the expedition started, one hundred and eighty-three sail in all; thirty-four being ships of the line, with a dozen smaller cruisers, the rest unarmed vessels.  Of the latter, thirty-one were destined for Gibraltar, the remainder being trading ships for different parts of the world.  With so extensive a charge, the danger to which had been emphasised by numerous captures from convoys during the war, Howe’s progress was slow.  It is told that shortly before reaching Cape Finisterre, but after a violent gale of wind, the full tally of one hundred eighty-three sail was counted.  After passing Finisterre, the several “trades” probably parted from the grand fleet.

On the 8th of October, off Cape St. Vincent, a frigate was sent ahead for information.  It was known that a great combined force of ships of war lay in Algeciras Bay,—­opposite Gibraltar,—­and that an attack upon the works was in contemplation; but much might have happened meantime.  Much, in fact, had happened.  A violent gale of wind on the 10th of September had driven some of the allied fleet from their moorings, one vessel, the San Miguel, 72, being forced under the batteries of Gibraltar, where she had to surrender; but there still remained the formidable number of forty-eight ships of the line, anchored only four miles from the point which the relief ships must reach.  This was the problem which Howe had to solve.  More important still, though of less bearing upon his mission, was the cheering news brought by the frigate, when she rejoined on October 10th, that the long-intended attack had been made on the 13th of September, and had been repelled gloriously and decisively.  The heavily protected Spanish floating batteries, from which success had been expected confidently, one and all had been set on fire and destroyed.  If Howe could introduce his succours, the fortress was saved.

The admiral at once summoned his subordinate officers, gave them full and particular instructions for the momentous undertaking, and issued at the same time, to the masters of the supply-ships, precise information as to local conditions of wind and currents at Gibraltar, to enable them more surely to reach their anchorage.  On the 11th of October, being now close to its destination, the fleet bore up for the Straits, which it entered at noon with a fair westerly wind.  The convoy went first,—­sailing before the wind it was thus to leeward of the fleet, in a position to be defended,—­and the ships of war followed at some distance in three divisions, one of which was led by Howe himself.  At 6 P.M. the supply-ships were off the mouth of the Bay, with a wind fair for the mole; but, through neglect of the instructions given, all but four missed the entrance, and were swept to the eastward of the Rock, whither the fleet of course had to follow them.