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The English navy, so early as in the month of September of this year, consisted of one ship of an hundred and ten guns, five of an hundred guns each, thirteen of ninety, eight of eighty, five of seventy-four, twenty-nine of seventy, four of sixty-six, one of sixty-four, thirty-three of sixty, three of fifty-four, twenty-eight of fifty, four of forty-four, thirty-five of forty, and forty-two of twenty, four sloops of war of eighteen guns each, two of sixteen, eleven of fourteen, thirteen of twelve, and one of ten, besides a great number of bomb-ketches, fire-ships, and tenders; a force sufficient to oppose the united maritime strength of all the powers in Europe; whilst that of the French, even at the end of this year, and including the ships then upon the stocks, amounted to no more than six ships of eighty guns, twenty-one of seventy-four, one of seventy-two, four of seventy, thirty-one of sixty-four, two of sixty, six of fifty, and thirty-two frigates.
Most of the fire-ships had got inside the boom, but Morton saw that one only just beginning to burn would miss it. "Now, my lads, we'll get hold of her, and tow her down on the Frenchmen!" he exclaimed. "Ay, ay, sir! we're all ready," was the answer. On they dashed towards the flaming mass. They got hold of the burning vessel, and towed her up towards the now retreating French ships.
A signal gun from the San Martin ordered the whole fleet to slip their cables and stand out to sea. Orders given in panic are doubly unwise, for they spread the terror in which they originate. The danger from the fire-ships was chiefly from the effect on the imagination, for they appear to have drifted by and done no real injury.
He had obtained his object, and was at once to set to work to prepare the explosion vessels and fire-ships according to his proposed plan. "We must, however, part, Morton, I am on many accounts sorry to say," he observed. "Indeed, so am I, my lord, to hear you say so," answered Ronald. "I had hoped to continue with you in the `Imperious' till she was paid off."
Fortunately, no occasion arose for her to act; and a stay which began with taking precautions against possible fire-ships from the city, ended in a series of balls and general exchanges of courtesy between the officers and the citizens. In April, 1833, the Natchez returned to Hampton Roads; and the following month sailed, carrying Farragut back again to the Brazils.
'The residue thereof, lo! was it not burnt up by my fire-ships? yea, they were peppered. 'The remainder I am even now peppering, and the others will I continue to pepper. 'Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers even so did I such a peppering never yet was seen, neither aforetime, or aftertime, not in the land where the pepper grows, or any other time. 'I peppered 'em.
Hawke, instructed by his previous experience, had earnestly but fruitlessly demanded fire-ships and bomb-vessels to destroy the enemy in case they grounded on the flats; which they did, and for some hours lay exposed to such an attack. Not having these means, he had to watch helplessly the process of lightening and towing by which they at last made their escape.
The Provinces, "fatigued by the war, involved in debt, suffering cruelly in their commerce, exhausted by the necessity of paying the emperor and all the German princes, could no longer fit out the enormous fleets which they had once opposed to France and England." They however hearkened to Spain and sent De Ruyter, with a squadron of only eighteen ships and four fire-ships.
They buoyed their cables, expecting to return for them at daylight, and with only a single accident, to be mentioned directly, they executed successfully a really difficult manoeuvre. The Duke was delighted with himself. The fire-ships burnt harmlessly out. He had baffled the inventions of the endemoniada gente.
“We take with us two old vessels that will be used as fire-ships, and the Carolina and another ship that are not yet equipped will join us later on. We are first going to attack Bahia, where we shall have all our work cut out. The Portuguese have three line-of-battle ships, five frigates, five corvettes, a brig, and a schooner. The worst of the thing is that we cannot depend upon our crews.
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