“A quarter before 4.--The boat returned, hoisted her up, and made all sail. “NOTE.--The place at which the first lieutenant landed was on the east side of the Bay, between Cape St. Vito and Cape Alos, and about twenty-four miles by road from Palermo.” The following is the letter which Captain Austen sent to the Admiral, with the despatches: “_Peterel_ AT SEA, OFF CAPE ST. VITO, _May 13, 1799_. “MY LORD,--I have the honour to inform your Lordship that I sailed from the Island of Minorca with his Majesty’s sloop under my command, at 11 A.M. on Friday, the 10th inst., charged with the accompanying despatch for your lordship, and the same evening met his Majesty’s ship _Hyena_, about five leagues S.E. by S. of Fort Mahon, from the captain of which I received the paper enclosed; and judging from the contents of it that its speedy arrival must be of the utmost consequence, and that a passage by land may be performed in much less time than by sea, with the wind as it now is at the E.S.E., I have directed Mr. Staines, my first lieutenant, to land with the despatch at Castella, and proceed with all possible expedition to your lordship at Palermo, to which place I shall carry his Majesty’s sloop as soon as I can. “I fell in with his Majesty’s ship _Pallas_ and convoy yesterday at 11 A.M., about fifteen leagues E.S.E. of Cape Carbonera, and, in consequence of the intelligence I gave the captain of that ship bore up with his convoy for Palermo. I enclose the state and condition of his Majesty’s sloop under my command, and have the honour to be, “My lord, “Your lordship’s most obedient “humble servant, “FRANCIS WM. AUSTEN. “To the Rt. Hon. Lord Nelson, K.B., Etc., etc., etc.” “_May 14._--At four o’clock hove to in Palermo Bay. The first lieutenant returned on board. At six o’clock filled and made all sail on the larboard tack, pinnace ahead towing.” Nelson was at this time short of small vessels by which to send news. He therefore employed the _Peterel_ to go on to the blockading squadron off Malta with orders, which were delivered on board H.M.S. _Goliath_, about noon on May 19. The _Peterel_ then returned to Minorca. [Illustration: SLOOP OF WAR AND FRIGATE] Bruix, contrary to expectation, did nothing with his chance. Probably the aim of the Directory in sending him was to discover how far Spain was to be relied upon for support, and there may have been no intention of employing him to help Bonaparte, but Bruix seems to have had a free hand in the matter, so that his own want of resolution and failure of insight are the apparent causes of the expedition proving inconclusive.