The Life of the Right Honourable Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson Volume I Part 10

"J. Jervis."

"Evan Nepean, Esq."

This is, certainly, a very fair hasty sketch of the business; in which, though the names of particular commanders are not mentioned, for the reasons already stated, they are, perhaps, more than sufficiently hinted, to an eye of any discernment, by those of the s.h.i.+ps described as having suffered most severely in the action.

Nor is this all. Sir John Jervis, in his private letter, of the same date, addressed to Lord Spencer, then First Lord of the Admiralty, as a guide for merited promotion, was by no means backward in naming those commanders who had been enabled most to distinguish themselves.

Of this important letter, which cannot fail to demonstrate that he did ample justice to individual gallantry and exertion, the author has been kindly honoured with an extract; which is now, for the first time, presented to the public, with the consent of the Earl of St. Vincent.

"The correct conduct of every officer and man in the squadron, on the 14th instant, made it improper to distinguish one more than another, in my public letter; because I am confident that, had those who were least in action been in the situation of the fortunate few, their behaviour would not have been less meritorious: yet, to your lords.h.i.+p, it becomes me to state, that Captain Troubridge, in the Culloden, led the squadron through the enemy in a masterly stile, and tacked the instant the signal flew; and was gallantly supported by the Blenheim, Prince George, Orion, Irresistible, and Colossus. The latter had her fore and fore-topsail yards wounded, and they unfortunately broke in the slings in stays; which threw her out, and impeded the tacking of the Victory.

"Commodore Nelson, who was in the rear on the starboard tack, took the lead on the larboard, and contributed very much to the fortune of the day; as did Captain Collingwood: and, in the close, the San Josef and San Nicolas having fallen foul of each other, the Captain laid them on board; and Captain Berry, who served as a volunteer, entered at the head of the boarders, and Commodore Nelson followed immediately, and took possession of them both. The crippled state of these s.h.i.+ps, and the Captain, entangled as they were, and that part of the enemy's fleet which had been kept off in the morning--as described in the public letter--joining at the instant, it became necessary to collect the squadron, to resist an attempt to wrest these s.h.i.+ps, the Salvador del Mundo, and San Ysidro, from us, which occasioned the discontinuance of the action."

It is evident from this letter, and it's consequences, that the merits of Commodore Nelson were now duly appreciated. The handsome acknowledgment, by the commander in chief, that he had contributed much to the fortune of the day, was a very sufficient hint that he ought to partic.i.p.ate in the honours and advantages which it might be expected to produce. Sir John Jervis, accordingly, became the Earl of St. Vincent; and Commodore Nelson, Sir Horatio Nelson, K.B.

In the mean time, so enraptured was Sir John Jervis, with the skill and bravery which he had witnessed in the gallant commodore, that he literally clasped him in his arms, when he came on board the Victory, after the action--dirtied and disfigured as he was, with great part of his hat shot away--and pressed to his own valiant bosom one of the most heroic hearts that ever inhabited a human breast.

This undoubted fact is given on no less authority than that of Thomas Bolton, Esq. who received it from the honourable lips of his immortal brother-in-law.

A week after the action, on his way to Lisbon, the commodore wrote a letter to Captain Locker, dated on board the Irresistible, Lagos Bay, February 21, 1797; in which, observing that he had been too unwell to write by the Lively frigate, which carried the news of victory to England, he mentions that, as he knows how anxious his friend would be for his welfare, both in health and reputation, he sends him a short detail of the transactions of the Captain: adding that, if he approved of it, he was at perfect liberty to insert it in the newspapers; inserting the name of "Commodore," instead of "I." He mentions, that Captain Miller and Berry, &c. authenticated the truth, till he quitted the San Josef, to go on board La Minerve; and that, farther than this, the detail should not be printed. As he does not write for the press, he modestly intimates, there may be parts which require the pruning-knife, which he desires him to use at discretion, without fear. "I pretend not to say," concludes he, "that these s.h.i.+ps might not have fallen, had I not boarded them: but, truly, it was far from impossible that they might have forged into the Spanish fleet, as the other two s.h.i.+ps did."

Though the account inclosed in the above letter is in a considerable degree antic.i.p.ated by the more copious and general narrative of Colonel Drinkwater, and in some measure by the letters of the commander in chief, the circ.u.mstance of it's having been written by the heroic commodore himself will be a better apology for inserting it, than any that could be offered by his biographer for it's omission.

_A few Remarks relative to the Proceedings of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Captain, on board of which s.h.i.+p Commodore Nelson's Pendant was flying on the 14th of February 1797._

WRITTEN BY THE COMMODORE.

"At one P.M. the Captain having pa.s.sed the sternmost of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps, which formed their van, and part of their centre, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, they on the starboard, we on the larboard tack, the admiral made the signal to tack in succession; but, perceiving all the Spanish s.h.i.+ps to bear up before the wind, evidently with an intention of forcing their line, going large, and joining their separated divisions, at that time engaged with some of our centre s.h.i.+ps, or flying from us--to prevent either of their schemes from taking place, I ordered the s.h.i.+p to be wore; and, pa.s.sing between the Diadem and Excellent, at a quarter past one o'clock, was engaged with the headmost, and of course leewardmost, of the Spanish division. The s.h.i.+ps, which I knew, were the Santissima Trinidada of one hundred and thirty-six guns, San Josef of one hundred and twelve, Salvador del Mundo of one hundred and twelve, San Nicolas of eighty; there was another first-rate, and a seventy-four, names unknown.

"I was immediately joined, and most n.o.bly supported, by the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish fleet, not wis.h.i.+ng, I suppose, to have a decisive battle, hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, which brought the s.h.i.+ps abovementioned to be the leewardmost and sternmost s.h.i.+ps in their fleet. For near an hour, I believe, but I do not pretend to be correct as to time, did the Culloden and Captain support this not only apparently, but really, unequal contest; when the Blenheim, pa.s.sing between us and the enemy, gave us a respite, and sickened the Dons. At this time, the Salvador del Mundo, and San Ysidro, dropped astern; and were fired into, in a masterly stile, by the Excellent, Captain Collingwood, who compelled the San Ysidro to hoist English colours; and, I thought, the large s.h.i.+p, Salvador del Mundo, had also struck: but Captain Collingwood, disdaining the parade of taking possession of a vanquished enemy, most gallantly pushed up, with every sail set, to save his old friend and messmate; who was, to appearance, in a critical state. The Blenheim being ahead, the Culloden crippled and astern, the Excellent ranged up within two feet of the San Nicolas, giving a most tremendous fire. The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on board her; and the Excellent, pa.s.sing on for the Santissima Trinidada, the Captain resumed her station abreast of them, and close alongside. At this time, the Captain having lost her fore-top-mast, not a sail, shroud, nor rope left, her wheel away, and incapable of farther service in the line or in chace, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard; and, calling for the boarders, ordered them to board. The soldiers of the sixty-ninth, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pearson of the same regiment, were almost the foremost on this service. The first man who jumped into the enemy's mizen chains was Captain Berry, late my first-lieutenant--Captain Miller was in the act of going, also, but I directed him to remain--he was supported by our spritsail yard, which hooked in the mizen rigging.

A soldier of the sixty-ninth regiment having broken the upper quarter-gallery window, I jumped in, myself, and was followed by others as fast as possible. I found the cabin doors fastened, and some Spanish officers fired their pistols: but, having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired; and the Spanish brigadier--commodore, with a distinguis.h.i.+ng pendant--instantly fell, as retreating to the quarter-deck; where immediately onwards, for the quarter-deck; where I found Captain Berry in possession of the p.o.o.p, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I pa.s.sed with my people, and Lieutenant Pearson, on the larboard gangway, to the forecastle; where I met two or three Spanish officers, prisoners to my seamen. They delivered me their swords. A fire of pistols or muskets, opening from the admiral's stern-gallery of the San Josef, I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern; and, calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more men into the San Nicolas, and directed my people to board the first-rate, which was done in an instant, Captain Berry a.s.sisting me into the main-chains. At this moment, a Spanish officer looked over the quarter-deck rail, and said they surrendered. From this most welcome intelligence, it was not long before I was on the quarter-deck; where the Spanish captain, with a bow, presented me his sword, and said the admiral was dying of his wounds. I asked him, on his honour, if the s.h.i.+p surrendered. He declared, she was. On which, I gave him my hand; and desired him to call in his officers, and s.h.i.+p's company, and tell them of it: and, on the quarter-deck of a Spanish first-rate, extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the swords of vanquished Spaniards; which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney, one of my bargemen; who put them, with the greatest _sang-froid_, under his arm. I was surrounded by Captain Berry, Lieutenant Pearson of the sixty-ninth regiment, John Sykes, John Thompson, Francis Cooke--all old Agamemnons--and several other brave men, seamen and soldiers. Thus fell these s.h.i.+ps.

"N.B. In boarding the San Nicolas, I believe, we had about seven killed, and ten wounded; and about twenty Spaniards lost their lives by a foolish resistance. None were lost, I believe, in boarding the San Josef.

"Rear-Admiral Don Francisco Winthuysen died of his wounds on board the San Josef, and Commodore Gerraldelino on board the San Nicolas, soon after the action ceased.

"Don Enrique M'Donal was killed on board the San Nicolas, when boarded by the Captain."

The second day after writing the letter which inclosed the above admirable account of the proceedings of the Captain, on the memorable 14th of February, the fleet sailed from Lagos Bay, and proceeded to Lisbon, which they reached on the 27th instant.

The rejoicings of the Portuguese at this glorious victory over the Spaniards were little less ardent than if it had been their own; and their reception of the British heroes, at Lisbon, was cordial beyond conception.

While the fleet remained at anchor in the Tagus, his majesty's s.h.i.+ps the Orion, Minerve, Romulus, Southampton, Andromache, Bonne Citoyenne, Leander, and Raven, received orders to put themselves under the command of Commodore Nelson; and, on the 6th of March, sailed from the Tagus, with sealed instructions to the squadron, which were only to be opened in case of separation.

The intention of this cruize is fully unveiled in a letter, written to a friend in England, dated on board the Irresistible, off Lagos Bay, March 16, 1797; in which he observes--"I am here, looking out for the Viceroy of Mexico, with three sail of the line, and hope to meet him.

Two first-rates, and a seventy-four, are with him; but the larger the s.h.i.+ps, the better the mark.

"The Spanish fleet," he adds, "is in Cadiz; the officers hooted, and pelted, by the mobility. Their first report was, the action happening in a foggy day; when the fog cleared up, they only saw fifteen sail of the line: therefore, concluded that, at least, five of our's were sunk in the action. My usual good fortune attended me; which, I know, will give you, among my other friends, satisfaction."

This letter is extracted from the Naval Chronicle: the following is from a private letter to the Earl of St. Vincent, bearing the same date--"Our cruize, as yet, has been unfortunate; but, I believe, no vessels have pa.s.sed, which were not examined. The squadron want nothing, and are remarkably healthy. I shall remain off Cape St. Vincent's till I receive your farther orders."

Though the object of this cruize was pursued with uncommon ardour, the viceroy appears to have eluded all the vigilance of the British squadron; which, on the 20th of March, was joined by the Captain, when Commodore Nelson again hoisted his broad pendant on board that s.h.i.+p.

On the 2d of April, he joined the commander in chief off Cadiz; and, on the 11th of that month, having received orders to blockade this port, wrote to apprize the American and Danish consuls of the event.

About the middle of this month, having been promoted to be Rear-Admiral of the Blue, he was ordered, by Sir John Jervis, to bring off the garrison of Porto Ferrajio; a service which he performed with his usual address: and, as usual, he gives all the praise to his coadjutors. This will abundantly appear in the following letter to Sir John Jervis, dated on board the Captain, off Cape Pallas, May 1, 1797.

"DEAR SIR,

"As I shall send away the Rose Cutter the moment I see the Rock, you will know, from her arrival, that we are in a fair way for arriving safe at Gibraltar. I spoke a Danish frigate, on the 27th of April, from Malaga four days. He says, the Spanish fleet has most positive orders to come to sea, and fight you. This makes me doubly anxious to join you. I have not interfered with Captain Freemantle's charge and arrangement of the convoy: it could not be in better hands; therefore, I only overshadow them with my wings. I have the satisfaction to tell you, that all the troops--except the Royals, who were always intended to be embarked in the s.h.i.+ps of war--are embarked in the transports; with the exception of twenty, and General Horneck, who are in two vessels loaded with wine. I offered to take a hundred into each s.h.i.+p of my squadron, but I found there was not the smallest necessity for it. I hope, Sir, you will state this point at home; as it would have been a severe reflection on me, not to have left what was necessary for the embarkation of the army. I rejoice in this opportunity of vindicating my conduct; and beg leave again to recommend Lieutenant Day, agent for transports, to your notice. I placed my reliance on his judgment, not to leave a s.h.i.+p more than was necessary; and, I am not deceived: a more zealous, active officer, as agent for transports, I never met with. General De Burgh also speaks of him in the highest terms; and, I hope, the Transport Board will keep their promise of recommending those officers in their service who eminently distinguish themselves; which, I take upon myself to say, Lieutenant Day has not only done at Bastia, but at Porto Ferrajio.

For his conduct at the former place, you was so good, on my stating his services, to recommend him to the Admiralty; I should not do justice to his majesty's service, were I not to urge it again.

"I have the pleasure to add, that all the captains under my orders have conducted themselves like zealous, good officers.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, with the greatest respect, your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

On the 20th of May, having arrived safely at Gibraltar, he received a letter from James Simpson, Esq. the American consul; mentioning, that twelve sail of vessels belonging to the United States of America, with their cargoes on board, were in the road of Malaga, unable to proceed on their respective voyages, because three French privateers were waiting to seize on them the moment they got from under the guns of that port, and there was no doubt that the French consul would adjudge them to be good prizes, as he had recently adjudged several American vessels and cargoes. The consul added, that it was impossible to get protection for them, unless the commodore should be pleased to afford them that of his majesty's fleet till they got close to the Barbary coast, where they would consider themselves as safe. He accordingly sent, the very next day, the Andromache frigate, Captain Mansfield, for that purpose. In the mean time, he returned a polite answer to the consul: in which he observed that, by thus freely granting the protection of the British flag to the subjects of the United States, he was sure of fulfilling the wishes of his sovereign; and, he hoped, of strengthening the harmony which at present so happily subsisted between the two nations.

On the 27th, he s.h.i.+fted his flag from the Captain to the Theseus; and was appointed to the command of the inner squadron, at the blockade of Cadiz.

A curious proof occurs, at this period, of the conciliatory conduct, amiable manners, and more than chivalrous gallantry, of the heroic commodore and his commander in chief. This is contained in a letter addressed to the Spanish admiral, Don Josef de Mazerendo, dated on board the Theseus, May 30, 1797, as follows--

"SIR,

"I have the honour of sending your excellency a packet from Sir John Jervis; and I embrace the opportunity of a.s.suring you of my high esteem for your character. The 4th of June being the birth-day of my Royal Master, Sir John Jervis intends firing a _feu de joye_, at eight o'clock in the evening; and has desired me to mention it to your excellency, that the ladies at Cadiz may not be alarmed at the firing. Believe me your excellency's most faithful servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

The Spanish admiral's answer, addressed to Sir Horatio Nelson, equally deserves to be recorded, as partaking of the same liberal spirit.

"On board the Conception, off Cadiz, 1st June 1797.

"MY DEAR SIR,

"I correspond to the urbanity merited by the letter with which you honoured me the 30th of May last.

"The ladies of Cadiz, accustomed to the noisy sounds of salutes of the vessels of war, will sit, and will hear what Sir John Jervis means to regale them with, for the evening of the 4th current, in honour of his Britannic majesty's birth-day; and the general wish of the Spanish nation cannot but interest itself in so august a motive.

"G.o.d preserve you, many years. I kiss your hands.

"Your attentive servant, "Josef de Mazerendo.