zles of their guns by a foe whom it was in their power to destroy by a single discharge of grape. It was, indeed, only by the positive orders of the general that they were prevented firing on these daring intruders. The Spanish admiral sent off a flag of truce to Lord St. Vincent, stating these circumstances, and, like a noble Spaniard, expressing his reluctance to fire on an enemy so completely in his power. Lord St. Vincent sent for Mr. Brenton, whose night it was to command, and said to him, "Don't let your people sing, but don't increase your distance from the batteries."

Shortly before day it was the custom for the officer in command, who was always in the centre of the line, to pass the word right and left for the boats to weigh their grapnels, and return to their ships, about three leagues off; convinced that no frigate would attempt to leave the harbour so near the dawn of day, in face of our fleet.

It so happened, however, that, on the morning of the day alluded to in Sir John Orde's letter (the 14th July), Mr. Brenton commanded the boats, and gave the usual orders; and having cast off the barge from the stern of his launch, and seeing all the other boats getting under weigh, he hoisted his sail, gave orders to

the coxswain how to steer, and was preparing himself to take a nap. But his repose was very short. He was awakened by a large shot passing over his boat, and, looking round, he saw a division of gun-boats from Cadiz taking possession of the Prince George's launch, which he was surprised to find still at her grapnel. He immediately hailed the boats right and left of him, and desired them to pull round upon the enemy, and get their carronades clear for action. At the same time, he set the example in his own boat, which was immediately followed by those around him, only six in number. The others were out of the reach of voice, and he had no signals by which they might be recalled. Those who supported the Ville de Paris launch soon got into action, but were too late to rescue the St. George's launch, which the enemy had got into their possession. Two boats, both belonging to one ship, did not pull in to assist the others, although positively and verbally ordered to do so. The consequence was, that the enemy being reinforced by a fresh division of boats out of Cadiz, Lieutenant Brenton was compelled to retreat, being completely overpowered, and having several of his men killed and wounded, and his launch disabled. When he got on board the Ville de Paris, he explained

to the admiral the reason he had not been supported by the greater number of boats, which were too far advanced on their way to their ships, and he had no means of recalling them.

Upon this his lordship gave out a general order, to the effect that the service upon which the guard boats were employed being of the utmost importance, he recommended that the captains of the ships under his command should send no officer upon that duty but such as were of approved firmness; that, in the event of any officer distinguishing himself, he should be promoted without any reference to the ship he might belong to, or to his seniority; thus putting the whole of the officers upon the same footing as those of the commander-in-chief's ship.

On this order being given out, Sir John Orde sent the two lieutenants of the Princess Royal, his own flag-ship, who had disobeyed the verbal order, on board the Ville de Paris, with an official letter from themselves, demanding to be tried by a court-martial. This Lord St. Vincent refused to grant; tore the letter in two on the quarter-deck; and added the homely adage, "Gentlemen, the more you stir," &c.

Sir John Orde, ill-advisedly as I think, resolved to espouse the cause of these two officers, who

had never been reflected on by name; and, by so doing, he got them into complete disgrace, and involved himself in a quarrel, which embittered the remainder of his life.

The capture of the Prince George's launch was attributable to a practical joke of some young midshipmen, who were in the boats astern of her, and who, finding that every one in the launch, including the lieutenant, was fast asleep, and did not hear the order given to weigh, they resolved to slip their paynter, and leave the launch to herself. This unlucky joke ended in the capture of the boat, the disgrace of her officer and of the British flag, and the loss of some valuable lives.

CHAPTER XIV.

Mutiny on board the Princess Royal — Character, trial, and execution of the mutineers - Reflections - Anecdotes with reference to the above-The signal for all chaplains - The Admiral's manner of passing a sleepless night - His visit to the quarter-deck — Order to block up the entering port-Consequences - Anecdote of Tucker of Darby-of Coffin of Downman Lord St. Vincent fond of taking charge of the watch-The mutiny on board the Romulus -The manner of treating the crew - Reply to the captain of a frigate Letter to the Board of Ordnance on saluting and exercise Letter to Sir J. Brenton on boarding vessels on neutral convoys.

I SHALL now proceed to speak of the mutiny on board the Princess Royal, in the month of July, 1797. That ship bore the flag of Sir John Orde, and was lying with the fleet before Cadiz, into which port it was intended to carry the ship. The plan of operations was revealed to the chaplain in the middle watch, and it was to have been carried into effect at four in the morning. The marines were immediately called out, the ringleaders seized, and sent to the Ville de Paris. One of them pretended to be an ideot, and had so far succeeded in deceiving