1808	British and French Fleets	10

this event reached him, removed his vessels, which, it will be recollected, were the Neptune of 80, Algésiras, Argonaute, Héros, and Pluton, of 74 guns, Cornélie frigate, and a brig-corvette, out of the range of the batteries at the town, and took up a defensive position in the channel leading to the Caraccas. At this time Rear-admiral Purvis, with a British fleet of 10 or 11 sail of the line, cruised off the harbour, and, from several previous communications with the Spanish authorities on shore, had been anticipating the glorious epoch that was now arrived. The British admiral of course offered to assist in bringing the French admiral to terms ; but the Spaniards, feeling themselves quite adequate to the task, preferred acting alone.

On the 9th of June, at 3 p.m., a division of Spanish gun and mortar boats, and the batteries erected for the purpose on the isle of Leon and at Fort Louis, commenced hostilities against the French ships, and a mutual firing, without intermission, was kept up until night. On the following morning, the 10th, the cannonade recommenced, and was continued partially till 2 p.m., when the French flag-ship, the Heros, hoisted a flag of truce. Shortly afterwards Vice-admiral Rosily (who had, on the preceding day, modestly enough, proposed " to quit the bay," provided, as was well added, " the British would permit him ") addressed a letter to General Morla, offering to disembark his guns and ammunition, but to retain his men, and not to hoist any colours. These terms were considered inadmissible, and the Spaniards prepared to renew the attack upon the French squadron with an increase of force. On the 14th, at 7 a.m., an additional battery of 30 long 24-pounders being ready to act, and numerous gun and mortar vessels having taken their stations, the French ships struck their colours ; which, in the course of the forenoon, were replaced by those of Spain.

Soon after this event the Spanish commissioners, of whom General Morla was one, embarked for England to treat with the British government. Their reception fully equalled their expectations ; and on the 4th of July the British government issued an order, directing that all hostilities between England and Spain should immediately cease. Those cruisers, hitherto so much dreaded along the coast of the latter, were hailed as deliverers ; and never, surely, were the skill and enterprise of British seamen more zealously nor more successfully exerted, than in rooting out the French invaders from the sea-defences of a country, which they had entered but to enslave and despoil.

Portugal, as a fellow-sufferer with Spain, soon followed the latter's example in making an effort to free herself from French thraldom ; and deputations from every part of the country, soliciting succours, were sent to Admiral Sir Charles Cotton, who, with a British squadron, cruised off the Tagus, to watch the motions of the Russian squadron at anchor within it. The call of Portugal upon her ancient ally was not made in vain. In

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