and Emerald, captured a 40 gun ship, a frigate, and three small armed vessels, bound from Jaffa to Toulon.

Towards the latter end of November 1799, his Lordship sailed from Plymouth in the Queen Charlotte of 100 guns, to resume the command of the fleet in the Mediterranean, which had been resigned to him on the second of June by the Earl of St. Vincent, in consequence of increasing ill health. He arrived at Gibraltar on the 6th December. The season for brilliant operations was in some degree over in that quarter, in consequence of the severe losses, which the enemy had sustained, and were in no condition to repair; but much praise was due to Lord Keith for the excellent disposition of the force under his command, and the judgment with which he stationed his cruisers, so that few of the enemy's vessels ventured out of port without falling into the hands of some of our ships of war.

Early in the year 1800, his Lordship proceeded to Malta, and cruized off the port of La Valetta, to intercept any succours that might be attempted to be thrown in during the blockade. In order more completely to ensure success, he ordered Lord Nelson to cruize to windward with three sail of the line, while he himself remained with the flag-ship and a small squadron at the mouth of the harbour. This judicious arrangement produced the capture of Le Généreux of 74 guns, carrying the flag of Rear-Admiral Perrée, and having a number of troops on board for the relief of the place, together with a large store-ship.

On the 7th March, 1800, his Lordship anchored at Leghorn, for the purpose of co-operating with the Austrian army against the French, under the command of General Massena, who at that time occupied the city and territory of Genoa. On the 14th he issued a proclamation, wherein he signified to all neutral powers, that the ports of Toulon, Marseilles, Nice, and the coast of the Riviera, were in a state of blockade.

Being now determined to seize on the island of Cabrera, then in possession of the French, as a proper place for refreshing his men, he detached Captain Todd with the Queen

Charlotte for that purpose; but on the 17th of March, when between Leghorn and the island of Cabrera, the Queen Charlotte was discovered to be in flames, and in the course of an inconceivably short period, upwards of 600 gallant men lost their lives, and one of the noblest ships in the British navy was totally destroyed. His Lordship was on shore at the time the conflagration happened; after which he hoisted his flag in the Audacious, but subsequently shifted it to the Minotaur, and proceeded in that ship, with part of his fleet, off Genoa; in order to co-operate with the Austrians, who were at that time besieging it. As there was little probability of being able to reduce the place by any other means than famine, it became an object of the first importance to cut off all supplies by sea; and this service was so effectually performed, that in the beginning of June the French general was obliged to capitulate, being reduced to the greatest extremity for want of provisions. This achievement in our naval annals would not have failed to be estimated as it deserved, had not the disastrous result of the battle of Marengo, and the convention of Alexandria, between the Austrian Baron de Melas and General Buonaparte, overwhelmed Europe with astonishment and dismay. It is here proper to remark, that the Austrians never fired a gun against Genoa, during the whole of the siege, and that its reduction was wholly caused by famine, which the vigilance and severity of our sea blockade had occasioned. *

On the 4th of September following, the Island of Malta surrendered to a detachment of Lord Keith's fleet.

It being now determined to strike a mortal blow at Spain, orders were sent from England for collecting ships and troops for that purpose. Accordingly, on the thirteenth of September, Admiral Lord Keith repaired with the fleet to Gibraltar, and the transports, with Sir James Pulteney's division of

* During the blockade of Genoa, the city and mole were frequently bombarded by the British flotilla; and on one occasion la Prima, the principal galley in the port, having on board two brass 36-pounders, 30 brass swivels, 257 men, and rowing 50 oars, was brought off in triumph.

troops, having joined the forces commanded by Sir Ralph Abercrombie, amounting in all to about eighteen thousand effective men, the squadron passed the Straits, and entered the bay of Cadiz; a city at that time visited with a malady which in many respects resembled, and in the extent of its ravages equalled, the plague. No sooner had the detachment, consisting of three eighty, and four seventy-four gun ships come to anchor, than the governor, Don Thomas de Marla, addressed a most energetic letter to the admiral, in which, after exposing the unhappy situation of the inhabitants, he proceeded to say, "I have too exalted an opinion of the English people, and of you in particular, to think that you would wish to render our situation more deplorable; but if, in consequence of the orders your excellency has received, you are inclined to draw down upon your country the exeeration of all nations, and to cover yourself with disgrace in the eyes of the whole universe, by oppressing the unfortunate, and attacking those who are supposed to be incapable of defence, I declare to you that the garrison under my orders, accustomed to behold death with a serene countenance, and to brave dangers much greater than all the perils of war, know how to make a resistance which shall not terminate but with their entire destruction. I hope that the answer of your excellency will inform me, whether I am to speak the language of consolation to the unfortunate inhabitants, or whether I am to rouse them to indignation and vengeance."

A regular correspondence ensued, and squally weather coming on, the admiral and general thought it expedient to depart without effecting a descent; although the plan of debarkation had been already concluded upon, and orders for it issued.

Soon after this he eyes of England, and of continental Europe, were turned towards Egypt, while the French army there, in consequence of its abandonment by Bounaparte, was reduced to such a critical situation, that Kleber at length entered into a treaty with Sir Sidney Smith, and actually consented to abandon that country for ever. Lord Keith,

however, no sooner received information of that event, than he frankly informed the French commander in chief that he could not accede to any capitulation, unless the troops would lay down their arms, and surrender prisoners of war. This declaration was immediately published in the orders issued to the French troops; and, taking advantage of their sudden enthusiasm, the Turks were once more attacked, and beaten; so that when instructions arrived to accede to the convention of El Arisch, the enemy, flushed with new victories, declined agreeing to that which they would before have joyfully consented to receive as a favour.

At length it was determined to wrest Egypt from the hands of the French by force; and while Sir Ralph Abercrombie was nominated to the command of the expedition by land, Lord Keith was entrusted with the fleet which was assembled for that purpose, The armament destined for this expedition accordingly repaired to Marmorice, to wait for the co-operation of the Turks; and having sailed from that capacious port on the 23d of Feb. 1801, anchored in the bay of Aboukir on the 22d of March, near the very spot on which the memorable battle of the Nile had been fought. The following is a list of the fleet employed upon this occasion:

In addition to these there were two sixty-fours, two fifties, five forty-fours, two thirty-eights, two thirty-sixes,

VOL. VIII.

four thirty-twos, and six twenty-eights, armed en flute; together with two bomb-vessels, transports, Turkish gun, boats and kiacks, &c.

The army, to the amount of sixteen thousand one hundred and fifty men, together with a battalion of one thousand seamen under Sir Sidney Smith, could not be landed as soon as intended, on account of a heavy swell; but the most effectual means were taken for that purpose; and not only were written orders issued, but a coloured plan of the debarkation, such as had been before circulated at Cadiz, exactly specifying the number and stations of the vessels intended to convey and cover the troops, was distributed.

About two o'clock in the morning of the 8th of March, the first division began to enter the boats designed to receive them; at three, signal rockets were fired, in consequence of which they all rendezvoused opposite the Mendovi, an armed vessel, anchored on purpose, in a central position near the beach. At nine, they advanced towards the shore, preserving the form of a line as much as possible, under the direction of the Hon. Capt. Cochrane, and seconded by the Captains Stevenson, Scott, Larmour, Apthorp, and Harrison; with both flanks protected by cutters, gun-boats, and armed launches; while the Tartarus and Fury bomb-ketches were employed to throw shells, and several vessels of a small draught of water presented their broadsides so as to protect and facilitate this very important and critical operation.

Opposed to these was a large body of troops, familiar with the country, flushed with recent successes, and confident of victory. Cannon and mortar batteries were placed on the heights, and the castle of Aboukir alone threatened destruction to the assailants; while the sand-hills still nearer to the water's edge were lined with musquetry, and parties of infantry were kept in readiness to advance at the same time that bodies of horse were prepared to charge the invaders.

Notwithstanding the boats were exposed to an amphitheatre of fire, and an incessant discharge was kept up of shot, shells, and grape, yet they rowed briskly ashore; and,