ies go so slow that seamen think they
never mean to get forward; but I daresay they act on a surer principle,
although we seldom fail." During this partial action our army appeared
upon the heights; and having reconnoitered the place, returned to
St. Fiorenzo. "What the general could have seen to make a retreat
necessary," said Nelson, "I cannot comprehend. A thousand men would
certainly take Bastia: with five hundred and the AGAMEMNON I would
attempt it. My seamen are now what British seamen ought to be--almost
invincible. They really mind shot no more than peas." General Dundas
had not the same confidence. "After mature consideration," he said in a
letter to Lord Hood, "and a personal inspection for several days of all
circumstances, local as well as others, I consider the siege of Bastia,
with our present means and force, to be a most visionary and rash
attempt; such as no officer would be justified in undertaking." Lord
Hood replied that nothing would be more gratifying to his feelings than
to have the whole responsibility upon himself; and that he was ready and
willing to undertake the reduction of the place at his own risk with
the force and means at present there. General D'Aubant, who succeeded
at this time to the command of the army, coincided in opinion with his
predecessor, and did not think it right to furnish his lordship with a
single soldier, cannon, or any stores. Lord Hood could only obtain a few
artillerymen; and ordering on board that part of the troops who, having
been embarked as marines, "were borne on the ships" books as part of
their respective complements, he began the siege with 1183 soldiers,
artillerymen, and marines, and 250 sailors. "We are but few," said
Nelson, "but of the right sort; our general at St. Fiorenzo not giving
us one of the five regiments he has there lying idle."

These men were landed on the 4th of April, under Lieutenant-Colonel
Villettes and Nelson, who had now acquired from the army the title of
brigadier. Guns were dragged by the sailors up heights where it appeared
almost impossible to convey them--a work of the greatest difficulty, and
which Nelson said could never, in his opinion, have been accomplished
by any but British seamen. The soldiers, though less dexterous in such
service, because not accustomed, like sailors, to habitual dexterity.
behaved with equal spirit. "Their zeal," said the brigadier, "is almost
unexampled. There is not a man but considers himself as