declaring that all persons, natives of, or originally belonging to, neutral countries, or countries in alliance with France, who might form a part of the crew of any of his Britannic majesty's ships of war, or of any British vessels, should be considered and treated as pirates. This savage order was met by a counter-declaration from the king of England, dated November 20, directing it to be signified to the commissary for French prisoners in Great Britain, that, if that decree should, in any instance, be carried into effect against any such persons, taken in any vessel or vessels the property of his majesty, or of his subjects, and navigated under the British flag, it was the king's determination to exercise the most rigorous retaliation against those subjects of the French republic, whom the chance of war had then placed, or might thereafter place, at his majesty's disposal. This had, in a great degree, the desired effect.

With the view of ascertaining the precise object of the rumoured preparations making at Toulon, the British admiralty had directed Earl St.-Vincent to detach from the Mediterranean fleet a few ships under Rear-admiral Sir Horatio Nelson ; who, having been allowed, after the Santa-Cruz affair, to go to England for his health, had, on the 29th of April, returned to the fleet off Cadiz. On the 2d of May, Sir Horatio quitted the fleet in the Vanguard, and steered for the Mediterranean. The rear-admiral was to take with him two 74s lying at Gibraltar, and four frigates and a sloop cruising on that station. On the 4th the Vanguard arrived at Gibraltar ; and on the 9th, having completed her water and provisions, sailed again, accompanied by the Alexander and Orion 74s, Emerald and Terpsichore frigates, and Bonne-Citoyenne sloop.

On the 17th, when off Cape Sicie, the rear-admiral received Information, through a captured privateer, that there were, including the ex-Venetian ships, 19 sail of the line in Toulon harbour ; that 15 of them were ready for sea ; and that Buonaparte, at the head of an immense body of troops, was expected soon to embark, but for what destination could not be ascertained. On the 19th the wind blew strong from the north-west. On the next day, the 20th, it moderated, but, after dark, again blew strong ; so strong, that on the 21st, at 1 h. 30 m. a.m., when about 25 leagues south of the Hyères islands, the Vanguard's main and mizen topmasts, in succession, went over the side. In two hours afterwards the increased violence of the gale carried away the foremast, in three pieces, and sprung the bowsprit in as, many places. At daylight, by means of the remnant of her sprit-sail, the Vanguard was enabled to wear. The two other 74s and the Emerald wore also ; and the four ships scudded before the wind. The Terpsichore, Bonne-Citoyenne, and a prize-ship, continued lying-to, under bare poles, and therefore parted company ; as, during the night, did the Emerald.

The rear-admiral intended to steer for Oristan bay, island of

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