472 



State of Public Affairs in November ^ 1S0.5 



[Dec. I, 



The fuccefs of our Navy in this aftion 

 was molt complete. It is, indeed, much 

 to be regretted, that, owing to the ftiatter- 

 ed flate of the nineteen fliips that flruck 

 to our Tailors, and to the violence of the 

 •weather, four only of all the number could 

 be carried fafely into harbour. The Ad- 

 miral, however, caufed the reft to be de- 

 ftroyed. To the enemy, therefore, the 

 lofs is complete ; though the gain to our- 

 felves was lels than might have been hoped 

 for. In a fubftquent letter from Admiral 

 Collingwood, he writes, " I find, that, on 

 the return of Grnvina to Cadiz, he was 

 immediately oidered to fea again, and 

 came out, which made it nccefll^ry for me 

 to form a line, to cover the difabled hulls. 

 That night it blew hard, and his (hip, the 

 Prince of Afturias, was oifmafted, and re- 

 turned into port. Tiie Rayo was alio dif- 

 mai'fed, and fell into our hands." 



Another Extraordinary Gazette, on the 

 11th of November, announced the capture 

 of four men of war by the Fleet under the 

 command of Sir Richard John Strachan, 

 Bart. : 



Sir, Cafary No-j. 7, 1S05. 



The jccomranying copy of a letter, ad- 

 drcfled to the Hon. Admiral Cornwallis, I 

 requeft you will be pleafed 10 lay before the 

 Lords Comnninioners of the Admiralty, with 

 my apology for the hafty manner in which 

 it is written. 



1 have the honour to be, &c. 



R. J. Stuachan. 

 mUiam Marjdcit, EJq. 



Cajart Weft of 'Rochfort . 26^ Milis, 

 Sip, No-v. 4, 1805. Wind S. E. 



Being oft' Ferrol, working to the weflward, 

 with the wind vvefterly, on the evening of the 

 2d, we obfervcd a frigate in the north-weft, 

 makirg fignals ; made all fail tojcin her be- 

 fore night, and, -followed by the ihips named 

 in the margin,* we came up with her at 11 

 at night; and at the moment /he jo ned us 

 ve fiw fix large fhips near us. Captain 

 Baker informed me he had been chaced by 

 the Rocheforl fquadron, then dole to leeward 

 of US. We were delighted. I defired him to 

 tell the Captains of the fliips of the line 

 allern to follow me, as I me.in: to engage 

 them direftly ; and immediately bore away in 

 the CaEl'ar for tlie puipofe, making all the 

 ficnals I could, to indicate our movements to 



* f aefjr. Hero, Courageux, and Nainur. 

 — Bellona, VEolus, Santa Margaritta, far to 

 leeward in the fouth eaft. 



the fliips. The Moon enabled us to fee the 

 enemy bear away in a line abreaft, clofely 

 formed j but we loft fight of them when ic 

 fet, and I was obliged to reduce our fails, the 

 Hero, Courageux, and .i'Eolus, being the only 

 fliips we could fee. We continued fteering 

 to the E.N.E, all night, and in the morning 

 obferved the Santa Margarita near us. At 

 nine we difcovered the enemy, of four fail of 

 the line, in the N. E., under all fail. We 

 had alfo every thing fet, and came up with 

 them faft. In the evening we obferved three 

 fail aftern 5 and the Phccnix fpoke me ac 

 night. I found thit aitive officer Capt«in 

 Baker had delivered my orders, and I fent 

 him on to aflift the Santa Margarita in lead- 

 ing us up to the enemy. At day- light we 

 were near them ; and the Santa Margarita 

 had begun in a very gallant manner to fire 

 upon their rear, and was Jbon joined by the 

 Phcenix. 



A little before noon the French, finding 

 an aAion anavoUable, began to ta!;j in their 

 fmall fails, and form in a line^ bearing on the 

 ftarboard-tack. We did the fame; and I 

 communicated mv intentions, by hailing, to 

 the Captains, " Th.it I (hould attack the 

 centre and rear," and ac noon began the 

 battle. In a ftiort time the van fliip of the 

 enemy tacked, which almoft direftly made 

 the a£tion clofe and general. The Narnur 

 joined focn after we tacked, which we did 

 as foon as we could get the fliips round, and I 

 direfted her by fignal to engage the vin. At 

 half part three the adion ceafed, the enemy 

 having fought to admiration, and not furren- 

 dcring till their fliips were unmanageable. 



I have returned thanks to the Captains of 

 the fliips of the line and frigates j and they 

 fpcak in high terms of approbation of their 

 refpedlive ofncers and fliips' con.panies. If 

 any thing could add to the good opinion I had 

 already formed of the officers and crew of the 

 Csf^r, it is their gallant conduft in this day's 

 batrle. The enemy have fuffered much ; but 

 ourfliips not more than is to beexpcdted onthefe 

 occafions. You may judge of my furprife. 

 Sir, when I found the fliips we had takeit 

 were not the Rochefort fquaJ.ron, but from 

 Cadiz. I have the honour to be, &c. 



R. J. Strachan. 

 Hon. William Cornnuairis, Admiial 



of the White, and Commander in 



Chief, &c., ©■<-., ©■<:. 



EAST INDIES. 



Since our laft the interefting and Im- 

 portant intelligence has been received fromi 

 the Marquis of V^'ellefley, that pesce haS 

 been perfeflly reftortd to our poircfiions in 

 Ini.ia. 



.V. B. We have, in the prefent Number, infrted a Map of the Seat of War in Ger- 

 many, nuhich, in conneSion nvith the Maps luhrcb ive i aft r led in our Puhlicalion of 

 July i7i,6, and of May 1799, will complete a Viixu of the Countries likely 10 be the 

 teal rrf y/ar bHvJicn Fr6Hce and the Continenial Powers. 



INCIDENTS, 



