1793] MOORE WEARIED BY NEEDLESS DELAY 39

showed Spanish colours and made the signal to speak. We laid-to and the Fortitude sent a boat on board; his information was that Toulon was evacuated upon the 19th after setting fire to the arsenal and eleven sail of the line. Lord Hood was in Hieres Bay with the army on board, and had taken three of the largest of the French ships with him. Several Spanish and English frigates were cruising off Toulon to prevent any of our ships from going in. The Spanish fleet were gone to Mahon. Captain Dickson said he would of course immediately join Lord Hood in Hieres Bay. The wind was not exactly fair; but we could have worked up in a few hours. A little later he made a signal for the Captains to come on board. I remained in the cabin till they were all assembled and beginning to consult, when I of course withdrew. They all appeared happy at the evacuation of Toulon; from some it dropped that they would now get home. Since the capture of Toulon the service has been extremely unpleasant for the navy. They have been employed in conveying either bullocks, &c., from Genoa and Leghorn, or troops from Gibraltar, and the season has been very unfavourable.

Captain Poole, of the Colossus, told me as he came out of the cabin that we should endeavour to speak to some of the English cruisers and then go into Hieres. As soon as he was on board his signal was made to chase in~shore a vessel which was close to the entrance of Toulon. The weather became thick, and we soon lost sight of the Colossus. We stood off in the evening. I could not conceive why we did not immediately make for Hieres Bay the moment we were told Lord Hood was there. It was now plain we were not to attempt it that night; we continued standing off till eight this morning, which was much longer than was necessary, if the intention is to get into Hieres to-day. We are not, however, so far from the land but that by setting sail we might be in in five hours, as the wind is perfectly fair. This we are not doing. Captain D. seems undetermined ; from his conversation and manner he seems to have no wish to go in, and I can see no military reason for his