our's; and, after the evacuation of Corsica, we were left without a port, except Porto Ferrajo, which was, of all places in the world, the most dangerous for us to be in. Few as we were, I think we could have managed them at sea well enough; but, had they ever blocked us up in Porto Ferrajo, our ruin, as it appears to me, would have been inevitable. But Sir John Jervis has excellent judgment at this game, and I never had an apprehension that he would offer them a checkmate; which such a move would have been, if they had had skill to take it.

"For a fortnight after the island was completely in possession of the French, we waited in St. Fiorenzo Bay, with the utmost impatience, for Admiral Mann, whose junction at one time seemed absolutely necessary to our safety. We were all eyes in looking westward, from the mountain tops: but we looked in vain. The Spanish fleet, nearly double our numbers, were cruizing almost in view, and our reconnoitring frigates sometimes got almost among them, while we expected them hourly to be joined by the French fleet, who had already possession of the harbour in which we lay. But no Mann ap-. peared; and, as the enemy began to annoy us from the shore, we sailed on the 2d of Novem

ber. We arrived here on the 1st instant; and judge of our surprize to find that Admiral Mann and his squadron had gone to England. He is well known to be as brave a man as any in the world, and no one has more anxiety to do what is right. I am confident he always means the best but, the thing is incomprehensible, and God knows by what arguments he will justify it. The elements befriended us, for two or three gales of wind sickened the Spaniards, and we had a long passage down here, quite unmolested."

How Admiral Mann ever did account for his conduct, I never could learn; but, had the fleet under Sir John Jervis sustained a defeat by the combined forces of France and Spain, it is probable that the public mind would not have been satisfied with inquiry, or the quiet withdrawal of the rear-admiral from active service. There are few men whose judgment I should have preferred to Collingwood's on a subject of this nature-I mean as far as regards Corsica; but, even he was, perhaps, prejudiced and vexed at the hostility of the natives, who had ungratefully joined the French, their former enemies and tyrants, to turn us out of the island. And yet, Collingwood himself admits that Corsica supplied our fleet with the two indispensable

articles of wood and water, at least, which it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to have procured in any other part of the Mediterranean; and if to this consideration we add that of the shelter afforded to our shipping, when Mahon and Malta were not at our command, a strong case is made out in favour of our retaining Corsica.

CHAPTER X.

Kind disposition of Earl St. Vincent — Destitution of the fleet Letter to Vice-Admiral Vandeput― Order to Captain Tyler - Desertion to America Letter to Consul Matra - To Sir Gilbert Elliot - To Nelson-To Lieutenant-General de Burgh-To Sir William Hamilton To Mr. Drake To Sir Gilbert Elliot To Captain Stewart-To Mr. Master-To the Honourable Robert Walpole— To the same- To the same - To the same - To General O'Hara To the Honourable Robert Walpole-To the same - To the same To Mr. Lemprière-To Lord Garlies.

His kind and quick consideration for the feelings of others, was a marked and pleasing trait in the personal character of Earl St. Vincent. The following letter to Vice-Admiral Vandeput was not absolutely called for by the circumstances of the case; but it was volunteered, as a mark of courtesy and kindness, in the event that was anticipated by the commander-in-chief, of his being called upon to act on the station confided to a junior officer. Vice Admiral Vandeput held, at the date of this letter, the separate command on the Lisbon station, with his flag in the St. Alban's, of 64 guns.

The subsequent order to Captain Tyler shows the multiplied difficulties attending Sir John Jervis's command at this time, and the comparative destitution of his fleet, and its need of the supplies and shelter afforded by the "miserable Corsica," which he was on the point of abandoning.

To Vice-Admiral Vandeput.

Victory, in Rosier Bay, 2d December, 1796.

My dear Vandeput,

Should the events of this extraordinary war occasion my being ordered to act upon your station, which I have some reason to believe will happen soon, you may rely upon my observing every delicacy and attention to you, consistent with the great object in question.

Your's, most truly,

J. J.

To Captain Tyler.

By Sir John Jervis, K.B., Admiral of the Blue, &c.

You are hereby required and directed to make the best of your way down the Mediterranean, with his Majesty's ships under your orders; and, should you stand in need of stores