MAJOR SEMPLE LISLE. 319 



whom were fent out of the garrifon, and fuch 

 as were able, were compelled to lerve on board 

 the fleet. By this judicious manoeuvre, the 

 gallant Earl St. Vincent converted the very 

 fcum of the earth into ufeful fubjed:s ; proving 

 clearly, that, with a good commander, the 

 \vorft of materials will make excellent foldiers 

 or failors, provided difcipline and fubordina- 

 tion be duly kept up. It is by no means my 

 intention to derogate from the bravery of our 

 Britifh feamen, whofe excellent conduct has at 

 all times been a pattern to the world; yet 

 thefe ruffians, fnatched from fliops, from ftalls, 

 and from futtling-houfes, were made their com- 

 panions in glory ; and proved themfelves wor- 

 thy the honour of fighting by their fides. 

 What they might have done under an officer 

 of a lefs decided charadler than Earl St. Vin- 

 cent is hard to fay; but they knew him to be 

 brave, and that to difobey was to die ; to his 

 firmnefs alone, therefore, his country owes 

 thofe adls of valour performed by this motley 

 affemblage of outcafts. 



I Hiared the fate of other fufferers, and was 

 arrefted along with the nephew of the BritiHi 

 Vice-Conful, and feveral others, who like us 

 were about to land. As I had already fent my 

 letter to General O'Hara, I intended to have 

 waited patiently his anfwsr, as in fad the ordi^ 



i^ary 



