About Talmash the King expressed himself with generous tenderness.

"The poor fellow's fate," he wrote, "has affected me much.

I do not indeed think that he managed well; but it was his ardent desire to distinguish himself that impelled him to attempt impossibilities." [534] The armament which had returned to Portsmouth soon sailed again for the coast of France, but achieved only exploits worse than inglorious.

An attempt was made to blow up the pier at Dunkirk.

Some towns inhabited by quiet tradesmen and fishermen were bombarded.