Estaing

Charles Hector, Comte d@’, a French army and navy officer; born in 1729. In 1763 he was ap: pointed Lieutenant-General, and ir 1777 vice-admiral in the French navy. In 1778, in accordance with the treaty between France and the Unitec States, France fitted out a fleet of 12 ships of the line and 4 frigates tc aid the latter in the struggle against Great Britain, and Hstaing was placec in command. He sailed April 13 reached Delaware Bay in July, and then procéeded to New York, expecting to encounter the British fleet on_ the way. He captured some prizes off the coast of New Jersey, agreed to as: sist in a land and sea attack on New: port to expel the British from Rhode Island; reached the harbor late ir July; and hearing of the approach of a fleet, put to sea to meet it, He was overtaken by a severe storm, which caused him to put into Boston fot repairs, and the projected attack failed.