a nobler Theatre, and your Eloquence spared for a more
glorious Occasion.

There is one Circumstance, my Lord, which I shall mention, as it just
occurs to my Mind. If I forget not, it was agreed in Council, that the
Enemy could never neglect planting Cannon on such advantageous Places, as
those two opposite Points which command the Avenue of the Harbour. Now as
you did not approach so near the Place as to be Spectators of any
dreadful Artillery planted to intercept Relief, this Opinion must be
wholly founded on Conjecture; and you had as much Reason to apprehend it
while at _Gibraltar_, as after the 20th of _May_; and if so, would it not
have been more prudent to have staid at _Gibraltar_, than have put your
Men on board a Squadron so imperfectly equipped, destitute of Hospital and
Store-ships, where they could be of no Service, where they must consume
the Provisions of the Fleet, and be liable to the Sickness which attends a
close Confinement? Who could have objected to you the Disobedience of
Orders then, if they acquit you now? How ridiculously must you pretend to
say, that the Commands of Majesty were obeyed, when the least Attempt was
never made to land the Reinforcements at that Place where it was only in
their Power to be of any Service? I defy all History to produce any
Instance when the Orders of a Sovereign, and the Possessions of a Kingdom,
were ever so infamously disregarded, under the Sanction of a Council!

I have nothing, at present, to say concerning the Engagement betwixt the
two Admirals, as your Lordship's Fame was not interested in the Event; and
whatever Benefit the Squadron might be supposed to receive from the
Continuance of your Regiment on board, I presume you will not ascribe to
them the Merit of having defeated the Enemy. The principal Figure you had
the Honour to make, was in the decisive Resolution, agreed upon in
Council, of returning to _Gibraltar_. I don't suppose your Lordship was
more forward in promoting that Determination, than any of those that
composed that honourable Body. As to the Losses and Situation of the
Fleet, I don't doubt but they might be represented to you in such a Light,
that it might appear wise and necessary to repair to _Gibraltar_ to
refit, before you ventured upon another Engagement; but how any other
Reasons could impose upon your Judgment to consent to so infamous a
Retreat, I cannot conceive; and am amazed and confounded when I think of
it.--Could it ever serio