he fleet in active service, when we shall want provisions and
stores. I send a paper on that subject herewith. Mr. Littledale
is, I suppose, sent up by the admiral to victual us; and, I hope,
he will do it cheaper than any other person. But, if I find out
that he charges more than the fair price, and has not the
provisions of the very best quality, I will not take them: for, as
no fleet has more fag than this, nothing but the best food, and
greatest attention, can keep them healthy. At this moment, we have
not one sick man in the fleet. In about six days, I shall sail from
hence; and, if I hear nothing more of the French, I shall go to the
Archipelago; where, if they are gone towards Constantinople, I
shall hear of them. I shall go to Cyprus; and, if they are gone to
Alexandretta, or any other part of Syria or Egypt, I shall get
information. You will, I am sure, and so will our country, easily
conceive what has passed in my anxious mind; but I have this
comfort, that I have no fault to accuse myself of: this bears me
up, and this only."

The next day, July 21st, he writes to Sir William--

"What a situation am I placed in! as yet, I can learn nothing of
the enemy; therefore, I have no conjecture, but that they are gone
to Syria; and, at Cyprus, I hope to hear of them. If they were gone
to the westward, I rely that every place in Sicily would have
information for me; for, it is too important news to leave me one
moment in doubt about. I have no frigate, or a sign of one. The
masts, yards, &c. for the Vanguard, will I hope be prepared
directly: for, should the French be so strongly secured in port
that I cannot get at them, I shall immediately shift my flag into
some other ship, and send the Vanguard to Naples, to be refitted;
for, hardly any person but myself would have continued on service
so long in such a wretched state."

The following letter of complaint, calculated to blind the Neapolitan
government, as well as the French resident, is a masterpiece of
requisite political duplicity, fabricated at the very instant when he
was receiving every possible assistance.

"Vanguard,
Syracuse, 22d July 1798.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I have had so much said about the King of Naples's orders only to
admit three or four of the ships of our fleet into his ports, that