room, and I occasionally invite
them to my table. Of the six prizes four are fine ships, particularly
the Franklin and Spartiate: the Souverain and Conquerant are both very
old ships; Le Tonnant and L'Aquilon were built within these few years
only. Both the former are quite new. But it is not what we have taken,
but what we have destroyed. We have left France only two sail of the
line in the Mediterranean, except a few bad Venetian ships and some
frigates. A squadron of five sail leaves us masters of these seas,
equal to protect our commerce, and with a few frigates destroy that of
the enemy: these are the real fruits of our victory; and as to
anything personal to ourselves, the approbation of our country, and
possibly an additional medal, will be ample recompence to us. At
present my chief solicitude is to find things go on well in England;
and I think, when the account of our action arrives, it will set the
minds of people at ease for some time at least.

"I shall have a great deal to say to you, in which you will
acknowledge with me that the Almighty has been kind and bountiful
indeed, beyond my merits or pretensions. You will infer from my late
journal what I particularly allude to, wherein I mention the Orion
having been intended to return to the fleet on the junction of the
reinforcement; which was merely to favour Captain Troubridge, with
whom I clashed from seniority. Very, very fortunately for me, the
enemy's force would not permit Sir H. Nelson to part with me; and the
sequel has shown the partiality of the Earl's proceeding: but of this
'_ci-apres_;' only, for the present, judge what must have been my
feelings had I been thus deprived of my share in this action!

"My situation at this moment is exactly what I could wish,--the
command of a respectable squadron escorting the trophies of our
victory; and I am induced to hope that I shall proceed with them to
England without considerable delay. We have just gained sight of
Cyprus, nearly the track we followed six weeks ago; so invariably do
the westerly winds prevail at this season; but I hope we shall not be
subject to the tedious calms we experienced under Candia. Hitherto we
have always had a good breeze, which has prevented any intercourse
between the ships of the squadron, one day only excepted.

"I have not told you that we all voted a sword to the Admiral before
we parted from the squadron; the captains having agreed to subscribe
fifty pounds each to de