at north-west and north-north-west. Had they been bound to Naples, the most natural thing for them to have done would have been to run along their own shore to the eastward, where they would have ports every 20 leagues of coast to take shelter in. Thirdly ; they bore away in the evening of the 18th, with a strong gale at north-west or north-north-west, steering south or south by west. It blew so hard that the Seahorse went more than 13 knots an hour to get out of their way. Desirable as Sardinia is for them, they could get it without risking their fleet, although certainly not so quickly as by attacking Cagliari. However, left nothing to chance in that respect, and therefore went off Cagliari. Having afterwards gone to Sicily, both to Palermo and Messina, and thereby given encouragement for a defence, and knowing all was safe at Naples, I had only the Morea and Egypt to look to. For, although I knew one of the French ships was crippled, yet I considered the character of Buonaparte ; and that the orders given by him on the banks of the Seine would not take into consideration wind or weather. Nor, indeed, could the accident of even three or four ships alter, in my opinion, a destination of importance : therefore such an accident did not weigh in my mind, and I went first to Morea, and then Egypt. The result of my inquiries at Coron and Alexandria confirms me in my former opinion; and therefore, my lord, if my obstinacy or ignorance is so gross, I should be the first to recommend your superseding me. But, on the contrary, if, as I flatter myself, it should be found, that my ideas of the probable destination of the French fleet were well founded, in the opinion of his majesty's ministers, then I shall hope for the consolation of having my conduct approved by his majesty ; who will, I am sure, weigh my whole proceedings in the scale of justice. " *

On the 27th, in the evening, the British fleet, every ship of which, since the 21st of January, had remained prepared for battle, without a bulkhead up night or day, anchored in Pulla road, bay of Cagliari, to water. On the 2d of March Lord Nelson weighed, but, owing to the severity of the weather, was compelled to re-anchor. The wind shifting in the course of the night to north-north-east, the fleet re-weighed at daylight on the 3d, and stood to the westward ; but before noon the wind returned to the north-west, and blew so strong, that the fleet had again to bear up for Pulla. The morning of the 4th brought a return of the north-east wind ; but scarcely had the persevering admiral taken advantage of it ; than it again shifted to the north-west. Blowing moderately this time, the fleet (some of the ship having anchored for a few hours in the bay of Rouze) succeeded in working to the westward of the gulf of Palma ; but, the wind increasing to a heavy gale, the British were compelled, on the, evening of the 8th, to run in there for shelter. On the 10th, in

* Clarke and M'Arthur, vol. ii., p. 397

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