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Rh cloud which appeared on the point of bursting over this country. With this situation, together with all the circumstances which led to it, Sir John was perfectly well acquainted; but very little relief could be expected, highly as the abilities of its commander might be estimated, from a squadron consisting of ten ships of the line, which, putting the French force at Toulon totally out of the question, had to contend with an enemy of nearly three times its own force.

This disparity of numbers was in some degree reduced by the arrival of Rear-Admiral Parker, with five sail of the line, from England, who formed a junction with Sir John Jervis off Cape St. Vincent, on the 6th Feb. 1797. Still, however, his force was so very unequal to that of the enemy, that nothing but the existing case could have warranted the attack; nor any thing short of the greatest exertions in regard 