France effected a change in her constitution. Instead of a national convention, the ruling power in the republic was vested in an executive directory of five members, and a legislative body composed of two chambers, namely, a council of ancients consisting of 250 members, and a "council of five hundred ;" one third of each to be annually renewed. This, in a great degree, restored peace at home, but produced no such beneficial effects abroad. France, indeed, having no internal commotions to suppress, could now devote her sole attention to her favourite pastime, that of attacking, overrunning, and oppressing the nations around her. With most of these she succeeded ; but there was one nation, whose humiliation would have gratified her more than that of all the others, which still opposed her with success. Against England a blow was at length to be struck, that, all good republicans hoped, and many expected, would number her eventually among the conquests of France.

Although the summer and autumn passed, without the Brest fleet's making any attempt to put to sea, yet the English government knew that an expedition upon a very extensive scale, was maturing in the port, The destination of that armament, however, much to the credit of the French government, was kept a profound secret. The British were left to conjecture, whether it was Ireland, Portugal, or Gibraltar ; the latter was considered as by far the most likely. To be prepared for either case, the Channel fleet had been divided into three squadrons : one, under Rear-admiral Sir Roger Curtis, in the Formidable 98, was ordered to cruise to the westward ; another, under Rear-admiral Thompson, in the London 98, was stationed off Brest, and the third, under Admiral Lord Bridport, in the Royal George 100, remained at Spithead, to be despatched wherever the intelligence received by government might lead. On the 29th of October Vice-admiral Colpoys in the Niger frigate, joined the squadron off Brest, and exchanged ships with Rear admiral Thompson ; who immediately departed for England, leaving the vice-admiral with ten sail of the line. On the 7th of November, Sir John having then 12 sail, was joined by Rear admiral Sir Roger Curtis with seven ; but the latter shortly afterwards parted company, and on the 17th anchored with his squadron at St. Helen's.

The expedition, so long preparing at Brest, did certainly sail in this year ; but as it was quite at the latter end of it, we shall postpone our account of its proceedings until the next year's events arrive in order of detail.

On the morning of the 23d of February, during the temporary absence of the British squadron from before the Texel, a Dutch squadron, consisting of two 64, and two 54 gun ship, and several frigates and sloops, escaped to sea ; not unobserved, however, by the British 16-gun brig-sloop Espiègle, Captain Benjamin Roberts, and a cutter, both of which had been detached

^ back to top ^