Now for the expedition to capture the galleon. If the following description of the place, in which she was supposed to be, is accurately given, there was certainly in some quarter, a great misconception of the probable difficulties of the enterprise. " Of all places whichever came under our inspection," says Captain Brenton, "none we conceive is more invulnerable to attack, or more easily defended, than Teneriffe. The island, like most of, its neighbours, is a volcanic production, consisting of mountains ; ravines, rocks, and precipices. The bay of Santa-Cruz affords no shelter for shipping ; the shore is nearly a right line, and the bank so steep that no anchorage can be found beyond the distance of half a mile, and that in 45 fathoms' water ; the beach, from north to south, is one continued series of broken masses of loose rock, and round, smooth stones, either rendered so by friction, or slippery from sea-weeds ; on this a perpetual surf breaks, rendering the landing at all times difficult, except at the mole or pier of Santa Cruz. To these obstacles there is another, which Nelson experienced in its fullest force: Teneriffe, like all other mountainous countries, is liable to calms, sudden squalls, and violent gusts of wind, which, rushing down the ravines, frequently take a ship's topmasts over the side without a moment's warning." *

On the 15th of July, the following ships, one of which, the Terpsichore, did not join till the next day, and another, the Leander, not until several days afterwards, were placed under the orders of Rear-admiral Nelson:

In about five days the squadron arrived off the island of Teneriffe. Every arrangement that sound judgment could devise having been completed, 200 seamen and marines from each of the three line-of-battle ships, and half of the number from each of the three frigates, exclusive of commissioned officers and servants, and a small detachment of royal artillery, the whole together amounting to about 1000 or 1050 men, were placed under the orders of Captain Troubridge ; each captain, under his direction, commanding the detachment of seamen from his own ship, and Captain Thomas Oldfield of the marines, as the senior marine-officer,

* Brenton, vol. ii., p. 284.

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