uise near
the island of Cizarga, off the north-west coast of Spain, where
the Spaniards were to join him. On the 11th of June he was at the
rendezvous, but not till the 23d of July did the bulk of the Spanish
force appear. During this time, the French, insufficiently equipped
from the first, owing to the haste of their departure, were consuming
provisions and water, not to speak of wasting pleasant summer weather.
Their ships also were ravaged by an epidemic fever. Upon the junction,
d'Orvilliers found that the Spaniards had not been furnished with the
French system of signals, although by the treaty the French admiral
was to be in chief command. The rectification of this oversight caused
further delay, but on the 11th of August the combined fleet sighted
Ushant, and on the 14th was off the Lizard. On the 16th it appeared
before Plymouth, and there on the 17th captured the British 64-gun
ship _Ardent_.

Thirty-five ships of the Channel fleet had gone to sea on the 16th of
June, and now were cruising outside, under the command of Admiral Sir
Charles Hardy. His station was from ten to twenty leagues south-west
of Scilly; consequently he had not been seen by the enemy, who from
Ushant had stood up the Channel. The allies, now nearly double the
numbers of the British, were between them and their ports,--a serious
situation doubtless, but by no means desperate; not so dangerous for
sailing ships as it probably will be for steamers to have an enemy
between them and their coal.

The alarm in England was very great, especially in the south. On the
9th of July a royal proclamation had commanded all horses and cattle
to be driven from the coasts, in case of invasion. Booms had been
placed across the entrance to Plymouth Harbor, and orders were sent
from the Admiralty to sink vessels across the harbour's mouth. Many
who had the means withdrew into the interior, which increased the
panic. Great merchant fleets were then on the sea, homeward bound.
If d'Orvilliers were gone to cruise in the approaches to the Channel,
instead of to the Spanish coast, these might be taken; and for some
time his whereabouts were unknown. As it was, the Jamaica convoy, over
two hundred sail, got in a few days before the allies appeared, and
the Leeward Islands fleet had similar good fortune. Eight homeward
bound East Indiamen were less lucky, but, being warned of their
danger, took refuge in the Shannon, and there remained till the
trouble blew over.