34 MAETELLO AND MORTELLA

and continuing to hold it till March 1801. As both by Moore and by Sir Gilbert each of these two men are often mentioned simply as "Dundas," I must draw attention to my notes, which indicate the "Dundas" meant in each case where confusion might arise.

On one matter of orthography I have followed, after some consideration, Captain Mahan, though I am certain that in point of etymology Sir Gilbert Elliot is right and we both wrong. It therefore requires explanation. As Sir Gilbert Elliot happily1 describes the facts: "Mortella Bay means Myrtle Bay, and is no doubt so called from the quantity of myrtle which grows round it; as in Teviotdale we should speak of * Broom House' or ' Ferny Lee'; and in this country the weeds are Myrtle and Arbutus, and the fields are covered with a hyacinth of which the stalk is often three feet high and is as strong as a stick." Nevertheless I have everywhere substituted the spelling "Martello," always given to it in Lord Hood's MSS. letters in the British Museum.2 My reason is that I am not aware that anywhere else than in this Diary (p. 56) the incidents, which, when they were reported in England, led ultimately to the whole coast of England and Ireland being surrounded by a continuous series of "Mar-tello towers," are recorded by one who saw them. To spell the word "Mortella" would, now that the name has been fixed in England as "Martello," disguise the connection between this little fight and its result on our coast defences. I think that it is possible to trace the origin of the change in the name, and that the circumstances which led to it have an interest of their own. In James' "Naval History"

1 "Life of Sir Gilbert Elliot," vol. ii. p. 234.

2 Additional MSS. 22,688.