her return from thence Lieutenant Jackson received an order to command that ship during the absence of Captain Sutton’s successor, the present Sir Richard Goodwin Keats.
The Superb was subsequently employed escorting a fleet of outward bound Indiamen as far as the Cape de Verds. Having performed that service, she joined the squadron stationed off Cadiz, under Sir James Saumarez, and soon had an opportunity of distinguishing herself in a very eminent degree. The following account of her proceedings on the memorable 12th July 1801, has been sent to us since the publication of our first volume[1]:–
“At 8 P.M., July 12th, the British having made every preparation for another battle, and the enemy being then clear of Cabritta point, Sir James Saumarez formed his line and bore up in pursuit of the combined squadrons. At 9-30, he hailed Captain Keats, and directed him to make sail a-head, for the purpose of bringing their rearmost and inshore ships to action. In less than two hours, having run her friends out of sight, the Superb ranged up on the quarter of a Spanish three-decker, the Real Carlos, and opened a heavy fire, within musket-shot. The San Hermenegildo, of 112 guns, was then sailing nearly in a line abreast of the Real Carlos, and some of the Superb’s shot, which passed astern of or over the latter, having struck that ship, led to the belief that her consort was an enemy. Under this impression, Captain Emparan commenced cannonading Captain Esqerra, who sustained the joint fire of his brother Spaniard and the British 74, until the Real Carlos was discovered in flames, occasioned by her fore-top-mast being shot away, and the wreck having fallen over the starboard guns, the fire from which communicated to the sails, and caused indescribable confusion. Her helm being now deserted, the Real Carlos rounded to, gathered stern way, and fell on board the San Hermenegildo, just as the latter was about to throw in a raking broadside. Captain Emparan still supposing her to be an enemy. Unhappily, every effort they made to get clear of each other proved unavailing, and the state of the weather prevented the Superb from sending them any assistance.
“Having thus caused the destruction of two Spanish first-rates. Captain Keats proceeded in pursuit of other game, and succeeded in closing with the San Antonio 74, bearing the broad pendant of a French Commodore, whom he compelled to surrender after a warm action of about half an hour. The prize was taken possession of by Mr. Jackson, first Lieutenant of the Superb.”
The San Antonio had on board 200 French seamen, 100 of Buonaparte’s “Invincibles,” and 500 Spaniards. Want of
