Success in that Part of the World; in which, perhaps, they had not been deceived, if, upon the Demise of Vice-Admiral _Watson_, the Command had devolved upon an Officer of less Merit, or even upon an Officer whose Merit had been less known or less established than that of Mr. _Pocock_. As it was, the Spirits of _British_ Subjects were not depressed, or those of the Enemy raised. They had already known and felt his Courage, and he made them very quickly sensible of the Extent of his Capacity. They saw him equally active and vigilant: Their Squadrons no sooner appeared, than they had his in View. He was the Guardian of all our Settlements, and the Bane of all their Armaments and Expeditions. His Sagacity defeated many of their Designs, his Dexterity and Dispatch disconcerted others, till, by his Victories, he ruined, not their Reputation only, but their Strength in _Asia_, as completely as other Admirals had done in _Europe_ and _America_. These are Facts indisputable; and, as they are connected with our Subject, we may take the Liberty of mentioning them, without giving Offence to that Gentleman, whose Modesty renders him as amiable, as his other Virtues have made him conspicuous. But to return to our Subject.