30 TENERIFFE. 
ward, that large ships will always be exposed to considerable 
risk, and more particularly so from the months of October 
to March inclusive. 
Under such disadvantages, it was considered as a bold 
measure of Admiral Blake to run in with a fair wind, in order 
to take or destroy a fleet of Spanish galleons, which, however, 
he completely effected and, by a fortunate shift of the wind, 
escaped with his own fleet ; but it is far from certain what 
the consequences might have been to his ships, had not this 
sudden, and by no means to be expected, change of wind in 
his favour taken place at the moment he had finished his 
work of destruction, and carried him out of the bay ; leaving 
the Spaniards in astonishment (as Himie expresses it) at the 
happy temerity of their audacious visitors. Blake was a 
brave officer but not a good seaman, a profession of which 
a competent knowledge can scarcely be attained by one who 
hkc liim first enoaacs in it at the meridian of life. Still more 
daring than Blake's, though less successful, was the attempt 
of the late Lord Nelson to take the place by surprise, in the 
year 1797? by embarking about one thousand brave fellows 
in the boats of his squadron, and entering the bay in the 
middle of the night. Being unfortunately discovered on ap- 
proaching the mole, the alarm was instantly communicated 
to the to^vn, the bells were rung, the drums beat to arms, 
and the lines and the batteries began to open upon the in- 
vading party. The night was so dark that a great number 
of tlie boats never reached the pier, on which a considerable 
force was drav.' n up to oppose their landing. It was here that 
the immortal hero, always the first in ever}^ perilous enter- 
