In 1801, Jervis told the Admiralty that he did not deny the French might come, only that they would not come by sea. The statement followed two years spent turning the Channel Fleet into a disciplined and efficient fighting force. It was more than bravado: naval readiness had made the maritime part of an invasion plan unacceptable. Jervis wanted the attempted crossing because he trusted the fleet he had prepared to destroy it.
Notable Point · 1:23:54-1:24:25
Why Jervis said invasion would not come by sea
At the height of an invasion scare, Jervis's confidence rested on a Channel Fleet whose health, discipline, and fighting efficiency he had rebuilt over two years.