eir mother, and to each other. We have all reason to be
thankful, and to praise God for his great and manifold mercies. We
are ready to start at a moment's notice, and have a strict
look-out. The enemy are also ready, sixteen sail, a three-decker of
140 guns launched Christmas Day.

"God bless you, and yours; and may He enable me to do honour to my
country and my family--for myself, I care not."

The number of points which required to be constantly watched (for more
than two thousand miles of coast, from the Ionian Islands to Gibraltar,
was in the hands of the enemy), made a considerable force necessary; and
the Mediterranean fleet was at this time one of the largest ever
entrusted to an Admiral. The commander-in-chief, with a principal part
of the line-of-battle ships, blockaded the French fleet in Toulon,
cruising off that port from the beginning of March to the end of
November, and sheltering in Mahon through the three winter months. A
Rear-Admiral was kept at Malta, with a sufficient force under his
direction to guard the different points of the station at the upper part
of the Mediterranean. Another Rear-Admiral was stationed on the south
coast of Spain, to watch the movements of the enemy, and to assist the
Spaniards whenever they could assemble in numbers to make a stand. A
third remained at Gibraltar; and a Commodore, with a ship of the line,
and frigates, watched the Gulf of Genoa, and the western coast of Italy.
Frigates and small vessels were detached wherever their services became
necessary.

Knowing from his own experience what could be done by the flag-officers
and captains of his fleet, he was enabled to assign to all of them their
respective duties in the full confidence that they would not disappoint
him. He associated much with them, and was in the habit of freely
communicating his ideas, as well on general subjects connected with the
movements of the fleet, as on their own personal charge. By his prompt
measures, and personal attention to the repairs, victualling, and
storing of the fleet, and his care to obtain ample supplies of stores
and provisions from England in such good time as never to be deficient
in any necessary article, he kept all the ships in a high state of
equipment, and afforded at the same time an example of activity and
forethought which was not lost upon his officers. He was attentive to
everything which affected the discipline of the crews, and wa