lords commissioners of the admiralty, the proceedings of his majesty's squadron on the day of the action, and that preceding it, since which I have had a continued series of misfortunes; but they are of a kind that human prudence could not possibly provide against, or my skill prevent.

On the 22d in the morning a strong southerly wind blew, with squally weather, which, however, did not prevent the activity of the officers and seamen of such ships as were manageable from getting hold of many of the prizes (13 or 14) and towing them off to the west ward, where I ordered them to rendezvous round the Royal Sovereign, in tow by the Neptune: but on the 23d the gale increased, and the sea ran so high, that many of them broke the tow rope, and drifted far to leeward before they were got hold of again, and some of them taking advantage in the dark and boisterous night, got before the wind, and have perhaps drifted upon the shore and sunk; on the after. noon of that day the remnant of the combined fleet, ten sail of ships, who had not been much engaged, stood up to leeward of my shatter. ed and straggled charge, as if meaning to attack them, which obliged me to collect a force out of the least injured ships, and form to leeward for their defence; all this retarded the progress of the hulks, and the bad weather continuing, determined me to destroy all the leeward-most that could be cleared of the men, considering that keeping possession of the ships was a matter of little consequence compared with the chance of their falling again into the hands of the enemy; but even this was an arduVOL. XLVII.

ous task in the high sea which was running. I hope, however, it has been accomplished to a considerable extent; I entrusted it to skilful officers, who would spare no pains to execute what was possible. The captains of the Prince and Neptune cleared the Trinadada, and sunk her. Captains Hope, Bayntun, and Malcolm, who joined the fleet this moment from Gibraltar, had the charge of destroying four others.The Redoubtable sunk astern of the Swiitsure while in tow. The Santa Anna, I have no doubt, is sunk, as her side was almost entirely beat in; and such is the shattered condition of the whole of them, that unless the weather moderates, I doubt whether I I shall be able to carry a ship of them into port. I hope their lordships will approve of what I (having only in consideration the destruction of the enemy's fleet) have thought a measure of absolute necessity.

I have taken admiral Villeneuve into this ship; Vice admiral Don Aliva is dead. Whenever the temper of the weather will permit, and I can spare a frigate (for there were only four in the action with the fleet, Euryalus, Sirius, Phoebe, and Naïad; the Melpomene joined the 22d, and the Eurydice and Scout the 23d), I shall collect the other flag officers, and send them to England, with their flags (if they do not all go to the bottom), to be laid at his majesty's feet.

There were four thousand troops embarked under the command of general Contamin, who was taken with admiral Villeneuve in the Bu centaure.

(Signed)

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C. Collingwood.

[Last

[Last official Letter of the immortal Nelson.

Admiralty-office, Nov. 9. Letter from the late Lord Viscount Nelson, K. B. to W. Marsden, Esq. dated Victory, off Cadiz, Oc

tober 13. Sir,

I herewith transmit you, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, a letter from captain Hoste, of the Eury. dice, dated the 7th instant, together with the list of vessels captured, as therein mentioned. I am much pleased with captains Hoste and Thomas, for their exertions in getting the Eurydice so expeditiously off the shoal, particularly so, as she is stated to have received no damage. Nelson and Bronte.

Eurydice, Oct. 7, off Cape Umbria. My Lord,

On

I have the honour to inform you, that yesterday morning, Cape Umbria bearing N. E. by N. seven or eight miles, several sail were seen coming along shore from the eastward, apparently from St. Lucar; and on its falling calm, the boats of his majesty's ships Eurydice and Atna, were dispatched for the purpose of intercepting them. their closing the vessels, they were found to be under the convoy of a large Spanish armed settee, mounting two long 24-pounders in the bow, two 12-pound carronades, and two 4-pound swivels, with a considerable number of men on board.A heavy fire was kept up from this vessel as the boats approached the convoy, notwithstanding which, they gallantly persevered, and succeeded in capturing four of them. Finding the Eurydice was closing fast with the armed vessel, they desisted, till, under fire of the ship they might at

tack her with greater advantage; and from her appearing of too great a force for the boats to attack without some vessel covering them, I was induced to run the Eurydice closer in than I otherwise should have done; and in the act of luffing up, to let go my anchor, unfortunately took ground on a shoal about half a mile from the main land. Owing, however, to the very great assistance I received from captain Thomas, of the Etna bomb, and, in a great measure, owing to the situation she was placed in, and his exertions afterwards, the Eurydice was soon afloat again. I find the armed vessel is a privateer, from Cadiz, bound to Moquer, to purchase wine for their fleet. She had been three days out when captured, called La Solidad, captain Don Augustin Larodi. Great praise is due to lieutenant Green, first of the Eurydice, and the officers and men under him, for their exertions in getting off the privateer, and the gallant manner in which they attacked the convoy, before the Eurydice closed with them. I enclose your lordship a list of vessels captured, &c. since the 3d inst.

William Hoste. Ships of War and Merchantmen captured by his Majesty's ship Eurydice, between Oct. 3d and 8th. Two Spanish settees (names unknown), laden with fruit and charcoal; run on shore and bilged, Oct. 5, off the river Moquer, the crew having deserted.

Spanish Mustuo La Soledad, Don A. Larodi, captain of six guns, from Cadiz, bound to Larodi: captured by Mr. Coy, master's-mate of the Eurydice, October 6th, off ditto, the crew having deserted.

A Spanish settee (name unknown), from St. Lucia, laden with wine, captured by the Etna, on the same

day, off ditto, the crew having deserted.

A French settee (name unknown), from St. Lucie, laden with wine : captured by Thomas Turner, quarter-master, on same day, off ditto, the crew having deserted.

W. Hoste, captain.

Account of the gallant Action of Sir Richard Strachan, with 4 French Ships of the Line, the whole of which he captured, in a Letter to W. Marsden, Esq.

Casar, West of Rochfort 264 miles, Nov. 4, Wind S. E. Sir,

Being off Ferrol, working to the westward, with the wind westerly, on the evening of the 2d, we observed a frigate in the N. W. making signals; made all sail to join her before night, and followed by the ships named in the margin, we came up with her at eleven at night; and at the moment she joined us, we saw six large ships near us. Captain Baker informed me he had been chased by the Rochfort squadron, then close to leeward of us. We were delighted. I desired him to tell the captains of the ships of the line astern to follow me, as I meant to engage them directly; and immediately bore away in the Cæsar for the purpose, making all the signals I could, to indicate our movements to our ships; the moon enabled us to see the enemy bear away in a line abreast, closely formed; but we lost sight of them when it set, and I was obliged to reduce our sails, the Hero, Courageux, and Æolus being the only ships we could see. We

* Cæsar, Courageux, and Namur. ward in the south-east.

continued steering to the E. N. E. all night, and in the morning observed the Santa Margarita near us; at nine we discovered the enemy of four sail of the line in the N. E. under all sail. We had also every thing set, and came up with them fast; in the evening we ob served three sail astern; and the Phoenix spoke me at night. I found that active officer captain Baker had delivered my orders, and I sent him on to assist the Santa Margarita in leading us up to the enemy. At day-light we were near them, and the Santa Margarita had begun in a very gallant manner to fire upon their rear, and was soon joined by the Phoenix. A little be fore noon, the French finding an action unavoidable, began to take in their small sails, and form in a line, bearing on the starboard tack; we did the same; and I communicated my intentions, by hailing to the captains, "that I should attack the centre and rear," and at noon began the battle; in a short time the van ship of the enemy tacked, which almost directly made the action close and general; the Namur joined soon after we tacked which we did as soon as we could get the ships round, and I directed her, by signal, to engage the van; at half-past three the action ceased, the enemy having fought to admiration, and not surrendering till their ships were una manageable. I have returned thanks to the captains of the ships of the line and frigates, and they speak in high terms of approbation of their respective officers and ship's companies. If any thing could add to the good opinion I had already formed

of

of the officers and crew of the Cæsar, it is their gallant conduct in this day's battle. The enemy have suffered much, but our ships not more than is to be expected on these occasions. You may judge of my surprise, sir, when I found the ships we had taken were not the Rochfort squadron, but from Cadiz.

R. J. Strachan.

First line.-Starboard tack. British line-Cæsar of 80 guns; Hero, of 74 guns; Courageux, of 74 guns.

French line-Duguay Trouin, of 74 guns, captain Toufflet; Formidable, of 80 guns, rear-admiral Dumanoire; Mont Blanc, of 74 guns, captain Villegrey; Scipion, of 74 guns, captain Barouger.

Second line (when the Namur join

ed).-Larboard tack.

British line-Hero, of 74 guns, hon. captain Gardner; Namur, of 74 guns, captain Halsted; Cæsar, of 80 guns, sir Richard J. Strachan; Courageux, of 74 guns, captain Lee.

French line-Duguay Trouin, Formidable, Mount Blanc and Scipion.

N. B. The Duguay Tronin, and Scipion, totally dismasted; the Formidable, and Mont Blanc have their foremasts standing.

Our frigates-Santa Margarita, Eolus, Phoenix, and Revolution

wounded, have not been all received. The enemy have suffered much.

The names of the captains who commanded his majesty's frigates in the late gallant action under sir R. Strachan, being omitted in the gazette extraordinary, it becomes necessary to state, that the Revolutionnaire was commanded by captain H. Hotham; the Phoenix, by captain Baker; the Eolus, by capt. lord W. Fitzroy; and the Santa Margarita, by captain Wilson Rathborne.

Dated Cæsar, off Falmouth,
Nov. 8.

Sir, Not having the returns when the olus left us, and now having occasion to send in the Santa Margarita to procure pilots to take the French ships into harbour, I transmit you the returns of killed and wounded in the action of the 4th; and also a copy of the thanks alluded to in my letter, which I request you will communicate to their lordships. I dare say their lordships will be surprised that we have lost so few men. I can only account for it from the enemy firing high, and we closing suddenly.

R. J. Strachan.

I have as yet no very correct account of the loss of the enemy, or of their number of men.

The Mont Blanc had 700; 63 killed, and 96 wounded, mostly dangerous. The Scipion, 111 killed and wonnded.

The French admiral Mons. Dumanoire le Pelley, wounded; the captain of the Duguay Trouin, killed; and the second captain wounded.

Killed and wounded in the action with a French squadron, Nov. 4. Casar-4 killed and 25 wounded. Hero

Hero-10 killed, and 51 wounded. Courageux-1 killed and 13 wounded. Namur-4 killed and 8 wounded.

Santa Margarita-1 killed and 1 wounded. Revolutionnaire-2 killed and 6 wounded. Phoenix2 killed and 4 wounded. Eolus3 wounded. Total-24 killed and 111 wounded.-135.

Officers killed.-Hero-Mr. Morrison, second lieutenant of marines. Santa Margaritta-Mr. Thomas Edwards, boatswain.

Officers wounded.-Hero-lieut. Skekel; Mr. Titterton, and Mr. Stephenson, second lieutenants of marines. Courageux-Mr. R. Clephane, first lieutenant; Mr. Daws, master's mate; Mr. Bird, midshipman; and Mr. Austin, gunner. Namur-William Clements, capt. of marines; Thomas Osborne, second lieutenant; and Frederick Beasley, midshipman.

R. J. Strachan.

GENERAL MEMORANDUM.

Casar, at Sea, Nov. 6, 1805. Having returned thanks to Almighty God for the victory obtained over the French squadron, the senior captain begs to make his grateful acknowledgments for the support he has received from the ships of the line and the frigates ; and requests the captains will do him the honour to accept his thanks, and communicate to their respective officers and ships' companies how much he admires their zealous and gallant conduct.

R. J. Strachan, To the respective Captains and Commanders.

Further Particulars of the Battle of Trafalgar, in a Letter from Ad

miral Collingwood, to W. Mars-
den, Esq.

Dated Euryalus, off Cadiz, Oct. 28.
Sir,

Since my letter to you of the 24th, stating the proceedings of his majesty's squadron, our situation has been most critical, and our employment the most arduous that ever a fleet was engaged in. On the 24th and 25th it blew a most violent gale of wind, which completely dispersed the ships, and drove the captured hulls in all directions. I have since been employed in collecting and destroying them, where they. are at anchor upon the coast between Cadiz, and six leagues westward of San Lucar, without the prospect of saving one to bring into port. I mentioned in my former letter the joining of the Donegal and Melpomene, after the action; I cannot sufficiently praise the activity of their commanders, in giving assistance to the squadron in destroying the enemy's ships. The Defiance, after having stuck to the Aigle, as long as it was possible, in hope of saving her from wreck, which separated her for some time from the squadron, was obliged to abandon her to her fate, and she went onshore. Captain Durham's exertion's have been very great. I hope I shall get them all destroyed by tomorrow, if the weather keep mo. derate. In the gale, the Royal Sovereign and Mars lost their foremasts, and are now rigging anew, where the body of the squadron is at anchor to N. W. of San Lucar.I find, that on the return of Gravina to Cadiz, he was immediately ordered to sea again, and came out, which made it necessary for me to form a line, to cover the disabled hulls-that night it blew hard, and

Na 3

his