naval merit, presented him with its freedom, accompanied by a handsome sword; while an unanimous vote of thanks passed both houses of parliament. standing out of the Straits, and lost sight of them during the night. It blew excessively hard till day-light, and in the morning the only ships in company were the Venerable and Thames, a-head of the Cæsar, and one of the French ships at some distance from them, standing towards the shoals of Conil, besides the Spencer astern coming up. All the ships made sail immediately, with a fresh breeze; but, as we approached, the wind suddenly failing, the Venerable was alone able to bring her to action, which Captain Hood did in the most gallant manner, and had nearly silenced the French ship, when his main-mast (which had been before wounded) was unfortunately shot away, and it coming nearly calm, the enemy's ship was enabled to get off, without any possibility of following her. The highest praise is due to Captain Hood, the officers and men of the Venerable, for their spirit and gallantry in the action, which entitled them to better success. The French ship was an eighty-four, with additional guns on the gunwale. This action was so near the shore, that the Venerable struck on one of the shoals, but was soon after got off, and taken in tow by the Thames, but with the loss of all her masts. The enemy's ships are now in sight to the westward, standing in for Cadiz. The Superb and Audacious, with the captured ship, are also in sight; and the Carlotta, Portuguese frigate, commanded by Captain Craufurd Duncan, who very handsomely came out with the squadron, and has been of the greatest assistance to Captain Keates, in staying by the enemy's ship captured by the Superb. I am proceeding with the squadron for Rosier bay, and shall proceed the moment the ships are refitted to resume my station. No praises that I can bestow are adequate to the merits of the officers and ships' compa nies of all the squadron, particularly for their unremitted exertions in refitting the ships at Gibraltar, to which, in a great degree, is to be ascribed the success of the squadron against the enemy. Although the Spencer and Audacious had not the good fortune to A short interval of peace restored Sir James Saumarez once more to the arms of his family, and the partake of this action, I have no doubt of their exertion, had they come up in time to close with the enemy's ships. My thanks are also due to Captain Holles, of the Thames, and to the honourable Captain Dundas, of the Calpe, whose assistance was particularly useful to Captain Keates, in securing the enemy's ship, and enabling the Superb to stand after the squadron, in case of having been enabled to renew the action. I herewith enclose the names of the enemy's ships. "I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) 66 J. SAUMAREZ." List of the Spanish squadron that arrived at Cadiz from Ferrol, on the 25th of April, under the command of Don Joaquin de Morena (lieutenant-general), as vice-admiral, and proceeded to Algesiras bay, the 9th of July. Real Carlos, of 112 guns, Captain Don I. Esquerra. San Hermenegildo, of 112 guns, Captain Don J. Emperan. San Fernando, of 94 guns, Captain D. J. Malina. Argonaut, of So guns, Captain Don J. Harrera. San Augustin, of 74 guns, Captain Don R. Jopete. San Antonio, of 74 guns, under French colours, taken by the Superb; and Wanton, French Jugger, of 12 guns. The admiral's ship, the Real Carlos, and the San Hermenegildo, were the two ships that took fire and blew up. (Signed) J. SAUMAREZ, SIR, Casar, of Trafalgar, July 14. "I herewith enclose, for their lordships' further information, the statement I have received from Captain Keates, to whom the greatest praise is due for his gallant conduct on the service alluded to. Captain Hood's merits are held in too high estination to receive any additional lustre from any praises I can bestow; but I only do justice to my own feelings when I observe, that in no in stance per society of his friends, with a pension of 12001. annum, as a reward for his many meritorious services. stance have I known superior bravery than that displayed by him on this occasion. "I have the honour to be, &c. Evan Nepean, Esq. 66 J. SAUMAREZ." SIR, Superb, off Cape Trafalgar, July 13. "Pursuant to your directions, to state the particulars of the Superb's services last night, I have the honour to inform you, that in consequence of pursuing the enemy's ships, at half past eleven I found myself abreast of a Spanish three-decked ship (the Real Carlos, as appears by report of some survivors), which having brought in one with two other ships nearly line abreast, I opened my fire upon her at not more than three cables length; this evidently produced good effect, as well in this ship as the others abreast of her, which soon began firing on each other, and at times on the Superb. In about a quarter of an hour I perceived the ship I was engaging, and which had lost her fore-topmast, to be on fire, upon which we instantly ceased to molest her, and I proceeded on to the ship next at hand, which proved to be the San Antonio, of seventy-four guns and seven hundred and thirty men, commanded by the chef de division Le Rey, under French colours, wearing a broad pendant, and manned, nearly equal, with French and Spanish seamen, and which, after some action, (the chief being wounded) struck her colours. I learn from the very few survivors of the ship that caught fire and blew up (which in an open boat reached the Superb at the time she was taking possession of the San Antonio) that in the confusion of the action the Hermenegildo, a first-rate also, mistaking the Real Carlos for an enemy, ran on board her, and shared her melancholy fate. Services of this nature cannot well be expected to be performed without some loss; but though we have to lament that Lieutenant E. Waller, and fourteen seamen and marines have been wounded, most of them severely, still there is reason to rejoice that is the extent of our loss. I received Q94 Nor did the war that speedily ensued deprive them of his presence; for as the proximity of his native island rendered it liable to an attack, he was appointed to the command in Guernsey, and his flag is now flying, as rear-admiral of the white, on board the Diomede, of fifty guns. Sir James is in the forty-seventh year of his age. In 1788 he married Miss Le Merchant, like himself descended from an ancient French family, by whom he has had five children. ceived able and active assistance from Mr. Samuel Jackson, the first lieutenant; and it is my duty to represent to you, that the officers of all descriptions, seamen, and marines, conducted themselves with the greatest steadiness and gallantry. APPENDIX. 1. ADMIRAL SIR JOHN BORLASE WARREN. (See page 1.) SINCE this work went to press, the lady of this gentleman has returned to England, and he has been succeeded in the embassy to the court of Petersburgh by Lord Granville Levison Gower. The following is a list of the enemy's armed ships either taken or destroyed during the course of the late war, by him: 1. Le Volontaire, of 38 guns, destroyed near the Penmarks by the squadron under Captain Sir J. B. Warren, August 22, 1794. 2. Le Babet, of 20 guns, taken by ditto, in the Channel, April 23, 1,794. 3. L'Alerte, of 18 guns, destroyed by ditto on the 23d of August, 1794. 4. Le Vipre, of 16 guns, taken by the Flora of 36, in the Channel, on the 2d of January, 1795. 5. Le Jean Bart. of 22 guns, taken by ditto, off Rochfort, April 15, 1795. 6. L'Eveillé, of 18 guns, taken by ditto, off ditto, October 15, 1795, 7. L'Expedition, of 18 guns, taken by ditto, off the coast of France, April 16, 1795. 8. Le Rude, of 12 guns, taken by ditto, off ditto, September 2, 1795. 9. Le Curieuse, of 12 guns, taken by ditto, off ditto, February 26, 4795. 10. L'Etoile, of 20 guns, taken by ditto, off ditto, 20th of March, 1796. 11. Le Robuste, of 22 guns, taken by ditto, off ditto, 15th of April, 1796. |