t, which was sprung in many places; and, on the
fourth day after anchoring in St. Pierre's Road, they again put to sea,
with top-gallant yards across.

In the mean time, Sir Horatio Nelson had addressed a letter to the
Viceroy of Sardinia, dated on board his Britannic majesty's ship, the
Vanguard, at anchor off the Island of St. Peter, 26th May 1798; in which
he remonstrated, with becoming dignity, but not without considerate
kindness, against the conduct he was experiencing.

"SIR,

"Having, by a gale of wind, sustained some trifling damage, I
anchored a small part of his majesty's fleet under my orders, off
this island; and was surprised to hear, by an officer sent by the
governor, that admittance was to be refused to the flag of his
Britannic majesty into this port. When I reflect that my most
gracious sovereign is the oldest, I believe, and certainly the most
faithful, ally which his majesty of Sardinia ever had, I could feel
the sorrow which it must have been to his majesty to have given
such an order; and also for your excellency, who has to direct it's
execution. I cannot but look at Afric's shore; where the followers
of Mahomet are performing the part of the good Samaritan, which I
look for in vain at St. Peter's, where it is said the Christian
religion is professed. May God Almighty bless your excellency, is
the sincere wish of your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

It is not improbable, that this letter immediately occasioned a little
secret assistance to be bestowed. Certain it is, that some aid was
actually received, or they could not so soon have conveniently taken
their departure.

They now steered for their appointed rendezvous, which they reached on
the 4th of June; and were joined, next day, by La Mutine, Captain Hardy,
who was charged with orders to the admiral, and brought the highly
acceptable information, that Captain Troubridge, with ten sail of the
line, and a fifty-gun ship, had been detached to reinforce him. The
knowledge of this circumstance diffused universal joy throughout the
little squadron; which could scarcely be felt in a superlative degree by
the heroic commander himself, who was now about to obtain what it had
been the business of his life to acquire, an opportunity of evincing the
ability with which he felt conscious of having been gifted by Heaven. In
the exultation of his open and ge