had arrived at Genoa two days before, took this opportunity of holding a conference with Vice-admiral Bruix on board the Océan. On the 6th, in the morning, the General quitted the flag-ship for the shore ; and at noon, when the British fleet; having been recalled to the bay of Rosas, had put about for that destination, the French fleet weighed and made sail to the westward, the French accounts say, but we much doubt the fact, in consequence of information that the British fleet, of "22 sail of the line," had been seen off Toulon.

Thus was the seeking fleet unconsciously running before the sought fleet, and the latter as unconsciously pursuing the former. No doubt, had this fact been known in France, the Moniteur would have declared, and with some show of reason, that Vice-admiral Bruix had chased Lord Keith and could not bring him to action. On the 9th, the French fleet passed, in sight of Toulon, and on the 22d appeared off Carthagena. On the 23d, Vice-admiral Bruix cast anchor in the road, and thus effected a junction with the Spanish fleet, now, with most surprising alacrity, after the damage it had received in the storm of the preceding month, nearly ready for sea.

As far as we can gather from the obscure accounts in the French and Spanish journals, this fleet, soon after its arrival from Cadiz, had transferred to a large body of transports, purposely assembled at Carthagena, about 5000 troops, for disembarkation at Majorca, and to be employed, as it would appear, more for defending that island, than for making any attempt to recapture Minorca. On the 24th, the day after their junction, and when the British fleet, having gone the round we have described, was increasing its distance in the direction, first of Toulon, and then of Genoa, the French and Spanish fleets, numbering together 40 sail of the line, with a suitable train of frigates and corvettes, sailed from Carthagena, bound out of the Mediterranean.

On the 6th, Lord Keith, whom we left steering for Minorca, arrived off the east end of the island ; and on the 7th, close off Mount Toro, was joined by the following reinforcement from the Channel fleet

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