istance. If they
were to be free, I felt that it would be better for them to achieve
their independence by themselves, instead of trusting to those who were
too likely to play them some treacherous trick in the end. I felt,
however, that our own Government was more likely to come to terms
considering the immense pressure brought against the country if the
Americans would be but moderate in their demands.

On the 2nd of April we sailed from the Chesapeake with the whole of the
squadron, consisting of seven line-of-battle ships, two fifty-gun ships,
five frigates, and two sloops, and stood to the southward in search of
the French fleet. On the 5th the fleet tacked and stood to the
north-east.

There is something very exciting and interesting in forming one of a
large fleet of men-of-war. I had sailed often, and more than enough
with fleets of merchantmen and transports, but then I had generally to
act the part of a whipper-in to a pack of lazy or worn-out hounds, and
had to run in and out among them, hailing one, signalising a second, and
firing a shot at another to keep them all in order, caring very little
how my own ship looked, provided I could accomplish my object. Now, on
the contrary, each ship sailed in proper order, and one vied with the
other in the neatness of their appearance, and the rapidity with which
various evolutions could be performed.

On the 6th the Charon was detached ahead of the squadron to look into
the Delaware to ascertain if the French fleet was still there. We
obeyed the order with alacrity, though we expected that if they were
there we should be very quickly chased out again. We had great hopes
that this would be done, as we might thus lead them down upon our own
squadron which was well prepared to receive them. O'Driscoll rubbed his
hands as we sailed up that magnificent estuary, keeping a bright
look-out on every side for the mast-heads of the enemy's fleet.

"Arrah, now, won't it be fun to see them all come bounding out like
bulldogs when by chance a stranger comes suddenly into the courtyard
where they are chained up, all barking, and leaping, and pulling with
the amiable wish of tearing him to pieces!" he exclaimed, as I was
expressing a hope that they might still be found there.

On we sailed, till at last we felt convinced that the Frenchmen had
already put to sea. Once more therefore we stood out again in search of
the Admiral. On the 11th we spoke the Chatham, which sh