246 England: 



Malta, which England refused to evacuate without the guarantees for 

 which she had stipulated in the tre,aty of Amiens. A length, after 

 a protracted negotiation, in the course of which the First Consul ex- 

 pressed himself with equal petulence and insolence, descending even, 

 in a conference with the English ambassador, lord Whitworth, to the 

 contemptible threat of invasion, a message from the throne was sent 

 to the house of commons on the 16th of May 1803, stating, that the 

 conduct of the French government had obliged his majesty to recall 

 his ambassador from Paris, and that the French ambassador had left 

 London. 



The threats of invasion again resorted to by France had the effect 

 of uniting all classes in England. 300,000 volunteers were immedi- 

 ately embodied. In the course of this year St. Domingo, St. Lucie f 

 and Tobago, were captured from the French ; and the settlements of 

 Berbice and Demerara from the Dutch. In the East Indies the Bri- 

 tish arms were also attended with success. During the years 1804-5. 

 England was obliged to be an almost silent spectator of the rapid in- 

 crease of French power on the continent. The emperor of France 

 compelled the Spaniards to take up arms against Great Britain, and 

 on the plains of Germany defeated in numerous engagements the 

 combined Austrian and Russian armies. On the ocean, however, the 

 i British arms were still triumphant. A squadron of six sail of the 

 line, and some frigates, which had been blockaded for more than two 

 years, had found means to elude the British force and put to sea ; 

 soon after the Toulon fleet of 1 1 ships of the line and two frigates 

 pushed out to sea without being observed. They proceeded to Ca- 

 diz, where they were reinforced by six Spanish sail of the line, and 

 then sailed for the West-Indies. Thither lord Nelson followed, and 

 pursued them from island to island, but without being able to over- 

 take them. After cruising upwards of a month among the West In- 

 dies, the French fleet returned to Europe, closely pursued by the Bri- 

 tish squadron. Though Nelson was unable to fall in with the enemy., 

 who now amounted to twenty sail, they were met by sir Robert Cal- 

 der's fleet, of fifteen sail of the line and two frigates, off Cape Finis- 

 terre. An action immediately commenced ; it was supported with 

 determined resolution for four houi's ; and finally concluded in favour 

 of the English. The combined fleets arrived in a shattered condi- 

 tion at Ferrol, whence, after being reinforced, they sailed with 27 

 ships of the line for Cadiz. Here they received another reinforce- 

 ment, and on the 19th of October, with a fleet of 33 sail of the line, 

 they again put to sea. On the 21st they were overtaken by lord Nel- 

 son, near Cape Trafalgar. Both sides immediately prepared for ac- 

 tion. About noon the dreadful contest commenced, and a little after 

 twelve the battle became general. The combined fleets fought with 

 determined gallantry, but the British fire was irresistible ; and the is- 

 sue was a complete and most brilliant victory. Nineteen ships of the 

 line were captured. The victory, however, was considered as dearly 

 purchased, for Nelson was among the slain. 



After the death of Mr. Pitt, which soon followed, a change took 

 place in the administration ; the new members of which, considering 

 the interests of the country as but little connected with the affairs of 

 the continent, appeared not to be very solicitous for the success of 

 their northern allies. The policy pursued by the ministry was, how- 

 ever, in opposition to the opinions of a large majority of the people ; 

 and the consequence was, that their administration was but a short 



