t was found among his
papers.

The Admiralty would not send back the squadron which had just returned
from the Mediterranean, probably thinking it right that ships going
expressly to fight a severe battle should be manned with volunteers.
This decision greatly increased his difficulties. Naval officers seldom
think a ship effective until she has been some time in commission.
Within two months, Lord Exmouth commissioned, fitted, and manned a
fleet, and fought the battle.

As soon as he had completed his first arrangements at the Admiralty, he
hastened to Portsmouth, where the _Boyne_, his flag-ship, was lying
with her consorts. He went on board as soon as he arrived, and there was
not a little excitement when the Admiral was seen coming alongside at a
very early hour in the morning. He mustered the ship's company on deck,
and having read to them the Admiralty letter, invited them to join him;
but at that time scarcely a man came forward. They were unwilling to
enter for a new service until they had enjoyed some liberty on shore;
but after they had been paid off, and spent their money, numbers of them
volunteered, and many more would probably have done so, but for the very
short time in which the crews were completed. No difficulty was
experienced in manning the fleet. The whole ship's company of the
_Leander_, then on the point of sailing as the flag-ship on the North
American station, volunteered to go, and accordingly her destination was
changed for the time. Rear-Admiral Milne, for whom she had been fitted,
obtained permission to go out with her; and as Sir Charles Penrose did
not join at Gibraltar, he hoisted his flag in the _Impregnable_, as
second in command. Among other volunteers were a number of smugglers,
who had been taken on the western coast, and sentenced to five years'
service in the navy. They were sent to the eastward as prisoners in a
cutter in which Mr. Pellew had taken a passage to make a parting visit
to his brother, and they implored his intercession on their behalf. He
advised them to enter for the _Queen Charlotte_, and gain a title to the
indulgence they sought by their good conduct in the battle. They all did
so: no serious casualty occurred among them, and they behaved so well
that Lord Exmouth applied to the Admiralty, and obtained their
discharge.

Lord Exmouth's marine officer in the _Arethusa_, the late Sir Richard
Williams, then commanded the marine artillery, and Lord Exmouth wrote to