which the harbour of Ferrol could be seen as
distinctly as Hamoaze from Maker Tower. In this mill, the English and
French officers on the look-out often met. As long as the wind was
westerly, the squadron remained here; but when it shifted to the
eastward, which was fair to leave Ferrol, Sir Edward anchored his ships
across the entrance of the harbour.

Owing to the prevalence of the westerly gales, the supplies from England
were totally inadequate to the wants of the squadron: and it became
indispensable to procure them on the spot. Occasionally a few live
cattle were received, but the vessels bringing them were driven back, or
detained, until the beasts were almost dead. Water was soon found: but
it was not easy to obtain provisions in the depth of winter from so poor
a country. The Spaniards were very lukewarm, and the French Admiral
naturally created every obstacle in his power. This important charge was
entrusted to Mr. Fitzgerald, purser of the _Tonnant_, and acting
secretary to the Commodore, a gentleman of great resources, and
unbounded courage and enterprise. By his exertions a small supply of
fresh meat was obtained, with some wine and biscuit; and as confidence
became established, cattle and other necessaries were purchased forty
miles in the interior. In the performance of his arduous service, Mr.
Fitzgerald was twice attempted to be assassinated; and he escaped only
by killing the assailant upon one occasion, and by wounding some of the
party on the other. Sir Edward was thus enabled to maintain an effectual
blockade all the winter. He always expected an attack from Brest, which
perhaps might have been attempted if the enemy had known his real
strength; but his frequent exchanges with the Channel fleet deceived the
French Admiral into a belief that a force was cruising in the
neighbourhood, of which the ships he saw were only the in-shore
division. Early in the year ships arrived from England with supplies,
and every difficulty had been removed, when political events at home led
to his recall.

While the general wishes and confidence of the country were directed to
Mr. Pitt, as the only minister to carry on the war with energy, the
chief support of the Government was the reputation and decisive
character of Earl St. Vincent, First Lord of the Admiralty, whose
ability as a great commander was even surpassed by his consummate skill
as a politician. But the Earl was now suffering the common fate of a
practi