y proceeding to Malta. Shaking themselves
free from this duty on the news that the enemy's fleet was coming out of
Cadiz, they made haste to join the main fleet in spite of contrary
winds, and with the dreadful apprehension of being too late for the
imminent battle. 'I do not profess,' he writes to Mary Gibson, 'to like
fighting for its own sake, but if there has been an action with the
combined fleets I shall ever consider the day on which I sailed from the
squadron as the most inauspicious one of my life.' Six days later (on
October 27) he had to add: 'Alas! my dearest Mary, all my fears are but
too fully justified. The fleets have met, and, after a very severe
contest, a most decisive victory has been gained by the English. . . . To
lose all share in the glory of a day which surpasses all that ever went
before is what I cannot think of with any degree of patience.' But he
soon turns from selfish regrets to speak of the death of Nelson, and
adds: 'I never heard of his equal, nor do I expect again to see such a
man. To the soundest judgment he united prompt decision and speedy
execution of his plans; and he possessed in a superior degree the happy
talent of making every class of persons pleased with their situation,
and eager to exert themselves in forwarding the public service.'

For his personal disappointment, Frank was, to a certain extent,
consoled by taking part in Sir John Duckworth's cruise to the West
Indies and in the victory over the French at St. Domingo; the squadron
returning home, with three prizes, to receive the thanks of Parliament
on their arrival at the beginning of May 1806. In the following July,
Francis Austen and Mary Gibson were married.[153]

Meanwhile, the long residence at Bath of his mother and sisters had come
to an end. On July 2, Mrs. Austen, her two daughters, and Martha Lloyd,
left Bath. Cassandra and Jane were thoroughly tired of the place--so
says Jane in a letter written two years afterwards to Cassandra,
reminding her of their happy feelings of escape.[154] The immediate
destination of the party was Clifton, and here Martha Lloyd left
them--perhaps for Harrogate in accordance with the lines quoted
above.[155] The Austens did not stay long at Clifton, and by the end of
the month were at Adlestrop Rectory on a visit to Mr. Thomas Leigh; but
neither did this prove more than a brief resting-place, for on August 5
they set out, in somewhat peculiar circumstances, together with Mr.
Leig