"Poor AGAMEMNON," he sometimes said, "was as nearly worn out as her captain; and both must soon be laid up to repair." When Nelson first saw General de Vins, he thought him an able man, who was willing to act with vigour.

The general charged his inactivity upon the Piedmontese and Neapolitans, whom, he said, nothing could induce to act; and he concerted a plan with Nelson for embarking a part of the Austrian army, and landing it in the rear of the French.

But the English commodore soon began to suspect that the Austrian general was little disposed to any active operations.

In the hope of spurring him on, he wrote to him, telling him that he had surveyed the coast to the W.as far as Nice, and would undertake to embark 4000 or 5000 men, with their arms and a few days' provisions, on board the squadron, and land them within two miles of St.Remo, with their field-pieces.

Respecting further provisions for the Austrian army, he would provide convoys, that they should arrive in safety; and if a re-embarkation should be found necessary, he would cover it with the squadron.