On the night of the 11th, this fleet was discovered by the Minerve frigate, on board of which was Commodore Nelson[1], then on his way from the Mediterranean to join the Commander in Chief. Captain (now Vice-Admiral) Foote, of the Niger frigate, also kept company with them for some days previous to the 13th; and that night they approached so near the British squadron, that their signal guns were distinctly heard.
The morning of the 14th was dark and hazy; but about half-past six o’clock five of the enemy’s ships were discovered in the S. by W., and before eleven o’clock, 25 sail were visible to the British squadron[2].
| Centre Squadron. | Guns. |
| Mexicano | 112 |
| Terrible | 74 |
| Oriente | 74 |
| Soberano | 74 |
| Santissima Trinidada | 130 |
| San Nicholas | 80 |
| San Ysidro | 74 |
| Salvador del Mundo | 112 |
| San Ildefonso | 74 |
Repeaters. – Paz, Dorotea, Guadaloupe, Santa Teresa, frigates, – and Vigilante, brig.
| Rear Squadron. | Guns. |
| Conde de Regla | 112 |
| San Firmin | 74 |
| Firme | 74 |
| Principe d’Asturias | 112 |
| San Antonio | 74 |
| Glorioso | 74 |
| Atlante | 74 |
| San Francisco de Paula | 74 |
| San Josef | 112 |
Repeaters. – Matilda, Diana, Antiocha, Ceres – Frigates.
- ↑ Commodore Nelson, on joining the fleet, hoisted his broad pendant in the Captain, of 74 guns.
- ↑ On the 5th of the month, when passing Gibraltar, the Spanish Admiral despatched three 2-deckers, and a frigate, to escort about 70 sail of transports, with troops and military stores, for the camp at St. Roque, into Algeziras. One of the line-of-battle ships immediately
