wishes ; for, on the 7th of March, the board ordered a number of fire-ships to be prepared, guided, no doubt, by a report delivered in by Captain Richard Goodwin Keats ; who, in the month of April, 1807, when the Majestueux and four two-deckers were lying at anchor in the road of Isle d'Aix, had suggested to the admiralty the probable success of " an attack of bombs, fire-ships, and rockets, covered and protected by a squadron ; " and which squadron, adds this able and distinguished officer, should be kept " as close to Isle d'Aix with easterly, and to the Boyart [Boyard] with westerly winds, as possible, in order that it may be in constant readiness to act decisively, should an opportunity present itself. " Thus resolved, the board of admiralty, on the 19th, by their secretary inform Lord Gambier, that 12 transports are fitting as fire-ships, that Mr. Congreve is to proceed in a transport, with a supply of rockets and of men skilled in the management of them, and that five bomb-vessels are under orders to fit for sea with all possible expedition and proceed to Basque roads. The letter of directions then proceeds thus : " All these preparations are making with a view to enable your lordship to make an attack on the French fleet at their anchorage off Isle d'Aix, if practicable ; and I am further commanded to signify their lordships' direction to you, to take into your consideration the possibility of making an attack upon the enemy, either conjointly with your line-of-battle ships, frigates, and small-craft, fire-ships, bombs, and rockets, or separately by any of the above named means."

On the same day, on which these orders were written, arrived at the admiralty Lord Gambier's letter of the 11th, suggesting the use of fire-ships ; and on the same day also arrived at Plymouth, from the Mediterranean, the 38-gun frigate Impérieuse, Captain Lord Cochrane. About an hour after the frigate had dropped anchor, her captain, by a telegraphic communication from the admiralty, was ordered to attend the board, it being known to their lordships, by the records in their office, that Lord Cochrane was well acquainted with that part of the French coast in which the operations were to be carried on.

On the 21st, having arrived by express from Plymouth, Lord Cochrane waited upon Lord Mulgrave, who confidentially conferred with him on the means of destroying the French fleet at their anchorage under Isle d'Aix. Lord Cochrane was decidedly of opinion that the attempt by fire-ships would succeed. The first lord of the admiralty then asked Lord Cochrane, if he would undertake to execute the plan which they had so discussed. " This, in the first instance, Lord Cochrane declined, offering, as a reason, the jealousy which such an appointment might excite in the breasts of his brother-officers serving on that station. But, at a subsequent interview, the first lord of the admiralty having stated to Lord Cochrane, that he was the only officer with whom he had communicated, who deemed the

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