the sternmost ship in the enemy’s rear, using his endeavours to keep in shore of them.
At eleven the Superb opened her fire close to the enemy’s ships; and on the Caesar’s coming up, and preparing to engage one of the Spanish three-deckers that had hauled her wind, she was perceived to have taken fire, and the flames having communicated to a ship to leeward of her, both were soon in a blaze, and presented a most awful sight. No possibility existing of offering the least assistance in so distressing a situation, the Caesar passed to close with the ship engaged by the Superb; and by the cool and determined fire kept upon her, the enemy’s ship was completely silenced, and soon after hauled down her colours. The Venerable and Spencer having at this time come up, Sir James bore up after the enemy, who was carrying a press of sail, 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 seen by the Caesar were the Spencer far a-stern, the Venerable and Thames a-head, and the Formidable some distance from them standing towards the shoals of Conil. Sail was immediately made by the Caesar and her consorts; but as they approached the enemy, the wind suddenly failed, and the Venerable was alone able to bring him to action, which Captain Hood did in the most gallant manner, and had nearly silenced him, when his own main-mast (which had been before wounded) was unfortunately shot away, and it falling nearly calm, the French ship was enabled to effect her escape, without any possibility of following her[1]. This action was fought so near the shore, that the Venerable struck on one of the shoals, but was soon after hove off with the loss of all her masts, and taken in tow by the Thames. The crippled remains of the combined squadrons found shelter in the harbour of Cadiz; and Sir James Saumarez returned with the ships under his orders to Gibraltar[2].
- ↑ The circumstance of the Formidable escaping capture, was represented by the French as a naval victory, and a signal instance of the reviving glory of their marine.
- ↑ The casualties of the British in this second encounter with the enemy appears to have been confined to the Venerable and Superb, The former had 18 men killed, and 87 wounded; the latter had not a man slain, but 18
