

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1S05. 



■water for the -whole fleet, and in em- eleven* of the same class, bearing 

 barking 2000 troops under sir Wii- the British ensigns. Lord Nelson 

 liam Myers ; on the 6(h of June accordingly, having debarked the 



steered to the southward, and arrived 

 ofiTrinidad on the 7fh. Here, how- 

 ever, he found that the enemy had 

 not made his appearance; and, much 

 disappointed, he quitted the island 

 on the following day, and reached 



troops at Antigua, once more 

 set sail, in the hope of overtaking 

 the fugitives, before they reached a 

 friendly port in Europe. In taking 

 this resolution, his lordship, how- 

 ever, was not so occupied by the 



Granada on the ninth, ' where he hurry and bustle necessarily atton- 

 had the mortilicalion (o learn, that dant upon its being carried into 

 the enemy's squadrons, again actiu'; effect, as to nejilcct those means 

 in conjunction, and consisting of which his unerring judgment sug- 

 seventecn sail of the line, had that gestcd, of apprizing the dilferent 

 very morning sailed from Martini- British squadrons at sea, as well as 

 que, and had taken a course to the the government at home, of the pro- 

 northward. lmmedia(ely concelv- ceedings of both fleets, in order that 

 ing that Antigua must now be the cver^'^ means should be taken lo in- 

 object of the enemy ; to prevent that tercept the enemy on his return, 

 island from falling a prey to such a should he not be fortunate cnonijh 

 formidable force, he lost no time in to overtake him. Accordingly, his 

 proceeding thither : but here again lordship dispatched the C'urieux 

 disappointment awaited him, and sl.)op of war to England, on the 

 he was clearly ascertained in a fact, 13th of June, and on the 15th the 

 he scarcely could give credit to, that Decade frigate to Lisbon, the latter 

 this superior licet, terrified by the with instructions to cause any light 

 news of his arrival, and i)rofitingof vessels he might find there, or on his 

 the delay vvhich his ill information passage, to spread the intelligence of 

 |iad occasioned, betook himself to a the return of the enemy in every dl- 

 precipitate and shameful flight, and rection, and th'-n proceed herself 

 was actually on his return to upon the same service. The Mar- 

 Euiopc ! A transaction, which, ten sloop was sent oiT to Gibraltar 

 ■while it stamps the highest reputation for a s-imilar purpose: measures of 

 upon the British name and arms, precaution equally wise and eflica- 

 covers with indelible disgrace the cious, and which subsequently were 

 naval character of the enemy. greatly instrumental to the glorious 

 When assured that admirals Vil- events which took place, as, by this 

 Icneuvc and Gravina had declined timely information, the difterent 

 the contest in those seas, the un- British squadrons were reinforced, 

 ceasino- activity of l^rd Nelson im- and collected in the most probable 

 pelled him to, whatever! his modesty situations of meeting with the 

 could not refpse the term of, a pur- enemy on his return to Europe, 

 suit, and the novel scene presented The safety of the West Indian 

 itself, to an admiring world, of seven- colonies being now ascertained at 

 teen sail of French and Spanish ships home, the mind of the British pub- 

 of the line, flying before a force of lie was at its greatest stretch of hope 



and 

 * The Spartiate sliip of the line, lord Nelson took with him from the West 

 Indies, as an addition to his ori^iiuil force. 



