During the autumn of this year, after various attempts to destroy
the French flotillas in their own harbours had failed, Lord Keith
was directed to make an experiment with the catamaran flotilla. The
catamaran's were copper vessels filled with combustibles, and so
constructed as to explode at a given time by clock-work. They were to be
fastened to the bows of the vessels by the aid of a small raft rowed by
one man who, being up to the chin in water, was expected in the darkness
of the night to escape discovery. Sir Sidney Smith with other able
officers were selected for this perilous enterprise; and the attack was
to be covered by Lord Keith's squadron. The expedition anchored about
a league and a half from Boulogne on the 2nd of October; and soon
after nine at night a detachment of fire-ships was launched. But this
enterprise proved signally abortive. The catamarans sent exploded
with an awful noise, and created a great alarm, not only in the French
flotilla, but also in the shore batteries; but the explosion only
wounded some half-dozen Frenchmen, while they blew up nothing but
themselves. In the whole affair, which lasted till four o'clock in the
morning, the French had only fourteen killed and seven wounded, while
the English had not a single man hurt. This catamaran expedition,
indeed, from which mighty things were expected by the whole nation,
ended only in laughter and derision. It brought disgrace not only on the
projectors, but to our national character, it being a plan unworthy OF
men of valour. It had been projected by the Addington administration;
but as it was tried under the present cabinet, the admiralty won for
themselves the dishonourable appellation of "The Catamaran Admiralty."
As for Napoleon, it served him for a pretext for disseminating the most
bitter invectives against the English throughout the continent; and
many, even in England, were induced to believe that he had not adopted
his own violent measures without the means of justification.

{GEORGE III. 1804--1807}

COALITION BETWEEN PITT AND ADDINGTON.

At the close of this year Pitt felt his ministerial condition to be one
of extreme difficulty. Under these circumstances he was compelled to
make peace with Addington, who had carried with him a considerable force
to the mixed opposition. It is said that the king insisted upon this
reconciliation; and it appears to be proved, not only by expressions
used by Pitt himself in hisletters