Even then only ten ships were ordered to the Mediterranean, incompletely manned and without hospital or fire ships. The command was given to Admiral John Byng, fourth son of Lord Torrington, who had served under his father on board the _Superbe_ at the defeat of the Spanish fleet off Cape Passaro. Byng sailed from Spithead on April 7, 1756, arriving at Gibraltar on May 2. Here he found the _Louisa_, Captain Edgcombe, who reported that he had been driven from Minorca by a French fleet of thirteen sail of the line, commanded by Admiral Galissonière, who had landed the Duc de Richelieu on the island with fifteen thousand men. Byng demanded a battalion of infantry from General Fowke, the Governor of Gibraltar, to reinforce the Minorca garrison. After consulting a council of war, this demand was refused by the Governor. There was one regiment, commanded by Lord Robert Bertie, in the fleet, and about thirty officers who had been on leave, including General Stuart, Lord Effingham, and Colonel Cornwallis, coming out to rejoin their regiments at Minorca. While Byng was on his way, General Blakeney, the Governor of the island, was besieged by the Due de Richelieu in the castle of San Felipe. Byng sailed on May 8, and was off Majorca on the 10th, where he was joined by the _Phœnix_ (Captain Hervey), who confirmed the news brought by Captain Edgcomb to Gibraltar. Byng’s fleet consisted of the-- _Ramillies_ (90) _Kingston_ (60) _Culloden_ (74) _Defiance_ (60) _Buckingham_ (68) _Louisa_ (56) _Lancaster_ (66) _Portland_ (48) _Trident_ (64) _Deptford_ (48) _Intrepid_ (64) _Chesterfield_ (40) _Captain_ (64) _Phœnix_ (22) _Revenge_ (64) _Dolphin_ (22) _Experiment_ (22) On the 19th the British fleet was off Port Mahon. Byng saw the Union Jack still flying on the castle of San Felipe, but several French batteries were bombarding the walls. His orders were to save Minorca at all hazards. These orders were positive and explicit, and it was his duty to carry them out at whatever sacrifice. The sight of General Blakeney still holding out and hoping for relief would have aroused the ardour of most men. The French fleet came in sight, and Byng stood towards it, making the signal for line of battle ahead at 2 P.M. The French, being about two leagues distant, tacked to gain the weather-gage, and Byng did the same. Next morning was the 20th. It was hazy in the forenoon, but at noon it cleared, and Byng made a signal to bear away two points from the wind and engage the enemy.