nderstood that there is a good school in Dorsetshire,--I think at
Sherborne,--I shall not be surprised if you have placed him there for
the summer, and shall not think it a bad plan to have him nearer to
you. I am glad to find my letters from Gibraltar reached you, and hope
that one or two stragglers will also have come to hand before those
from the Nile arrive. These last will induce you to believe our
cruise less unpleasant than you seemed to apprehend,--more
particularly when you find it the means of bringing the Orion to
England.

"Your _P.S._ of the 11th of June is considerably later than any
accounts received in the squadron; indeed, I find very few letters
have been received by any of the captains. The Lion, I understand, is
on her way to join the squadron; but I have reason to believe she has
nothing for me, as she sailed before L'Aigle.

"The accounts from Ireland are truly distressing; but I hope
tranquillity has long since been restored in that distracted country.
We have heard of the dreadful business off Cadiz; but as news from the
fleet must reach home before we can be acquainted with them, I shall
not enlarge on the subject. Captain Grey, I find, is gone to England,
which will have been an agreeable surprise to his amiable lady.

"Now for some account of the Orion and her crew:--In the first place,
Mr. Barker is on board Le Peuple Souverain, happier than a prince. Mr.
Wells becomes first, in his room; and, as I found it necessary to send
away Mr. ---- at Syracuse, I should remain with only three lieutenants,
but that, in virtue of my present command, I appointed, the day I left
Admiral Nelson, our kinsman Dumaresq to that station, who acquits
himself with great zeal and assiduity. He will receive pay for the
time; but cannot be confirmed, from not having served the six required
years.

"All the officers are in rapture at the share the ship had in the
action, except her captain, who is never satisfied. The ship's company
all healthy, and the wounded daily recovering. Sheep and poultry in
abundance; but the fear of a long passage down the Mediterranean
obliges us to be frugal, wishing, if possible, to avoid putting into
any place before we reach the fleet off Cadiz,--a thing scarcely
possible, and rendered still more improbable from our little progress
the last five days: however,--_patience_!

"I have only two French officers on board; one was second captain of
the Tonnant; they are both in the ward-