enemy’s fort and batteries, but the ships and gun-boats; by carrying the vessel gunwale under, I beat her over the shoals, notwithstanding the fears and cries of many of the crew, amongst whom was the boatswain; and by 10 o’clock was to windward of San Sebastian, and laying up W.S.W. when the main-yard broke in the slings. From this serious accident, the vessel driving fast to leeward, obliged us to anchor on the Rota side, clear of the guns at Cadiz. At this time some gun-boats attempted to annoy us; but in defiance of all we rigged the main-boom for a main-yard, and were ready to make sail, for which we anxiously waited an opportunity, the wind having increased to a very heavy gale, with a tremendous sea, dark night, and heavy rain. As the vessel at first drifted with one anchor and cable down, we were now riding by two anchors and two cables in end upon each; but it was impossible for them to long withstand the violence of the wind and sea, and with one tremendous surge she parted from both. Sail was instantly set, and a last attempt made to work out; but shortly after she struck, when the despatches, signals, and all other papers of consequence, were thrown overboard by me, with two 32lb. shot, and some lead, to sink them, as it appeared now impossible to save the vessel, which was completely at the mercy of the wind, and heavy rolling groundswell; as, however, the flood-tide and indraught was setting strong, the close-reefed fore-top-sail was set on the cap; she was kept athwart the tide and swell, until a-breast a bight near Fort St. Catalina, by which the lives of all the people were saved except two, and even those would not have been drowned, had they not quitted the vessel contrary to my positive orders: for the gale being at its greatest height at the top of high water, when the vessel went on shore, and bilged in three places; she laid comparatively quiet as the tide receded; and as the wind had lulled considerably by low water, when the inner and heeling side was left dry, the people were enabled to land on a sandy beach.
“After getting on shore, I conceived it necessary, from the circumstance of being prisoners, that inquiry should be made, whether the orders I gave had been complied with; and it appears, from the declaration of the quartermaster at the conn, man at the wheel, boatswain’s mate of the watch, &c. that the lead had not been hove from the time I quitted the deck, and that when the lights were seen, the officer of the watch was below, and not then sober. Should the evidence of these people at the court martial correspond with their deposition so recently after, when the events are so fresh in their memory, I shall have to lament that an officer whom on former service I have had occasion to commend for his vigilance, should, from neglect, have been the cause of so fine a vessel being wrecked.
“Of my own conduct on this trying occasion, it would be presumptuous in me, my Lord, to speak; but in this afflictive event, it is the greatest consolation, from the praise you have been pleased to give me, that on this occasion, when the eyes of all Cadiz were spectators, I have received the most honorable testimony from the very people that I was employed
