orders for him to follow
to England with the last division, which consisted of three sail of
the line and six troop-ships.

After exchanging complimentary letters with his Excellency the
Captain-general and Governor of Andalusia, Sir James took leave of his
Royal Highness the Governor of Gibraltar. He sailed on the 30th of
June, anchored at Spithead on the 23rd of July 1802, and reported in
the usual manner the arrival of the Caesar to the Admiralty.

CHAPTER V.

1803.

Commencement of Hostilities with France.--Sir James hoists his
Flag at Sheerness.--Proceeds to Guernsey.--Flag in the
Grampus.--Anecdote of Captain Caulfield.--Sir James visits
Jersey, &c.--Diomede arrives as Flag-ship.--The Admiral
examines the Defence of the Island.--Loss of La
Minerve.--Attack and Bombardment of Granville.--Cerberus gets
aground.--Narrow Escape from a Shot.--Public and Private
Letters.--Blockade of the Coast.--Loss of the Shannon and
Grappler.--Conclusion of 1803.

Hostilities with France were about to be resumed early in the year
1803, and Sir James was called into active service. On the 11th of
March he hoisted his flag at Sheerness, on board the Zealand, in order
to expedite the preparations that were going on in the Medway. Soon
after this, the Zealand went to the Nore. She was at that time
commanded by Captain, afterwards Admiral, William Mitchell, an officer
who had risen to the rank of Rear-admiral by his good conduct, after
having been flogged through the fleet for desertion.

The great preparations now making at St. Maloes rendered it probable
that the intention of Bonaparte was to attack the Channel Islands;
Sir James was therefore appointed to the command at Guernsey, and,
proceeding from the Nore in the Kite brig, he fell in with the
Grampus, which was destined, _pro tempore_, for his flag. Both ships
arrived at St. Pierre's roads on the 19th of May. Here the Admiral's
squadron consisted of six frigates, and six brigs and cutters, which
were chiefly employed in blockading the adjacent coast, and in
preventing the concentration of the enemy's force at St. Maloes and
Granville, the two principal places whence it appeared an attack would
be made.

The Grampus was commanded by Captain Thomas Gordon Caulfield, who had
notions of discipline peculiar to himself, with which Sir James, who
lived on shore with his family, did not interfere. The following
anecdote will