Reminiscences of a Naval Officer During the Late War

er?Gale of wind?Chased by two of the enemy's armed vessels? Return to Mahon ? Part of the fleet damaged and dispersed by a succession of gales. The ' Sultan' lost no time in rejoining the fleet off Toulon, from whence, in the beginning of November, she was detached on a cruise in the Gulf of Genoa, to the no small delight of the whole crew; for besides varying the scene from the tameness and insipidity of blockade, we were cheered with the hope of some active boat service, always agreeable to sailors, and what is hardly less acceptable, a little prize-money ? its customary reward. In detaching a ship of the line from a fleetwhich could so ill spare one at the time, the Commander-in-Chief's object was to harass and interrupt the coasting trade, the only one the enemy ventured to carry on ? to beat up that part of the coast of Italy, keeping its inhabitants on the " qui vive," and to get all the information that could be obtained touching the feeling and disposition of the Italians, showing them, if they were weary of French dominion, that there were friends at hand ready and willing to assist them in shaking it off. For some time Bonaparte had felt anxious and uneasy as to the movements and intentions of Austria. That Power had of late greatly augmented her armies, and assumed a warlike attitude; and to all his remonstrances on the subject, had returned evasive and unsatisfactory answers. Italy was therefore drained of French troops, as well to maintain the e...