At a conference previously held with General Paoli, it had been agreed upon, that in consideration of the succours, both naval and military, which his Britannic Majesty should afford for the purpose of expelling the French, the island of Corsica should be delivered into his possession, and bind itself to acquiesce in any settlement he might approve of concerning its government and future relation with Great Britain. After the capture of St. Fiorenzo, Lord Hood submitted to General Dundas, who commanded the land forces, a plan for the reduction of Bastia; that officer, however, declined co-operating, thinking the attempt impracticable without a reinforcement of 2000 men, which he expected from Gibraltar[1]. Upon this the Admiral determined to reduce it with the naval force alone; and leaving part of his fleet to watch the port of Toulon, he sailed with the rest to Bastia[2], and on the 22d May, after a siege of thirty-seven and a negociation of four days, the town and citadel, with the several posts upon the neighbouring heights, surrendered to the British arms.
The landing of the guns, mortars, and ordnance stores, was under the immediate direction of Captain, afterwards Viscount, Nelson, who occasionally commanded at the batteries. That gallant officer was ably assisted by Captains Hunt, Bullen,
- ↑ “After mature consideration” said General Dundas, in a letter to Lord Hood, “and a personal inspection for several days of all circumstances, local as well as others, I consider the siege of Bastia, with our present means and force, to be a most visionary and rash attempt, such as no officer would be justified in undertaking.” Lord Hood replied, that nothing would be more gratifying to his feelings than to have the whole responsibility upon himself; and that he was ready and willing to undertake the reduction of the place at his own risk, with the force and means then at command. General d’Aubant, who succeeded at this time to the command of the army, coincided in opinion with his predecessor, and did not think it right to furnish his Lordship with a single soldier, cannon, or any stores.
- ↑ The only troops employed on this enterprise, in addition to 2 officers and 30 privates of artillery, were those who had originally been ordered to serve on board the fleet as marines.
as fixed points for the tackle employed in raising the guns, each of which weighed about 42 cwt.
When these guns were directed against the tower, the enemy were covered with astonishment; and to a constant and well-directed fire kept up from the height, the early surrender of this stronghold is to be attributed.
