thing can resist
a line-of-battle ship's fire." He wrote to the Admiralty before he left
England, declaring himself fully satisfied with all the arrangements,
and taking on himself the responsibility of the result.

He was scarcely appointed, when officers came forward in crowds to offer
their services. On the 29th of June, only six days after he arrived in
the Channel, he writes--"Government has taken a very proper view of the
subject, and has determined to send out a proper force. I immediately
said, it was my duty to finish that which I had begun, and that I should
cheerfully go. My offer is accepted, and I embark in the _Queen
Charlotte_, with _Impregnable_, and others. The only delay will be want
of men; but I hope they will be induced by the offers made, to volunteer
for the service, to be rewarded after it." On the 4th of July, he says,
"I have refused Israel, Pownoll, Fleetwood, Harward, and both Admiral
and Captain Halsted,[12] volunteers. Even Lord Spencer brought his son,
and a hundred others."

With very few exceptions, the officers were selected by the Admiralty.
It was understood that Sir Charles Penrose would be the second in
command, his appointment at that time as commander-in-chief in the
Mediterranean entitling him to the preference. He was very highly valued
by Lord Exmouth, under whom he had served with the _Cleopatra_ in the
western squadron. It was intended that despatches should be sent in time
to enable him to join the expedition; but greatly to the disappointment
of both officers, the information was received too late.

Lord Exmouth persisted in refusing all his relations. The motive of
duty, which was imperative on himself, applied to none of them; and all
were anxious to go. For himself, he might well trust that the Providence
which had shielded him forty years, for so long was it since he had
fought the _Carleton_ on Lake Champlain, would guard him in the
approaching battle; or, if he were doomed to fall in what might truly be
deemed a holy war, he had a better confidence than the pride of a hero,
or even the self-devotedness of a patriot. Before he sailed, he made
every arrangement which his death would render necessary; and among
others, wrote a letter for his eldest son, chiefly on the subject of the
duties which would devolve upon him as a British nobleman, and which he
designed for his last injunctions. The existence of this letter was not
known until some time after his death, when i