340 THE LliE O'F 



ever, any other fliip came in a few days, or if 

 the Petterell would look in on her return from 

 the expedition on which fhe was going, I would 

 not require her to come to anchor, as upon 

 hoifting red at the main I would inftantly re- 

 pair on board. 



On the 8th of January, 1799, fourteen days 

 after, the Petterell hove in fight, and having 

 made the fignal previoufly agreed upon, I re- 

 paired on board j a few hours conveyed us to 

 Gibraltar, where I no fooner arrived than I 

 fent the following letter to General O'Hara : 



" Sir, 



** In obedience to your Excellency's 

 " commands, and the direcflions of thebenevo- 

 ** lent Mr. Matra, whofe fingular bounties to mc 

 *' have given him the privilege of difpofing of 

 ** me as he pieafes, I yefterday embarked on 

 " board his Majefty's fhip Petterell, and now 

 " furrender myfelf to your Excellencies difpo- 

 " fition. From you. Sir, I am affured of liberal 

 " treatment, therefore I have only to folicit the 

 ** honour of an early audience. Confident in 

 " the redlitude of my own condud, and the 

 " juftice of my country, I can entertain no ap- 

 " prehenfion ; but did there even exill a pofii- 

 " bility of converting any ad; of mine into a 



" crime; 



