540 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



mges broke, and rendered uuser- 

 ▼iccable. The cnibrazures blonu 

 up. Forty barrels of pfMvder brought 

 on board, with two small brass can- 

 non, and 50 stand of arms. 



(Signed) Fred. Maitlaud. 



Irffcr from Vicc-achniralSir Robr.rt 

 Caldcr, to Admiral Cormcalds, 

 giving nn /iccount of Ins Siicccis' 

 against the combined Squadron of 

 France and Sjiain. 



Sir, — 

 deg. 30 



Vrince of IP'ales, Julij 23- 

 Yesterday at noon, lat. 4^ 

 mill. N. loniT. 11 dog. 17 

 min. W, I was f.ivourcd witli a view 

 of the combined squadrons of France 

 and Spain, consisting of twenty sail 

 of the line, also three large ships, 

 armed enjlute, of about fifty guns 

 each, with five frigates, and three 

 brigs ; the force under mj' diiections 

 at this time consisting of lil'tcen sail 

 of the line, two frigates, a cutter,, 

 and a lugger. I injinediately stood 

 towards the eiiemy with tlie scjua- 

 dron, making the needful signals for 

 battle in the closest order : and, on 

 closing with them, I made the si::;nal 

 lor attacking tlieir centre. AViion 

 1 had reached their rear, I tacked 

 the squadron in succession ; this 

 brought ns close up under tlieir lee, 

 and when our headmost ships reach- 

 ed their centre, tht; enemy were 

 tacking in succession ; this obliged 

 me to make again the same niano'u- 

 Tre, by which I brought on an ac- 

 tion which lasted upwards of four 

 hours, when I found it necessary to 

 bring to the squadron to cover the 

 two captured ships whose names arc 

 in the margin.* I have to observe, 

 the enemy had every advantage 



of wind and weather during the 

 whole day. T!ie weather had been 

 foggy, at times, groat part of the 

 moraiug ; and very soon after we 

 had brought them to action, the fog 

 was so very thick at intervals, that 

 we could with great difiiculty see 

 the ship ahead or astern of us : this 

 reiulercd it ifnpossible to take the; 

 advantages of the enemy by signals 

 I could have wished to iiave done; 

 had the weather been more favour- 

 able, I am led to believe the victory 

 M'OuUl have been more complete. I 

 have very great pleasure in saying, 

 that every ship was conducted in the 

 most masterly style ; and I beg 

 leave here publicly to return every 

 captain, olTicer, aiul man, whom I 

 had the honour to fonmiand on that 

 Awy^ my most grateful thanks, for 

 their conspicuously gallant and very 

 judicious good conduct. The hon, 

 capt. Gardner, of the Hero, led tlie 

 van squadron in a most masterly and 

 oHicer-like manner, to whom I feel 

 myself particularly indebted ; as also 

 to capt. Cnming, for his assistance 

 during the action. Inclosed is it 

 list of the killed and wounded on 

 board the difVerent ships. If I may 

 jud^e from the slaughter on board 

 the captured ships, tlie enemy must 

 have siiHered greatly. I'hey are 

 now ill sight to windward; and 

 when 1 have secured the captured 

 ships, and put the squadron io 

 rights, I shall endeavour to avail 

 myself of any opportunity (hat m.ay 

 otter, io give you some further ac- 

 count of these combined squadrons. 



li. Calder. 



Admiral CornzcalUs . 

 Ships under /he Orders of I' ice-ad- 

 viircd, Sir R. Ccddcr^ Bart, Juli/ 22. 



ilero, hon. A. H. GardJier. ] 

 killed, 4"ou!ided — Ajax, William 



lirowuj 



'" St, IliiracJ, 8i guns. Firme, 7i guns. 



