ubsequent movements of those
fleets were not yet definitely known. Baird's expedition at Cork was
destined for the reduction of the Cape (ever Pitt's pre-occupation) so
soon as the way was fairly safe.

Downing St _Tuesday_ 3 P.M.[733]

MY DEAR SIR,

I have just seen Lord Hawkesbury and Lord Barham, Adml
Cornwallis having anticipated your intentions by detaching 20
sail of the line off Ferrol, and the wind being now favourable,
it appears to us that no time should be lost in ordering Sir D.
Baird to sail. As Ld H. and Ld B. seem to entertain no doubt
of your approving of this step, I shall send the orders without
delay. I shall remain in town tonight and be at your disposal as
best suits your engagements.

Ever yours,
CASTLEREAGH.

The most interesting words in this letter are "your intentions." They
seem to imply that the plan of detaching part of Admiral Cornwallis's
fleet off Brest to the assistance of Calder off the North West of Spain
was originally Pitt's own, not Lord Barham's, as has been hitherto
supposed. They must not be pressed too much; for the advice of Barham,
First Lord of the Admiralty, must have been paramount. Nevertheless the
proposal was evidently Pitt's as well as Barham's. The fact that
Cornwallis anticipated it bespeaks the resolve alike of Ministers and
the admiral at all costs to stop Villeneuve off Finisterre and prevent
the naval concentration in French waters on which Napoleon laid so much
stress. The success of the British counter-stroke is well known.
Villeneuve, having been roughly handled by Calder, put into Ferrol, and
finally, a prey to discouragement, made off for Cadiz, thus upsetting
Napoleon's scheme for the invasion of England. In due course Nelson
returned to England for a brief time of rest at "dear, dear Merton," and
then set off on his last cruise. Before his departure he had an
interview with Pitt at Downing Street--the only occasion, I believe, on
which they met--and found in the ante-room Sir Arthur Wellesley, just
returned from India. At the end of the interview Pitt flattered the
great seaman by an act of attention which he thus described: "Mr. Pitt
paid me a compliment, which, I believe, he would not have paid to a
Prince of the Blood. When I rose to go, he left the room with me and
attended me to the c