ciful interposition of
Providence prevented the advance of the boats, there can be no doubt
that many, if not all the lives of the assailants, would have been
sacrificed!

We shall leave the feelings of Earl St. Vincent, when the truth came
out, as well as those of Captain Savage and all concerned, to the
imagination of the reader.

CHAPTER X.

1797--1798.

Sir Horatio Nelson resumes the command of the advanced
squadron.--Bombardment of Cadiz.--Nelson sails for
Teneriffe.--Saumarez resumes the command.--Escorts a convoy to
Gibraltar.--Refits at Lisbon, and returns.--Conducts the
negotiation for exchange of prisoners.--Sir W. Parker relieves
Sir James.--He arrives at Gibraltar.--Is attached to Nelson's
squadron.--Proceeds off Toulon.--A storm.--Vanguard
dismasted.--Great exertions of the Orion and Alexander in
refitting the Vanguard at St. Pierre.--Sailing of the Toulon
fleet.--Nelson reinforced by ten sail of the line.--Pursues the
enemy unsuccessfully.--Proceedings of the fleet in a journal
addressed by Sir James to his family.--French fleet discovered
in Aboukir Bay.--Battle of the Nile.--Diagram of ditto.--Conduct
of the Orion.--Saumarez wounded.--Writes to Nelson.--Goes on
board the Vanguard.--Occurrences there.--Remarks on the name of
the second in command being left out in Nelson's despatches.--On
the mode of attack.--Various letters and orders.--Sir James's
account of the battle, in a letter to Lady Saumarez.

REAR-ADMIRAL Sir Horatio Nelson having resumed the command of the
advanced squadron, Earl St. Vincent determined to bombard the city of
Cadiz, for the double purpose of inducing the Spanish admiral
Mazarredo, who had now twenty-eight sail of the line, to put to sea:
the Earl wished moreover to employ the minds of the seamen, which had
become unsettled by the baneful example of those in England.
Accordingly the Thunder bomb, covered by the boats of the squadron,
made the first attempt; but her mortar was discovered to have been
injured in retreating: she was assailed by the Spaniards, when
after a desperate struggle she was rescued, and the Spanish
commanding-officer, Don Miguel Tyrason, was eventually made prisoner
by Nelson, who also captured a number of men and two mortar-boats.

On the 5th July, another bombardment took place by the Thunder,
Terror, and Strombolo, which being judiciously placed, their fire
produced a considerable eff