hood detached squadrons from the fleet at toulon to engage other french forces in the mediterranean, including one under robert linzee which attempted to persuade french garrisons on corsica to surrender. when this failed, linzee attacked san fiorenzo in the north of the island in late september but was driven off by shore defences. linzee was joined by "agamemnon" at caligari in late october after the latter had fought a brief and inconclusive engagement with a french frigate squadron. he sailed for tunis, where a french merchant convoy had anchored. linzee attempted to persuade bey hammuda ibn ali to permit a british attack on the french,but was rebuffed. nelson urged that the attack go ahead anyway, but linzee declined.