rom the French Commodore to Buonaparte. After receiving them
on board, we made sail, accompanied by the Myrmidon, for England.

In working out, we passed within about a cable's length of the Superb.
He asked me if I considered that was near enough for a naval
engagement: I answered, that half the distance, or even less, would
suit much better; as it was a maxim in our navy, not to be further
from our enemy than to give room for working the yards, and
manoeuvring the ship.

He remained upon deck all the time the ship was beating out of the
Pertuis d'Antioche. Having cleared the Chasseron shoal about six P.M.,
dinner was served. He conversed a great deal at table, and seemed in
very good spirits; told several anecdotes of himself; among others,
one relating to Sir Sydney Smith. Knowing that I had served under that
officer on the coast of Syria, he turned to me and said, "Did Sir
Sydney Smith ever tell you the cause of his quarrel with me?" I
answered he had not. "Then," said he, "I will.--When the French army
was before St Jean d'Acre, he had a paper privately distributed among
the officers and soldiers, tending to induce them to revolt and quit
me; on which I issued a proclamation, denouncing the English
commanding-officer as a madman, and prohibiting all intercourse with
him. This nettled Sir Sydney so much, that he sent me a challenge to
meet him in single combat on the beach at Caiffa. My reply was, that
when Marlborough appeared for that purpose, I should be at his
service; but I had other duties to fulfil besides fighting a duel with
an English commodore." He pursued the subject of Syria, and said,
patting me (who was sitting next him) on the head; "If it had not been
for you English, I should have been Emperor of the East; but wherever
there is water to float a ship, we are sure to find you in our way."

During the 17th and 18th of July, the weather was very fine, and
nothing of note occurred. Several strange vessels were seen, about
which Buonaparte and his attendants were very inquisitive, in order, I
presume, that they might judge whether they would probably have
escaped or not, had they put to sea. The only ship of war fallen in
with on those days was the Bacchus sloop, which I pointed out; and at
the same time informed him, that we had several frigates cruising in
this position, for the purpose of intercepting him, had he got past
the ships stationed close in with the land. This, as it afterward
appeared, w