ect on both the town and shipping, and
obliged the Spanish admirals to remove their fleet out of shell-range.
This attack, like the first, ended in an encounter between the
gun-boats. The third attempt, which was to have taken place on the
8th, was rendered abortive by a strong gale blowing off the shore.

On the 15th, Nelson having been detached with a squadron of three sail
of the line, a fifty, and three frigates, on the unfortunate
expedition to Teneriffe, the command of the advanced squadron again
devolved on Sir James Saumarez. Nothing could surpass the zeal and
intrepidity with which he performed this arduous duty. On the 18th
August he escorted a convoy to Gibraltar, and having refreshed his
crew and refitted his ship, he resumed his duty off Cadiz, sometimes
at anchor off the harbour, and under sail when obliged by the weather.
On the 15th November he was relieved, in order to refit at Lisbon, and
entered the Tagus on the 25th, returning about the same day in the
next month to the blockade of Cadiz, which was almost entirely
intrusted to him. Such indeed were his vigilance and activity, that
nothing escaped during that period. He displayed, moreover, great tact
and address in several communications with the Spanish admiral on the
subject of the exchange of prisoners, to the entire satisfaction of
Earl St. Vincent, the commander-in-chief, who had always reposed the
most implicit confidence in his judgment.

On the 7th of February 1798, the Spanish fleet were seen coming out of
Cadiz, and, in hopes of decoying them into the open sea, the English
fleet retired to Cape St. Vincent; but it was soon found that on the
14th the enemy had returned into port, being unwilling again to try
the fortune of war with such an opponent. The advanced squadron was at
that time commanded by Sir William Parker, who remained there.

Sir James Saumarez continued with the fleet until the 28th April, when
he was sent to refit at Gibraltar.

On the 8th May 1798, the Orion sailed from Gibraltar in company with
the Vanguard, Rear-admiral Sir Horatio Nelson,--the Alexander, Captain
Ball,--Emerald and Terpsichore frigates, and Bonne Citoyenne
sloop,--with orders from Earl St. Vincent to watch the enemy's fleet
at Toulon. When they were fairly through the Straits of Gibraltar, the
following order was given:

_Most secret rendezvous._

In the direct track between Cape Saint Sebastian's and Toulon,
in lat. 42 deg. 20' N. from tw