. ▁The ▁victory ▁was ▁seen ▁in ▁Britain ▁as ▁a ▁for esh adow ing ▁of ▁the ▁likely ▁fate ▁of ▁an ▁attempted ▁invasion ▁and ▁helped ▁ease ▁British ▁fear s ▁about ▁the ▁threat ▁of ▁a ▁French ▁am ph ib ious ▁attack . ▁Near ly ▁five ▁dec ades ▁later ▁the ▁Admir alty ▁issued ▁the ▁Naval ▁General ▁Service ▁Medal ▁with ▁cl asp ▁" Is les ▁St . ▁Marc ou " ▁upon ▁application ▁to ▁all ▁British ▁participants ▁then ▁still ▁living . ▁ ▁The ▁British ▁strength ened ▁the ▁islands ' ▁def ences , ▁in ▁case ▁of ▁further ▁attacks , ▁and ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁war ships ▁pat rolled ▁the ▁area ▁to ▁observe ▁French ▁movements ▁and ▁intercept ▁any ▁fl ot illas ▁of ▁invasion ▁craft . ▁At ▁the ▁Action ▁of ▁ 3 0 ▁May ▁ 1 7 9 8 , ▁this ▁strategy ▁achieved ▁an ▁unexpected ▁success ▁when ▁HMS ▁H yd ra ▁intercept ed ▁the ▁French ▁fr ig ate ▁Conf iante ▁and ▁a ▁cor v ette ▁ ▁off ▁the ▁mouth ▁of ▁the ▁River ▁D ives . ▁The ▁British ▁drove ▁Conf iante ▁ash ore ▁and ▁board ing ▁parties ▁later ▁bur nt ▁her . ▁The ▁islands ▁remained ▁under ▁British ▁occupation ▁without ▁any ▁further ▁French ▁attacks ▁until ▁ 1 8 0 2 . ▁The ▁Peace ▁of ▁Am iens ▁returned ▁the ▁islands ▁to ▁French ▁control ; ▁throughout ▁the ▁Napole onic ▁Wars ▁of ▁ 1 8 0 3 – 1 8 1 5 ▁they ▁remained ▁French , ▁protected ▁by ▁a ▁significant ▁g arrison . ▁ ▁Notes ▁ ▁References ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁ ▁La ws , ▁L t . ▁Col . ▁M .