lexandria as he had seized
Valdivia and Maranham. And to this project he zealously addressed
himself, deeming it sufficient to send a small force to blockade the
gulfs of Patras and Corinth, and leaving Dr. Gosse as his agent in
command of naval affairs at home, with special orders to visit the
various islands, and, in accordance with authority received from the
Government, to collect the revenues of each, in order that the necessary
expenses of the fleet might be met.

He collected all the vessels he could muster in the neighbourhood of
Cape Saint Angelo. His force consisted, besides the _Hellas_, of one
corvette, the _Sauveur_, which he had brought from Marseilles, commanded
by Captain Thomas, of fourteen Greek brigs and of eight brulots or
fireships. With these he started for Alexandria on the 11th of June, the
_Hellas_ having often to slacken speed in order that the slower Greek
vessels might be kept in attendance. Candia was passed on the 13th, and
Alexandria was sighted at five o'clock in the morning of the 15th. Lord
Cochrane stood out to sea so that he might not be discovered, and spent
the day in putting his fleet in order, preparing an explosion-vessel,
and arranging for the work of the morrow. "Brave officers and seamen,"
he said, in an address to his followers, "one decisive blow, and Greece
is free. The port of Alexandria, the centre of all the evil that has
befallen you, now contains within its narrow bounds numerous ships of
war and a multitude of vessels laden with provisions, stores, and
troops, intended to effect your total ruin. The wind is fair for us, and
our enterprise unsuspected. Brave brulotteers, resolve by one moment of
active exertion to annihilate the power of the satrap. Then shall the
siege of Athens be raised in Egypt; then shall the armies of Ibrahim and
Reshid be deprived of subsistence, and their garrisons perish of hunger,
whilst the brave inhabitants of continental Greece and the islanders,
freed from impending danger, will fly to arms, and, by one simultaneous
movement, throw off the barbarian yoke. Date the return of happy days
and the liberty and security of Greece from your present exhibition of
valour. The emancipation of Egypt and the downfall of the satrap are
also inevitable consequences; for the war is concentrated in one point
of action and of time."

That spirited address was ineffectual, and Lord Cochrane's bold plan for
seizing Alexandria was prevented by the cowardice