Sir _Philip Carteret_, Mr. _Herbert_, Mr. _Cotterel_, Mr. _Peyton_, Mr. _Gose_, with several other Gentlemen unknown to me, lost their Lives with the Earl of _Sandwich_, on board the _Royal James_; Mr. _Vaughan_, on board the _Katherine_, commanded by Sir _John Chicheley_. In this Engagement, Sir _George Rook_ was youngest Lieutenant to Sir _Edward Sprage_; Mr. _Russel_, afterwards Earl of _Orford_, was Captain of a small Fifth Rate, called the _Phnix_; Mr. _Herbert_, afterwards Earl of _Torrington_, was Captain of a small Fourth Rate, called the _Monck_; Sir _Harry Dutton Colt_, who was on board the _Victory_, commanded by the Earl of _Offery_, is the only Man now living that I can remember was in this Engagement. * * * * * But to proceed, the _Dutch_ had one Man of War sunk, though so near the Shore, that I saw some part of her Main Mast remain above Water, with their Admiral _Van Ghent_, who was slain in the close Engagement with the Earl of _Sandwich_. This Engagement lasted fourteen Hours, and was look'd upon the greatest that ever was fought between the _English_ and the _Hollander_. I cannot here omit one Thing, which to some may seem trifling; though I am apt to think our Naturalists may have a different Opinion of it, and find it afford their Fansies no undiverting Employment in more curious, and less perilous Reflections. We had on board the _London_ where, as I have said, I was a Voluntier, a great Number of Pidgeons, of which our Commander was very fond. These, on the first firing of our Cannon, dispers'd, and flew away, and were seen no where near us during the Fight. The next Day it blew a brisk Gale, and drove our Fleet some Leagues to the Southward of the Place where they forsook our Ship, yet the Day after they all returned safe aboard; not in one Flock, but in small Parties of four or five at a Time. Some Persons at that Time aboard the Ship admiring at the Manner of their Return, and speaking of it with some Surprize, Sir _Edward Sprage_ told them, That he brought those Pidgeons with him from the _Streights_; and that when, pursuant to his Order, he left the _Revenge_ Man of War, to go aboard the _London_, all those Pidgeons, of their own accord, and without the Trouble or Care of carrying, left the _Revenge_ likewise, and removed with the Sailors on board the _London_, where I saw them; All which many of the Sailors afterwards confirm'd to me. What Sort of Instinct this could proceed from, I leave to the Curious.