difficult feat, it was
possible to raise a few 18-pounders to the summit.

That same evening Mr Annesley, accompanied by the skipper, proceeded on
board the "Victory," and reported to the admiral the fact of our having
scaled the rock, exhibited his sketch of the redoubt, and explained his
ideas as to the practicability of establishing a battery upon the
summit. The result was that, on the following morning, Lord Hood,
Commodore Linzee, Sir Hyde Parker, Captain (afterwards Lord) Nelson, the
skipper, and Mr Annesley took a passage ashore with me in the
"Mouette," and all hands of us shinned aloft--the first luff and I to
show the way, the rest to reconnoitre.

On reaching the foot of the cliff our superiors (with the exception of
Captain Nelson) rather threw cold water upon the proposed scheme of
raising guns to the top; Mr Annesley, however, with respectful firmness
maintained his belief in the practicability of his ideas; and after a
great deal of discussion they decided to at least attempt the ascent
themselves, and see how the project looked from the lofty stand-point of
the summit.

By the time that we had accomplished our climb their views had become
somewhat modified, Captain Nelson's quick eye having lighted upon
several spots, in the progress of his ascent, where it would be
practicable to erect sheers or to secure tackles. But it was the sight
of the redoubt itself, as seen from the top of the rock, and the
complete command of it which would be obtained by a battery planted at
the spot whereon they stood, which finally decided the admiral to make
the attempt.

The details of the plan were arranged there and then, the most
advantageous positions for sheers, etcetera, fixed upon during the
descent, the resources of the fleet discussed on the passage off, and,
immediately on our arrival alongside the "Victory," the preparations
were commenced. Anchors, chains, ropes, blocks, etcetera, were loaded
into the ships' boats, spare spars were launched overboard and formed
into a raft, and that same evening the "Mouette" left the fleet, with
fourteen boats and the raft in tow; and the wind happening to be dead
fair, and just a nice little breeze for the purpose, enabling us all to
crowd every stitch of canvas we could set, we ran gaily down before it,
and by dusk had everything ashore in readiness for the commencement of
our task the first thing on the following morning.

It is not necessary to describe in detail