JET. 35.]

LETTERS.

397

TO MRS. NELSON.

[From Clarke and M* Arthur, vol. i. p. 168.]

Camp, May 20th, 1794.

I have the pleasure to tell you that yesterday afternoon,the 19th, the Enemy sent off a Flag of Truce to Lord Hood.The truce still continues, and I hope there will be a surrenderof the Town in consequence. Our Fiorenzo army, hearingwhat was going on here, have marched to the tops of theheights, which will probably terrify the Enemy. I alwayswas of opinion, have ever acted up to it, and never have hadany reason to repent it, that one Englishman was equal tothree Frenchmen ; had this been an English Town, I am sureit would not have been taken by them. They have allowedus to batter it, without once making any effort to drive usaway. I may say truly, that this has been a Naval Expedi-tion : our Boats prevented any thing from getting in by Sea ,and our Sailors hauling up great guns, and then fighting themon shore.

We expect to take 1000 Regulars, 1500 NationalGuards, and a large party of Corsican Troops, 4000 in thewhole : these will lay down their Arms to 1000 Soldiers andMarines , and 200 Seamen. There is some difficulty aboutthe terms, and hostilities may recommence for a day or twolonger; but they must submit. Josiah has been with me atthe head of the British grenadiers, taking possession of theForts and Posts. When I reflect what we have achieved, I

and 16th/ The Secretary observed, that a proposal of this nature might berejected by Lord Hood, after the indignities that bad been offered to bis formerFlag of Truce, and the insults experienced by the Officer who had been thebearer of the summons. After further discussion, it was at length settled thatthe coxswain of Galeazzini’s boat, who had a wife and family at Bastia, shouldbe sent after sun-set with an ostensible passport, as if for some linen and othernecessaries for himself, and his fellow prisoners who were on board the Victory,and be enjoined to return to the Ship by sun-rise the next morning : this pro-posal was then communicated to Lord Hood, who readily acceded to it. Thecoxswain was accordingly landed at sun-set about two miles to the southward ofBastia, he was admitted into the garrison that evening, and escorted under aguard to the General’s quarters, whence he was conveyed to the Mayor’s house;and early the next morning, May 19th, he returned, and was taken on board theVictoryby one of her boats in waiting /*—Clarke and M l Arthur, vol. i. pp. 166-168.

The proposal to surrender the Town was the result of this communication.