Exmouth was offered any force he required, but he adhered to his first demand; for he had satisfied himself that five ships could destroy the fortifications on the Mole as effectually as a greater number, and with far more safety to themselves.  After he had fully explained his plans, and marked the position which every ship was to occupy, the Admiralty allowed him to act upon his own judgment; though they found it not easy to believe that the force was equal to the service; nor were persons wanting to remark that he had at length involved himself in a difficulty, from which he would not escape with credit.  His own confidence never wavered.  “All will go well,” he wrote, “as far at least as it depends on me.”  As he was going down Channel, he said to his brother, who accompanied him as far as Falmouth, “If they open their fire when the ships are coming up, and cripple them in the masts, the difficulty and loss will be greater; but if they allow us to take our stations, I am sure of them; for I know that nothing can resist a line-of-battle ship’s fire.”  He wrote to the Admiralty before he left England, declaring himself fully satisfied with all the arrangements, and taking on himself the responsibility of the result.

He was scarcely appointed, when officers came forward in crowds to offer their services.  On the 29th of June, only six days after he arrived in the Channel, he writes—­“Government has taken a very proper view of the subject, and has determined to send out a proper force.  I immediately said, it was my duty to finish that which I had begun, and that I should cheerfully go.  My offer is accepted, and I embark in the Queen Charlotte, with Impregnable, and others.  The only delay will be want of men; but I hope they will be induced by the offers made, to volunteer for the service, to be rewarded after it.”  On the 4th of July, he says, “I have refused Israel, Pownoll, Fleetwood, Harward, and both Admiral and Captain Halsted,[12] volunteers.  Even Lord Spencer brought his son, and a hundred others.”

With very few exceptions, the officers were selected by the Admiralty.  It was understood that Sir Charles Penrose would be the second in command, his appointment at that time as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean entitling him to the preference.  He was very highly valued by Lord Exmouth, under whom he had served with the Cleopatra in the western squadron.  It was intended that despatches should be sent in time to enable him to join the expedition; but greatly to the disappointment of both officers, the information was received too late.