CHAP. H.

Phcsbe and Africaine—Dreadful slaugliter on board the latter

—Speedy and Gamo—Conduct of Lord Cochrane—Capture

of the Speedy—Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez takes the

command off Cadiz—Attacks the squadron of Admiral Linois

in Algeziras-bay—Loss of the Hannibal—Particulars of that

action—Sir James retires to Gibraltar—Repairs his damages

—Wonderful exertions of British seamen—The French squa-

dron in Algeziras is joined by a Spanish squadron—The whole

sail—and are pursued by Sir James, who attacks them—The

Superb takes the San Antonio—The Hermenegildo and Real

Carlos are burnt—The Caesar and Venerable continue the

chase of the enemy—The Venerable brings the Formidable

to action, bat grounding on the shoals of Conil, is dismasted,

and the enemy escapes—Noble conduct of Captain Samuel

Hood—Thanks of Parliament—Speech of Earl St. Vincent,

and of his Royal Highness the Duke of Clarence—Official

letters—Captain Halsted, with a squadron of frigates, re-

takes the Success — Captain Cockburu, in the Minerve,

chases the Bravoure and destroys her—Attack on the island

of Elba Page 28

CHAP. III.

Treaty of El Arisch—Rejected by Lord Keith—Answer of Kleber

—Observations—Letter of Sir S. Smith to Poussielgue—Of

Lord Keith to Kleber—Death of the latter—Forces destined

for the invasion of Egypt—Assemble in Tetuan-bay—Pro-

ceed to Minorca and Malta—Sail for Marmorice-bay—

Sail thence and arrive in Aboukir-bay—List of regiments

and officers under command of Sir R. Abercrombie—Daring

enterprise—Escape of the RegenerGe—Landing of the British

army effected—Severe action and loss of our troops —Battle

of the 13th and 21st of March—Death of Sir R. Abercrombie

—Surrender of Aboukir castle—The English cut the canal
of Alexandria, and render the lake Mareotis navigable—Junc-

tion of Turkish forces—Allies advance with British gun-boats

to Rosetta—Naval force in the Mediterranean—The surren-

der of Rhamanie—Capitulation of Cairo—Rear-admiral Blan-

ket in the Red Sea—Indian army arrives at Suez, under

General Baird, and ships of war with troops from England

enter the Red Sea—Danger and disasters in that navigation

—Disappointment of Menou on the surrender of Belliard—

History of Gantheaume's expedition to relieve Egypt—He is

unsuccessful, but captures the Swiftsure, and returns to Tou-

lon—The Iphigenia burnt—Reinforcements arrive from Eng-

land— Belliard's army embarked, and siege of Alexandria

commenced— General Coote lands on the west side of the

city—Surrender of Marabout—English ships enter the har-

bour—Capitulation of Alexandria—Observations — Official

letters Page 53

CHAP. IV.

King's speech on meeting of parliament—Treaties of peace with

Russia—Definition of articles contraband of war unsatisfactory

—Of blockaded ports—Of stopping neutrals—Of the right of

search admitted ; but still abounding with difficulties—Heavy

responsibility of the captors—Ship of war with convoy not

to resist by force the right of search, or detention of their

convoy—National flag proved by the captain and one half

the crew, and papers—Indemnification for illegal detention—

Treaty with France—All foreign settlements to be restored

by us, except Trinidad and Ceylon—Cape to be a free port

—Malta to be evacuated by British troops, and restored to

the Knights of Jerusalem—French to evacuate Naples and

Roman territory—Republic of Seven Islands acknowledged—

Private claims—Fisheries—Fortifications—Debates on the

above in parliament—Remarks of Lord Grenville, Duke of

Clarence, Lord Pelham, Earl of Moira, Lord Nelson —

House of Commons—Lord Hawkesbury—Treaties between

France, Austria, Naples, Spain, Portugal, Algiers, and the
Porte—Foreboding calm—St. Domingo—Prussians in Hano-

ver—Turkish empire—Paswan Oglou—Seven Islands—East

Indies—State of Europe, as described by Thebadeau—Re-

marks on the peace—Lord Grenville's speech on treaty with

Russia and neutral trade — Observations — Dissolution of

armed neutrality—Remarks on privateers Page 04

CHAP. V.

Improvement of the British navy in civil and executive depart-

ments—Iron cables—Tanks—Truscott pumps—Breakwater

—Dry rot, how counteracted—Instances of Queen Charlotte

and Eden—Cleanliness of ships conducive to their preserva-

tion—List of ships built in foreign yards, and of foreign timber

in British yards—Sir Robert Seppings's improvements in con-

struction—Round sterns—Diagonal frames—List and dimen-

sions of improved ships—Mr. Bill's iron mast—Sir Robert

Seppings's wooden mast—Statement of merchant-shipping,

and seamen—Marine society—Seamen's hospital—On the

greet improvement in signals—Land and sea telegraphs—Ob-

servations on the marine and commerce of Europe—Naval

inquiry—Opposition to it—Its object is carried—Members of

the board—Twelve reports—Court-martial on Sir Wm. Parker

—Decision on neutral claim—Difficulty of defining enemy's

property—Capture of French fishing-boats—Their release.

Page 132

CHAP. VI.

Causes of renewal of the war—Illegal seizure and condemna-

tion of four British vessels—State of preparation in England

and the colonies—Committee of supply—Observations of

Mr. Grenville—Chancellor of the Exchequer—Comparison

of naval forces—Sir Sidney Smith—Right Hon. C. Yorke—

His observations on the land forces of France and England—

King's message to parliament of 8th March—Ditto 16th May,

announcing war with France—Ditto 17th June, respecting

Holland—Malta — Remarks in the house of lords, by the
Duke of Clarence, Lords Mulgrave and Melville—Dispo-

sition of the naval forces—State of the dock-yards as to

naval stores—Acts of hostility—Doris takes Affronteur—Mi-

notaur the Franchise—Naiad the Impatiente—Loire the Ven-

ted*—Capture of the Minerve—Gallant conduct of Honour-

able Lieut. Walpole—Anecdote of a wounded sailor—Re-

marks on Monsieur Dupin's work—Treatment of prisoners

of war—Cruelty and injustice of French government—

Generosity of individuals towards English prisoners—Mon-

sieur Dubois—Peregaux—Anecdote of Capt. Hallowell—De-

tenues—Shameful treatment of them by French—Cruelty to

crew of Minerve—Relieved by the British government and

their own officers—The blind sailor—French government for-

bid relief to prisoners—Refuse an exchange—Comparison

between French and English officers in care of their men

while prisoners—Observation in refutation of Monsieur Dupin

—Pontons, causes of suffering, owing to the French only—

Reflections - • Page 188

CHAP. VII.

Invasion threatened by Bonaparte—Means taken to counteract

him—Description of vessels for that purpose—Jalouse and

Cruiser—Blockade of the Texel—Capture of the Atalante by

Captains Hardinge and Pelly—Humanity of Admiral Thorn-

borough—Violation of the law of nations by detention of a

flag of truce—Sir Sidney Smith attacks enemy's flotilla—

Manner of these vessels getting along shore—Attacked by

Captain Owen in the Immortalite—Bombardment of Havre

de Grace—Marine artillery—Bombardment of Dieppe, St.

Valery, and Calais—Reflections—The enemy's flotilla puts

to sea in divisions—Attacked by Leda—Cruisers—Observa-

tions on the improved art of war—Of fire-ships—Flotilla

before Boulogne—Catamarins—Clock machines—Useless at-

tack—Stone-ships—Loss of the Romney—Letter of Vice-

admiral Russell to Admiral Kickburt—Honeyman in the

Leda takes nine sail of flotilla—Bonaparte abandons all
thought of invasion, on hearing'of Villeneuve's return to

Ferrol—Observations Page 235

CHAP. VIII.

Affairs of St. Domingo—Alarm of the British government at the

progress of the rebellion, and at the forces employed by Bo-

naparte to suppress it—Policy of Toussaint—Sailing of Villa-

ret and Le Clerc—Their forces, naval and military—Arrival

and operations—Successes—Villaret writes to Sir John Duck-

worth—British fleet quits the West Indies—Account of the

exertions and sufferings of the French army—Bonaparte sends

out the sons of Toussaint—Surrender of the Generals Chris-

tophe and Dessalines—Capture of Toussaint—He is sent to

France, and dies—Revival of the rebellion—Caused by news

from Guadaloupe—Forces sent from France to suppress it—

Cruelty of the French to the mulatto chiefs, and desperate

state of their affairs in consequence—War between France and

England, causes the final ruin of the French in St. Domingo

—British naval force at Jamaica—Commodore Hood at Bar-

badoes—His attack on St. Lucia and Tobago—Blockade of

St. Domingo—Capture of La Creole—Gallant conduct of

Captain Austin Bissel—Capture of the Duquesue of seventy-

four guns—Evacuation of St. Marc by the French—Calum-

nies of the Count de Dumas against the British navy refuted

—His misrepresentations exposed respecting the battle of Al-

geziras—Evacuation of Aux Cayes—Captain Bligh in the

Theseus takes Fort Dauphin, and saves the French garrison

from being murdered—Captain Bissel is again successful—Is

promoted into the Creole, which founders at sea—Capture of

Demerara and Essequibo—Boat enterprises in the Leeward

Islands—Evacuation of St. Domingo by the French—Capture

of their squadron—Destruction of their army •.. • Page 265

CHAP. IX.

Overtures of Bonaparte to the northern power.—Bombard-

ment of the-enemy's port of Granville—Flotilla intercepted