"The sole result was," says Mr.
Coleridge, "that the governor of Malta became an especial object of its hatred, its fears, and its respect." Nelson himself, at the beginning of February, sailed for that island.
On the way he fell in with a French squadron bound for its relief, and consisting of the GENEREUX seventy-four, three frigates, and a corvette.
One of these frigates and the line-of-battle ship were taken; the others escaped, but failed in their purpose of reaching La Valette.

This success was peculiarly gratifying to Nelson, for many reasons.

During some months he had acted as commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean, while Lord Keith was in England.

Lord Keith was now returned; and Nelson had, upon his own plan, and at his own risk, left him to sail for Malta, "for which," said he, "if I had not succeeded, I might have been broke: and if I had not acted thus, the GENEREUX never would have been taken." This ship was one of those which had escaped from Aboukir.

Two frigates, and the GUILLAUME TELL, eighty-six were all that now remained of the fleet which Buonaparte had conducted to Egypt.