set little value on Corsica as a possession whereby to make any return to the parent state; and, perhaps, if we could have deprived France of any of the advantages accruing from the occupation of an island of such extent, with such resources for ship-timber, we might have given it up without regret; but when we consider that, besides these advantages, it enabled our great rival to extend her chain, or barrier, across the Mediterranean from north to south, to intercept our Levant trade, and to command the high road to India through Egypt, we should have paused before we relinquished our hold of Corsica; and it will be seen, in perusing the correspondence of Sir John Jervis, that his majesty's ministers were sensible of their error when too late. As soon as Sir John Jervis was certain of the hostility of Spain, he repaired to Fiorenzo Bay, to consult with the viceroy, on the best means of defending the new conquest, or, if that were inadvisable, the safest mode of leaving it again in the hands of the ferocious and uncivilized natives. The resources in the hands of both the chiefs were certainly inadequate to the defence of such a position. It therefore became them to prepare for that evacuation which, without powerful and effectual aid from home, they saw was inevitable. One of the first acts of the admiral after his arrival on the station was to give out the following secret order : By Sir John Jervis, K.B., Admiral of the Blue, Commander-in-Chief. (SECRET.) Whereas, the due performance of the plan of battle concerted between us may be essential to the success of his Majesty's arms, you are, in the event of my being slain or disabled in action with the enemy, hereby authorized and required to continue the direction of the fleet, by the signals necessary to enforce and complete such plan and evolution, lest the advantages which will probably result from a full completion thereof be lost to my king and country. But, having fulfilled the same to the best of your judgment, you are to take the first favourable opportunity of making known the accident, by signal, to the commander in the second post; and, having so done, you are to repeat his signals, keeping my flag flying while in presence of the enemy. Given on board the Victory, at sea, the 1st of January, 1796. To Robert Calder, Esq., First Capt. of H.M.S. Victory, J. JERVIS. By command of the Admiral, Not to be opened till the flag, half white, half black, i.e., the white stripe uppermost, is hoisted on board the Admiral, that the commander-inchief is slain or disabled from continuing the command. The commander in the second post is to take upon himself the command and government of the fleet, although the flag of the commander-in-chief remains flying. J. JERVIS. Sir Hyde Parker, • Secret instructions to the same effect were repeated to Sir William Parker, and Sir Roger Curtis, 1st June, 1798. without powerful and effectual aid from they saw was inevitable. One of the first acts of the admiral al arrival on the station was to give out lowing secret order : By Sir John Jervis, K.B., Admiral of Whereas, the due performance of of battle concerted between us may tial to the success of his Majesty's are, in the event of my being slain in action with the enemy, hereby and required to continue the dire fleet, by the signals necessary to complete such plan and evolution vantages which will probably resul completion thereof be lost to m country. But, having fulfilled the best of your judgment, you are to favourable opportunity of makin accident, by signal, to the com second post; and, having so de 159 mateable as ed from the very is present cond-hand 1 when (as of the fol be of minor ssioner Coffin to which the amissioners in reign stations, >ver the king's ne commanders✓ arrangement arge of the naval erally subordinate ef command - has us hindrance to the the official duties t at home, under one will, I hope, be found excellent purpose. A rliament by Sir James d of the Admiralty, in |