ignominy of this evacuation. The fleet also was ordered to leave the
Mediterranean. This resolution was so contrary to the last instructions
which had been received, that Nelson exclaimed, "Do his majesty's
ministers know their own minds? They at home," said he, "do not know
what this fleet is capable of performing--anything and everything.
Much as I shall rejoice to see England, I lament our present orders in
sackcloth and ashes, so dishonourable to the dignity of England, whose
fleets are equal to meet the world in arms; and of all the fleets I ever
saw, I never beheld one, in point of officers and men, equal to Sir John
Jervis's, who is a commander-in-chief able to lead them to glory."
Sir Gilbert Elliott believed that the great body of the Corsicans were
perfectly satisfied, as they had good reason to be, with the British
Government, sensible of its advantages, and attached to it. However this
may have been, when they found that the English intended to evacuate the
island, they naturally and necessarily sent to make their peace with the
French. The partisans of France found none to oppose them. A committee
of thirty took upon them the government of Bastia, and sequestrated all
the British property; armed Corsicans mounted guard at every place, and
a plan was laid for seizing the viceroy. Nelson, who was appointed to
superintend the evacuation, frustrated these projects. At a time when
every one else despaired of saving stores, cannon, provisions, or
property of any kind, and a privateer was moored across the mole-head to
prevent all boats from passing, he sent word to the committee, that
if the slightest opposition were made to the embarkment and removal of
British property, he would batter the town down. The privateer pointed
her guns at the officer who carried this message, and muskets were
levelled against his boats from the mole-head. Upon this Captain Sutton,
of the EGMONT, pulling out his watch, gave them a quarter of an hour to
deliberate upon their answer. In five minutes after the expiration of
that time, the ships, he said, would open their fire. Upon this the