CHAPTER VIII

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THE MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALY.—FROM THE EVACUATION OF TOULON IN 1793 TO THE BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM THAT SEA, IN 1796, AND BATTLE OF CAPE ST. VINCENT, IN FEBRUARY, 1797.—AUSTRIA FORCED TO MAKE PEACE.

Requirements of a base of operations 184

Policy and objects of Great Britain in the Mediterranean 185

Inadequacy of Gibraltar to these ends 185

Advantages of Corsica as a base 186

Expulsion of the French from Corsica 187

The crown of Corsica offered to the king of Great Britain 188

Strained relations between Paoli and the viceroy 188

French Toulon fleet puts to sea, in March, 1795 189

## Action with the British Mediterranean fleet, March 14 190

Lethargy of Admiral Hotham 192

Losses in the two fleets 192

French re-enforced by a detachment from Brest 192

Disturbances in Toulon 193

Brush between the fleets off the Hyères Islands 194

Military events in Italy, 1795 195

Difficulty of suppressing coasting trade along the Riviera of Genoa 196

Sluggish movements of the Austrian general Devins 197

Decisive defeat of the Austrians at the battle of Loano 198

They retire across the Apennines 198

Criticism of the management of the British navy 199

Importance of Nelson's services 200

Commerce-destroying by the French 201

Admiral Jervis assumes command in the Mediterranean, and General Bonaparte in Italy 203

Professional Characteristics of Jervis 203

Disastrous results of Hotham's inactivity 207

Share of the French flotilla in maintaining Bonaparte's communications 207

Bonaparte's Italian campaign of 1796 208

Sardinia forced to peace 209

Successive defeats of the Austrians 210

Bonaparte occupies the line of the Adige, and blockades Mantua 210

Political results of the campaign 211

Naples abandons the Coalition, and the French occupy Leghorn 211

Consequent effects upon the British fleet 212

Bonaparte's designs upon Corsica 213

The British seize Elba 213

Offensive and defensive alliance between Spain and France 214

Singular conduct of Rear-Admiral Mann 214

Critical position of the British Mediterranean fleet 215

Ordered to evacuate Corsica 215

Junction of French and Spanish fleets 215

Jervis withdraws his fleet to Gibraltar 216

Policy of thus evacuating the Mediterranean 217

Influence of Naples upon Bonaparte's plans 218

Succession of disasters to Jervis's fleet 219

He repairs with it to Lisbon, January, 1797 219

Nelson's detached expedition to evacuate Elba 219

Events leading to the battle of Cape St. Vincent 220

Battle of Cape St. Vincent 221

Nelson's brilliant action 226

Merit of Sir John Jervis 228

Results of the battle 229

Sir John Jervis created Earl St. Vincent 229

Public depression in Great Britain at this time 230

Influence upon public feeling of the news of the battle 231

St. Vincent establishes the blockade of Cadiz 232

Critical condition of discipline in the British navy 232

Bonaparte's position in Italy 233

Capitulation of Mantua 233

Bonaparte advances through Carinthia into Austria 234

Preliminaries of peace signed at Leoben, April, 1797 234

Conditions, both open and secret 235

Austria treats alone, apart from Great Britain 235

Advantage to Great Britain from her Sea Power 236

Note,—incident of the mutinies of 1797 occurring in the fleet of Earl St. Vincent 236-239

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