d,
is concentrated by his own skilful hand, in the following professional
letter, which he immediately wrote to Lord Keith; but his exalted and
superior mind disdained to discover, in such a communication, the state
of his own private feelings.

"Palermo, 7th Jan. 1800.

"MY DEAR LORD,

Last night, I received your letters, and orders, to December 14th,
from November 30th; all of which, I shall endeavour to obey: and,
with the greatest pleasure, to give you the state of the squadron,
and of affairs on this side of Minorca. I shall begin in the east.
My last accounts from thence were by the Phaeton, Captain Morris;
and, as your lordship will probably see him, I shall only say, that
I have not heard immediately from Sir Sidney Smith since September
the 7th. At Constantinople, they heard he was communicating with
the Grand Vizier, at Gaza, respecting the French army. The ships
with him are, Theseus and Cameleon; but the Bulldog is directed to
go to him, till the Smyrna convoy is ready to return. I have lately
sent provisions, and some few stores, all we had, for those ships;
and I have written to Duckworth, and Inglefield, to send
particularly for those ships. What Turkish ships of war Sir Sidney
Smith has under him, I know not; but, I am told, there are several.
The Turkish admiral, Captain Morris tells me, who served under him,
had his head taken off, for leaving the port of Alexandria open,
and permitting the escape of Bonaparte. I would have kept up a
more constant communication with Egypt; but, I have never had the
benefit of small vessels. At Corfu, General Villete is arrived, and
raising two regiments of Albanians. Our consul there, Mr. Speridion
Forresti, is a very able man; and, from thence, the passage of an
express, by land, to Constantinople, is twelve days. To get to
Malta--which has kept, for sixteen months, every ship I could lay
my hands on fully employed; and has, in truth, broke my spirits for
ever--I have been begging, of his Sicilian Majesty, small supplies
of money and corn, to keep the Maltese in arms, and barely to keep
from starving the poor inhabitants. Sicily has, this year, a very
bad crop, and the exportation of corn is prohibited. Both Graham
and Troubridge are in desperation, at the prospect of a famine.
Vessels are here, loadi