The whole of these five vessels were added to the British navy ; but the first, a fine Toulon-built frigate of 1029 tons, was of greater value than all the others. There being a Juno already in the service, the Junon was named Princess Charlotte, and attached to the 18-pounder 36-gun class. Her name was subsequently altered to the Andromache, and the ci-devant Junon is even yet a serviceable frigate.

After capturing the squadron of M. Perrée, Lord Keith stood close into Toulon, and during the 20th, 21st, 22d, and 23d, cruised off that port, as if expecting that the French fleet would attempt to re-enter it. Finding this not to be the case, the vice admiral made sail to the eastward, and on the 24th crossed Vado bay. On the 25th, some of the forts near Genoa, fired several shot at the British 16-gun brig-sloop, Vincejo, but ceased when the latter hoisted Spanish colours. On the 26th, the, British fleet was within six or seven miles of Genoa mole. Hearing no tidings of the French fleet in this quarter, except perhaps, that it had anchored in the port nearly a month ago, Lord Keith stood away towards Minorca. While the British fleet is on its way thither, we will proceed to show, as well as we are able, what course the French fleet had actually been steering.

On the 27th of May, one of the three or four days during which the British fleet, of 20 sail of the line, five frigates, and smaller vessels, was cruising off Cape San-Sebastian, the French fleet, of 22 sail of the line (the two damaged ships being still under repair, and the Censeur, as already mentioned, left at Cadiz), 11 frigates and Corvettes, and, we believe ; two of the three ex-Venetian 64s in the port armed en flûte, and laden with provisions and military stores, sailed from the road of Toulon.

Steering to the eastward, the French fleet on the 30th or 31st anchored in the bay of Vado, and there disembarked, for the relief of Savona, then attacked by an Austro-Russian army, the 1000 troops received on board at Brest. On the 3d of June the French fleet showed itself off Genoa, and on the 5th, when the British fleet was nearly abreast of Cape Roux, anchored in Genoa mole, with a wheat-laden convoy, which the French admiral had escorted from the westward. General Moreau, who

* In the London Gazette, owing, we conceive, to a typographical error, this frigate is described as of "22," instead of 32 guns, 12-pounders, and 300 men." A contemporary, overlooking this, has given the "Courageux," not only no more than "22 guns," but, what he considered an adequate complement, "160 men." -Brenton, vol. ii., p. 488.

^ back to top ^