other description; and all the
sea-fencibles embodied within the same district, with all the boats,
vessels, and other floating defences, on board of which they might be
required to act. His lordship, accordingly, hastened to Sheerness, and
hoisted his flag on board L'Unite frigate of thirty-two guns. Having,
with his accustomed activity, directed the respective stations of the
several ships there under his command; he sailed, in a very few days,
for the Downs: and it is remarkable that, on his passage from the Nore,
instead of pursuing the usual course, and proceeding through the King's
Channel, he resolved on attempting a passage hitherto deemed
impracticable for ships of war--an experiment which he judiciously
considered, at this particular period, as well worthy of trial--and,
having compleatly succeeded, it has ever since been properly called
Nelson's Channel.

On the 29th of July, at night, Lord Nelson arrived in the Downs, and
immediately hoisted his flag on board the Leyden of sixty-four guns; but
shifted it, two days after, to the Medusa frigate of thirty-two. Not a
moment was now lost in making every preparation for a formidable attack
on the French flotilla, by the assistance of which we were menaced with
the invasion of the myriads of troops that lined the shore of the enemy
from Brest to the Texel. Fearful, however, of our approach, they had
been particularly careful to fortify their coast swarming with soldiers,
by the erection of innumerable strong batteries, having furnaces for
preparing red-hot shot, and adapting every other contrivance to annoy
their dreaded assailants and protect themselves. From the moment it was
known that Lord Nelson had undertaken the home command, every
apprehension of a French invasion was changed into the wish that such an
attempt might instantly be made, and there was, perhaps, scarcely a man,
woman, or child, in the united kingdom, who now longer felt the smallest
fear of an event which had lately excited so much general alarm. With a
promptness inconceivable, his lordship planned every species of
precautionary defence, while engaged in executing his offensive
operations: and it is anxiously hoped, that his excellent defensive
arrangements, made on this occasion, though happily not then needed,
will be carefully treasured in the archives of the Admiralty, for
immediate adoption, should any attempt ever be made, by a rash and
powerful enemy, to approach the British shores; who