a few days'
practice, the target was never missed, and on an average ten or twelve
bottles were hit every day. Thus kept in constant preparation for the
battle, and daily gaining new confidence in themselves, the crews were
in the highest degree elated. Officers and men felt they were going to
an assured victory, and that to obtain complete success the plans of
their chief required only the exertions which every one resolved to
make. As a consequence of this enthusiasm, which never had a check, for
the excitement of preparation was followed by the flush of victory,
their health and vigour were beyond all parallel. Scarcely a man came on
the sick-list; and when the _Queen Charlotte_ was paid off on her
return, only one had died, except from the casualties of battle, out of
nearly a thousand who had joined her more than three months before.

On the 9th of August, the fleet reached Gibraltar, where the _Minden_
had arrived only the preceding night. Here they found a Dutch squadron
of five frigates and a corvette, commanded by Vice-Admiral the Baron Von
de Capellan, who, on learning the object of the expedition, solicited
and obtained leave to co-operate. The ships, having completed their
ordnance stores and provisions, were ready to sail on the 12th; but the
strong easterly wind prevented them from moving for two days. On the
13th, every ship received a plan of the fortifications, with full
instructions respecting the position she was to occupy. A general order
to this effect had been issued on the 6th, but the co-operation of the
Dutch squadron had made some change in the arrangements necessary. To
this squadron was assigned the duty of attacking the fort and batteries
south of the town, a service previously intended for the _Minden_ and
_Hebrus_, which were now to take a position among their consorts in
front of the Mole.

The fleet sailed next day, and on the 16th was within two hundred miles
of its destination, when the wind again shifted to the eastward. That
evening the ship-sloop _Prometheus_, Captain Dashwood, joined direct
from Algiers, with information that the Algerines were making every
preparation to meet the attack. All the former defences had been made
completely effective, and new works had been added; forty thousand
troops had been assembled; all the Janizaries called in from distant
garrisons; and the whole naval force of the regency, four frigates, five
large corvettes, and thirty-seven gun-boats, were