Page:Authentic narrative of the proceedings of His Majesty's Squadron.pdf/7

 British, gave the most sincere satisfaction to every one on board of it. A vast number of boats came off, and rowed round it with the loudest congratulations, and the sincerest exultation, as they had been apprehensive that the French fleet was destined to art against them, after the capture of Malta. Here we gained intelligence from the British Consul, that Malta had actually surrendered. We had now hopes of being able to attack the enemy's fleet at Goza, where it was reported they were anchored, and the Admiral immediately formed a plan for that purpose.

We were now steering with a press of sail for Malta, with a fresh breeze at N. W. On the 22d June, La Mutine, at day-light in the morning, spoke a Genoese brig from Malta, which gave intelligence that the French had sailed from thence on the 13th, with a fresh gale at N. W. The Admiral was was not long in determingdetermining [sic] what course he should take, and made the signal to bear up and steer to the S. E. with all possible sail. At this time we had no certain means of ascertaining that the enemy were not bound up the Adriatic.

From the day we bore up, till the 29th of June, only three vessels were spoken with, two of which had come from Alexandria, and had not seen any thing of the enemy's fleet; the other had come from the Archipelago, and had likewise seen nothing of them. This day we saw the Pharos Tower of Alexandria, and continued nearing the land with a press of sail, till we had, a distinct view of both Harbours; and to our general surprise and disappointment, we saw not a French ship in either.—La Mutine communicated with the Governor of Alexandria, who was as much surprised at seeing a British squadron there, as he was at the intelligence that a French fleet was probably on its passage thither.

It now became a subject of deep and anxious deliberation with the Admiral what could possibly have been