CHAPTER IV.—THE GREAT FRENCH WAR.

FROM AMIENS TO TRAFALGAR.-1802-1805.

Projected Invasion of England-Commodore Dance's Action-Seizure of the Spanish Treasure Frigates-Sir Robert Calder's Action-Trafalgar— Sir Richard Strachan's Action off Cape Ortegal.

HE Treaty of Amiens did not preserve the peace long. The British Government saw that Napoleon was not acting in good faith, and refused to give up Malta. Napoleon insisted on its instant evacuation. The British Government, quite well aware that Napoleon only waited for its evacuation to seize the place for himself, proposed to hold it for ten years, and then restore it to the natives. This ultimatum was rejected, and both sides prepared for war, which was formally declared on the 18th May, 1803. The struggle, it was evident, could only end in the humiliation of one or the otherFrance, who deemed herself invincible on land, Britain, omnipotent at sea. France saw in the expected conquest of Britain the removal of the last bar to her scheme of universal dominion; Britain boasted, and not in vain, of her wooden walls, and pointed to her recent victories in Egypt as a proof of what she could do if the worst came to the worst. The passions of the people were engaged on both sides; it was no longer a war of governments, but of nations. The departments of France vied with each other in contributing vessels, money, and troops for the great scheme of an invasion of England. The harbour of Boulogne was deepened, extended, and fortified, in order to form a more secure rendezvous for the praams and flat-bottomed boats which were fitted out in every port from Brest to the Texel, and

E

66

NAPOLEON'S PLAN OF INVASION.

[1803-4. which crept along the shore to the point of assemblage whenever the British cruisers were driven from their stations by contrary winds. At the opportune moment this vast flotilla was to be freighted with an army of 150,000 men, who lay in readiness at Boulogne. The wings of this vast army, extending from Brest on the one side to Antwerp on the other, amounted to 50,000 more. It seemed as if the long-talked-of invasion was about to become a reality. Nothing daunted, Britain collected her energies for the conflict. The regular army was increased by 50,000 men; and in a few weeks 300,000 volunteers were enrolled, armed, and disciplined. Gunboats also clustered along the line of the old Cinque Ports. But, as Nelson had supposed, the Boulogne flotilla was only part of a more extensive scheme. "The squadrons from the Spanish and Mediterranean ports were," says Alison, "to have effected a junction in the West Indies they were then, returning with combined forces to Europe, to have raised successively the blockade of Rochefort, Brest, &c.; and by their union with the fleets in those harbours, to have formed an irresistible armament, under which the flotilla might effect the passage of the Channel. It will appear in the sequel how nearly this vast design succeeded, and how little the British were aware of the quarter whence danger really threatened them." It would have succeeded had not Nelson, two years later, intercepted the combined French and Spanish fleets at Trafalgar, and there gained his last and crowning victory.

With the threat of invasion hanging over this country, the land forces were in 1804 raised to 300,000 men, besides 340,000 volunteers; and 100,000 seamen and marines were voted for the navy. Still, nothing was done, and the year was spent in conflicts between our cruisers and detachments of the Boulogne flotilla proceeding to the place of assemblage.

On the 14th February this year (1804), a singular action was fought in the Indian Sea, between the China fleet, under Commodore Dance (commodore in the East India Company's maritime service), and a small French naval force, under Admiral Linois. Dance was homeward bound from China to Europe. He had with him 16 Indiamen, mounting between 30 and 36 guns, and II country ships. On the 14th February, being off Paulo Auro, he sighted four strange sail to leeward. These were soon made out to be the French ships Marengo, 80; Belle Poule,

1804.]

COMMODORE DANCE'S BOLD ATTITUDE.

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40; Semillante, 36; Berceau, 22; and the gun-brig Aventurier, 16. They had sailed from Batavia for the express purpose of intercepting the China fleet. Commodore Dance accepted the challenge, threw out the signal for a line of battle in close order, disposed his fleet in the best possible arrangement for defence, and hove to for the night. The French Admiral was so puzzled at the bold attitude taken up by trading ships, that it was one P.M. next day before he made any attempt to attack. Edging off the wind, he stood towards the British. Dance, perceiving his rear was threatened, made the signal for his fleet to tack in succession, to edge off the wind to windward of his rear, and to engage the enemy on arriving up. This manœuvre was performed "with the correctness of a well-disciplined fleet." With a light breeze and top-gallant sails set, the Royal George approached the enemy, followed in close order by the Ganges, Earl Camden, Warley, Alfred, and other ships. The Marengo opened fire. The Royal George and the Ganges replied with spirit, and after an action of forty-three minutes, the French Admiral and his consorts, frightened at the unexpected resistance, ceased firing, hauled to the wind, and made sail away. The Royal George, which bore the brunt of the action, had only one man killed and one wounded. On his arrival in England, the gallant Dance received the honour of knighthood.

Spain declared war against Great Britain on the 12th December, 1804. That country was now completely under the influence of the Tuileries, and the rupture would probably have come about sooner or later, but the occurrence that immediately led to it was not a happy one. Spain had commuted her auxiliary force, due by the treaty offensive and defensive with France, into an annual payment of £2,880,000 to Napoleon. Britain looked upon this as a war subsidy to France, and was further alarmed by naval preparations at Cadiz, Ferrol, and Carthagena; and orders were given to Captain Graham Moore to intercept the Spanish treasure frigates, then on their way from Monte Video, to be held as security for the neutrality of Spain. Unfortunately, Captain Moore had only four frigates, and as the Spanish Rearadmiral had as many, he could not submit without a struggle. An action ensued (Oct. 5); one of the Spanish ships blew up, and three, with a freight valued at more than £2,000,000, were captured.

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THE ARMY OF INVASION AT BOULOGNE.

[1804-5.

On the 2d December, 1804, Napoleon was crowned, in Nôtre Dame, Emperor of the French; on the 26th May, 1805, he was crowned, in the Cathedral of Milan, King of Italy. One of his first acts was to incorporate Genoa, Parma, and Placentia with France, and to erect Lucca and Piombino into a principality for his sister Eliza. Austria became alarmed, and joined Russia and Sweden in a coalition-the third which Pitt had formedto meet their common enemy in the heart of Europe. Now or never was the time for Napoleon to put in operation his plan for the invasion of England. A swift blow at England, and a rapid march against the slow-paced Austrians, and all his enemies. I would be at his feet. The army of invasion still lay at Boulogne -155,000 men, 14,654 horses, and 432 pieces of cannon, with provisions for three months, and munitions of war to an enormous extent. The flotilla of transports consisted of 2293 vessels, 1339 of them armed. The organisation and all arrangements were so complete that, on trial made, it had been found that 25,000 men, drawn up opposite the vessels, could be embarked in ten minutes. Nothing was wanted but the command of the Channel for six hours, and if fortune proved propitious even that might be obtained. "It is only necessary," wrote Napoleon to his Minister of Marine, "to be master of the sea for six hours for England to cease to exist"-il ne faut être maître de la mer que six heures pour l'Angleterre cesser d'exister.

In January, Villeneuve had received orders from Napoleon to sail from Toulon, effect a junction with the Spanish Admiral Gravina at Cadiz, and threaten the West Indies with the united fleets. This feint, it was hoped, would draw a large portion of the English fleet from the Channel. Villeneuve was then to elude the vigilance of his pursuers and make a sudden return to Europe; release the 10 Spanish and 5 French ships blockaded at Ferrol; join the Rochefort squadron of 5 sail more; then steer to Brest, where Gantheaume awaited him with 21 sail. Lastly, at the head of this overwhelming force, which would amount to 61 sail of the line, he was to proceed to Boulogne and escort the flotilla to the shores of England.

Villeneuve was in Toulon with twelve sail, where he was blockaded by Lord Nelson with 11 sail of the line. On the 17th January, 1805, while Nelson was watering his fleet at Agincourt Sound, in the Madelena Islands, Villeneuve took the opportunity to put to sea.

Lord Nelson went in quest of him, and