The siege of Bastia was not in its course productive of striking events.  Having reasoned in vain with the two successive generals, Hood demanded that there should be sent back to him a contingent of troops, which had originally been detailed to serve as marines in the fleet, but which he had loaned to the army for the operations against San Fiorenzo.  Having received these, he returned to Bastia, and on the 4th of April, 1794, the besieging force, twelve hundred troops and two hundred and fifty seamen, landed to the northward of the town.  They at once began to throw up batteries, while the Corsicans harassed the landward approaches to the place.  Nelson being with the troops, the “Agamemnon” with some frigates was anchored north of the city, Hood with his ships south of it.  During the nights, boats from the fleet rowed guard near to the sea-front, with such diligence that few of the craft that attempted to run in or out succeeded in so doing.  When darkness covered the waters, British gunboats crept close to the walls, and by an intermitting but frequent fire added much to the distress of the enemy.  On the 11th of April the garrison was formally summoned, and, the expected refusal having been received, the British batteries opened.  There was not force enough, however, to bring the place to terms as a consequence of direct attack, and after three weeks Nelson, while betraying no apprehension of failure, practically admitted the fact.  “Although I have no doubt but even remaining in our present situation, and by strict guard rowing close to the town, and the Corsicans harassing them on the hills, and the gunboats by night, but that the enemy must surrender before any great length of time, yet, if force can be spared, a successful attack on the heights must much facilitate a speedy capture.  I own it will give me the highest pleasure to assist in the attack.”

It was by such an attack, or rather by the fear of it, coming upon the long and exhausting endurance of cannonade and hunger, that Bastia finally fell.  “We shall in time accomplish the taking of Bastia,” wrote Nelson on the 3d of May.  “I have no doubt in the way we proposed to attempt it, by bombardment and cannonading, joined to a close blockade of the harbour.”  “If not,” he adds, “our Country will, I believe, sooner forgive an officer for attacking his enemy than for letting it alone.”  On the 12th a large boat was captured coming out from the port; and on her were found letters from the governor, Gentili, confessing the annoyance caused by the British fire, and saying that if relief did not arrive by the 29th, the place must be looked upon as lost.  Three nights later another boat was caught attempting to enter.  On board her was a brother of the Mayor of Bastia.  This man, while talking with Hood’s secretary, expressed his fears for the result to his relatives, if the town were carried by assault.  The secretary replied that Hood could not prevent those evils, if the garrison awaited the attack, and gave the Corsican