Chapter 5

EXPEDITION AGAINST IRELAND.

State of parties--Enemy's preparations for invasion--Reflections on Ireland--Lord Exmouth's opinion on the Roman Catholic question--Sir E. Pellew watches Brest with his frigates--His perseverance and hardihood--Sailing of the expedition--He embarrasses its movements--Arrives in England--Misfortunes of the British fleet--Enemy arrive at Bantry Bay--Prevented from landing, and driven off the coast by gales--Reflections on the failure of the expedition--Sir Edward puts to sea with the _Indefatigable_ and _Amazon_--Meets and engages the _Droits de l'Homme_, 74--Finds himself on a lee-shore, hauls off, and saves the _Indefatigable_ with difficulty--_Amazon_ wrecked--Admirable conduct of her officers and crew--_Droits de l'Homme_ wrecked--Horrible circumstance of her fate--Anecdote of the French Commodore--Eventual fate of the Captain of the _Amazon_. page 86