pied as usual, but in the long evenings, the 'books will be my sole resource.

6

*

I consider invasion over for this winter, and

therefore, probably, over for ever; but with the winds I now witness, a naval expe 'dition cannot be undertaken; therefore send me your receipt for minced pies; yours, to

my taste, are the best I meet with. Kind ' remembrance to Jane-good night, my dear

In the following year, the preparations for invasion were augmented, and Moore, who was in readiness to encounter it, wrote in February to his mother, that he did not expect the French before April ; And even then, the expedition is so replete with 'difficulties, and leaves such little hope of 'success, that I shall always doubt their in⚫tention until we see it actually attempted.

The collection at Boulogne can only mean this part of the coast, and I am

'pleased with the prospect of seeing the first ' of it. If we beat the French handsomely in the first instance, the house at Marshgate ' will not hold you.

'I am glad to see the accounts of the King ' are favourable; I wish him to recover. I like to be at my post, doing my duty; in' different whether one set or another govern, ' provided they govern well.'

A change of administration soon after this took place, Mr. Addington being overwhelmed by the eloquence of the most able orators of the House of Commons, although no well-grounded charges were advanced against his measures. For the nation had suffered no reverses, and Bonaparte had gained no triumphs. He had chiefly been occupied in building gun-boats for invasion, which he soon found was too perilous an enterprize; and his army lingered at Boulogne, consuming his resources.

The British minister was resolute, and con

* Near Richmond, where Mrs. Moore lived,

fident that the country could defend itself without an ally. He, therefore, offered no subsidies to the continental powers, thinking it better to leave them quiescent to recover from the dreadful losses they had endured by their late discomfitures.

In the mean time, he ruined the commerce, blocked up the harbours, and sent squadrons to attack the colonies of France. Mr. Pitt disliked this mode of warfare, as not sufficiently offensive; he soon commenced foreign negotiations, and the war assumed a different aspect.

Moore received, in September, official letters of a very flattering tenour, signifying that it was his Majesty's pleasure to confer upon him the order of the Bath. As he regularly corresponded with his mother, this, among other matters, was noticed thus:

'I enclose two letters I received two

days ago; on the back of each is the answer

This mark of at

I have returned to it. 'tention to me, and the manner in which it

is conferred, will no doubt be pleasing to 'you. I accept it as it is meant; though I 'should have had no objection to have been distinguished by the want of the Order. Sir 'John, and a ribbon, seem not in character 'with me-but so it is. You will send me 'back the two letters, after showing them to 'Jane and my brothers; nobody else has a

right to know our private concerns. You ' will wait mentioning this subject, or to Sir 'John me, until you see me in the Gazette,

and, indeed, until I have been invested.'

It was about this time that government received certain intelligence, though surreptitiously, that Spain was about to declare war against Great Britain, and only delayed, until her treasure ships should reach Cadiz. Orders upon this were dispatched to Captain Graham Moore, to intercept these Spanish ships, and to conduct them to Portsmouth, employing force, if necessary. He sailed

with two frigates towards Spain; and taking with him two others which he met, he proceeded in the track he considered the most likely to fall in with the Spanish ships, and cruised off Cadiz. In a few days four large Spanish frigates were seen steering towards the coast, bound from Spanish America.

The largest ship displayed a Rear-Admiral's flag; on board of which he sent an officer to communicate to the Spanish Admiral the orders he had received, which were peremptory. The Spaniard remonstrated, and refused to obey: a fierce action, ship to ship, ensued. One of the Spanish frigates was blown up, and the three others, after a sharp conflict, struck, and were conveyed to Spithead.

On the General's hearing of this encounter, he wrote to his mother in the following humorous strain :

'My dear Mother,

Sandgate, 19th October.

'I think I see the spectacles jumping

'off your nose, in reading the account of

VOL. II.

C