questioned their power to execute without the warrant of the Admiralty; but this was quickly settled by reference to the Act of Parliament.  The President then declared that he could not make the order.  “Look here!” said he, giving to Sir Edward his hand, trembling violently, and bathed in a cold perspiration.  “I see it, and I respect your feelings,” replied Sir Edward, “but I am sure that such an example is wanted, and I must press the point.”  “Well,” he replied, “if it be the unanimous opinion of the court, it shall be done.”  It was agreed to, and the prisoner was called.  Though, sure that he must be condemned, he entered with a bold front; but when informed that he would be executed in one hour, he rolled on the cabin-deck in an agony.  “What! gentlemen,” he exclaimed, “hang me directly?  Will you not allow me a few days—­a little time, to make my peace with God?” The whole fleet was appalled when the close of the court-martial was announced to them by the signal for execution; and at the end of the allotted hour, the wretched criminal was brought up to undergo his sentence.

A similar stern decision quelled in a few hours the spirit of resistance during the special commission for trying the Luddites at York, when the county was almost in a state of rebellion; and it was found necessary to protect the court with cannon.  Six of the ringleaders having been convicted on the first day, the intrepid judge, Le Blanc, ordered them all to be hung at six o’clock next morning.  While the multitudes, stunned by this unexpected vigour, waited in trembling anxiety for what was next to follow, eight more were convicted on the second day, and as promptly executed.  The whole county was struck with terror; and the judge, having thus effected the great object of punishment, by compelling them to respect and fear the law, could now venture to show mercy.  It is the hardest effort of human resolution for a judge to consign to certain and ignominious death the helpless being who stands trembling before him, imploring the mercy or the delay which it rests but with him to grant; but whenever justice demands life, duty requires that so great a sacrifice shall be made most useful; and to effort this, execution must take place before abhorrence for the crime is lost in pity for the offender. His proper time for repentance is the interval before conviction.  Little dependence can be placed on the contrition which never shows itself till every hope of life is gone.

The Impetueux formed part of the force which pursued the combined fleets from the Mediterranean to Brest, and from which they escaped so narrowly.  She afterwards remained with the Channel fleet, under Lord Bridport and Sir Alan Gardner.  On the 1st of June, 1800, Earl St. Vincent, who had assumed the command a short time before, detached Sir Edward Pellew, with seven sail of the line, and some smaller vessels, to Quiberon Bay, whore they were to land five thousand