the main, Britannia's thunder rolls,
She leaves to thee the trident of the _shoals_!

In concluding this chapter, we shall relate the following anecdote of
British heroism, derived from Captain Brenton's Naval History.

When, in the hottest part of the action at Algeziras, the Caesar
_broke her sheer_,--that is, her situation was altered by a puff
or flaw of wind so as to change the direction of her head, and
turn her round, that her guns could not be brought to bear on
her opponent,--the captain ordered the boat to be lowered down
from the stern, to convey a warp to the Audacious; but the boat
was found to be knocked to pieces by the enemy's shot. Before
other means could be resorted to, Michael Collins, a young
sailor belonging to the Caesar's mizen-top, seized the end of a
lead-line, and exclaiming, "You shall soon have a warp," darted
into the sea from the tafrail, and swam with the line to the
Audacious, where it was received, and by that means a hawser was
run out which answered the intended purpose.

CHAPTER XVI.

1801.

Mole of Gibraltar.--Negociation for the exchange of prisoners
unsuccessful.--Captain Ferris and the officers of the Hannibal
return on parole.--They sail for England in the Plymouth lugger,
which carries home despatches and private letters.--Despatch
sent to Lord Keith.--Admiral Saumarez shifts his flag to the
Audacious.--Extraordinary exertions of the crew of the
Caesar.--Their admirable conduct.--Captain Brenton and the
garrison.--Arrival of the Spanish squadron at
Algeziras.--Increased exertions of the crews of the
squadron.--Private letters.--Preparations to attack the enemy.

The squadron being now in the Mole at Gibraltar, the wounded having
been removed to the hospital, and the necessary orders given for
refitting with all possible speed, the Admiral lost no time in turning
his attention to the situation of the captain, officers, and crew of
the unfortunate Hannibal, which had so nobly maintained the honour of
the British flag.

Sir Jahleel Brenton says, "He ordered me to take a flag of truce, and
wait upon the French admiral (Linois), proposing an exchange of
prisoners, which the latter refused, alleging that it was not in his
power to establish a cartel for the purpose, until he obtained the
sanction of the Minister of the Marine at Paris, to whom he had sent
off an express, as soon as the firing