CHAPTER V.. Expedition Against Ireland.

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