frustrated by the timely opposition of Commodore Nelson, whose station in the rear of the British line afforded him an opportunity of observing this manœuvre. His ship, the Captain, had no sooner passed the rear of the enemy's ships that were to windward, than he ordered her to wear, and stood on the other tack towards the enemy.

"In executing this bold and decisive manœuvre, the Commodore reached the sixth ship from the enemy's rear, which bore the Spanish Admiral's flag, the Santissima Trinidada, of 136 guns, a ship of four decks, reported to be the largest in the world. Notwithstanding the inequality of the force, the Commodore instantly engaged this colossal opponent, and for a considerable time had to contend not only with her, but with her seconds, a-head and a-stern, each of three decks. While he maintained this unequal combat, which was viewed with admiration, mixed with anxiety, his friends were flying to his support. The enemy's attention was soon directed to the Culloden, Captain Troubridge; and in a short time after to the Blenheim, of 90 guns, Captain Frederick, who fortunately came to his assistance.

"The intrepid conduct of the Commodore staggered the Spanish Admiral, who already appeared to waver in pursuing his intention of joining the ships cut off by the British fleet; when the Culloden's timely arrival, and Captain Troubridge's spirited support of the Commodore, together with the approach of the Blenheim, followed by Rear-Admiral Parker, with the Prince George, Orion, Irresistible and Diadem, not far distant, determined the Spanish Admiral to change his design altogether, and to throw out the signal for the ships' main body to haul their wind, and to make sail on the larboard tack.

"Not a moment was lost in improving the advantage now apparent in favour of the British squadron. As the ships of Rear-Admiral Parker's division approached the enemy's ships, in support of the Captain, Commodore Nelson's ship, and her gallant seconds, the Blenheim and Culloden, the cannonade became more animated and impressive. In this manner did Commodore Nelson engage a Spanish three-decker until he had nearly expended all the ammunition in his ship, which had suffered the loss of her fore-topmast, and received such con

siderable damage in her sails and rigging that she was almost rendered hors du combat. At this critical period, the Spanish three-decker having lost her mizen-mast, fell on board a Spanish two-decker of 84 guns, that was her second: this latter ship consequently now became the Commodore's opponent, and a most vigorous fire was kept up for some time by both ships within pistol-shot.

"It was now that the Commodore's ship lost many men, and that the damages already sustained, through the long and arduous conflict which she had sustained, appeared to render a continuance of the contest, in the usual way, precarious or perhaps impossible. At this critical moment the Commodore, from a sudden impulse, instantly resolved on a bold and decisive measure; and determined, whatever might be the event, to attempt his opponent sword in hand. The boarders were summoned, and orders given to lay his ship on board the enemy.

"Fortune favours the brave!' nor on this occasion was she unmindful of her favourite. Ralph Willet Miller, the Commodore's Captain, so judiciously directed the course of the ship, that he laid her aboard the starboard quarter of the Spanish eighty-four: her spritsail-yard passing over the enemy's poop, and hooking in her mizen shrouds ; when the word to board being given, the officers and seamen destined for this perilous duty, headed by Lieutenant Berry, together with the detachment of the sixty-ninth regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Pearson, then doing duty as marines on board the Captain, passed with rapidity on board the enemy's ship; and in a short time the San Nicolas was in possession of her intrepid assailants. The Commodore's ardour would not permit him to remain an inactive spectator of this scene. He was aware the attempt was hazardous, and he thought his presence might animate his brave companions, and contribute to the success of this bold enterprise; he, therefore, as if by magic impulse, accompanied the party in this attack; passing from the fore-chains of his own ship into the enemy's quarter-gallery, and thence through the cabin to the quarter-deck, where he arrived in time to receive the sword of the dying Commander, who had been mortally wounded by the boarders.

"He had not long been employed in taking the necessary measures to secure this hard-earned conquest, when he found himself engaged in a more arduous task. The stern of the three-decker, his former opponent, was placed directly amidships of the weather beam of the prize, San Nicolas; and from her poop and galleries the enemy sorely annoyed with musquetry the British, who had boarded the San Nicolas. The Commodore was not long in resolving on the conduct to be adopted on this momentous occasion. The two alternatives that presented themselves to his unshaken mind, were, to quit the prize, or instantly board the three-decker: confident of the bravery of his seamen, he determined on the latter, Directing, therefore, an additional number of men to be sent from the Captain on board the San Nicolas, the undaunted Commodore, whom no danger ever appalled, headed himself the assailants in this new attack, exclaiming, WESTMINSTER ABBEY! or GLORIOUS VICTORY!

"Success, in a few minutes, and with little loss, crowned the enterprise. Such indeed was the panic occasioned by his preceding conduct, that the British no sooner appeared on the quarter-deck of their new opponent, than the Commander advanced, and asking for the British commanding officer, dropped on one knee, and presented his sword, apologizing at the same time for the Spanish Admiral's not appearing, as he was dangerously wounded. For a moment, Commodore Nelson could scarcely persuade himself of this second instance of good fortune: he therefore ordered the Spanish Commandant, who had the rank of a brigadier, to assemble the officers on the quarter-deck, and direct means to be taken instantly for communicating to the crew the surrender of the ship. All the officers immediately appeared, and the Commodore had the surrender of the San Josef duly confirmed by each of them delivering his sword."

The difference of strength opposed to each other in this action was very remarkable, and Captain Brenton has observed that from the day of the battle of Cape St. Vincent, "the old fashion of counting the ships of an enemy's fleet, and calculating the disparity of force, was entirely laid aside, and a new æra commenced in the art of war at sca." He also

1 Naval History, Vol. ii. p. 152.

remarks," If we estimate the merits of this action only as to the numerical loss of the enemy, we shall form a very inadequate notion of its importance. The French from this period no longer relied on the assistance of Spain; jealousy was sown between them, and the Spaniards became the friends of Britain and the secret enemies of the French Republic. This battle may be said to have paralyzed the power of Spain, and to have reduced its marine to a nonentity."

1 Naval History, Vol. ii. p. 156.

CHAPTER V.

1797-1798.

AFTER the glorious battle off Cape St. Vincent, in which so many brave officers had distinguished themselves, Nelson hoisted his pendant on board the Irresistible, his own ship, the Captain, having suffered very great damage from the part she had sustained in the action. For his bravery on this occasion, Nelson received the Freedom of London in a gold box, also that of Norwich, Bath, Bristol, and some other corporations. On the 20th of February, he was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral of the Blue. Before, however, he was acquainted with his promotion, having anchored with the fleet in the Tagus, he was dispatched with a squadron to cruise off Cadiz, to watch the Spanish fleet, and intercept the Viceroy of Mexico, whose arrival with a large treasure was expected.

When Nelson first beheld the Spanish fleet at Cadiz, he could not help exclaiming that he thought them the finest in the world, and he added, "Thank God, the Spaniards cannot build men." M. Thiers, however, formed a different opinion of the Spanish ships; he says of them: "But those vast machines of war, which reminded one of the ancient splendour of the Spanish monarchy under Charles III., were like the Turkish ships, superb in appearance, useless in danger. The penury of the Spanish arsenals had not allowed them to be properly rigged, and the weakness of the crews was distressing.""Mais ces vastes machines de guerre, qui rappeloient l'ancien éclat de la monarchie espagnole sous Charles III. étaient, comme les vaisseaux Turcs, superbes en apparence, inutiles dans le danger. Le dénûment des arsenaux espagnols n'avait pas permis de les gréer convenablement, et ils étaient quant aux équipages d'une faiblesse désespérante.” To Mr. McArthur, Nelson wrote off Lagos Bay, March

1 Histoire du Consulat et de l'Empire, Tom. vi. liv. xxii. p. 140.