Part 15

It was not long, however, before he became sufficiently sensible of Sir John's great attachment to him, and now readily expressed the desire which he felt to remain under his command. They were, thus, mutually pleased with each other; and there resulted, from the harmony which continued to prevail between these two truly great and heroic characters, the utmost possible advantage to their country, and the most complete glory to themselves.

On the 23d of February 1796, Captain Nelson, after looking into Toulon, where there were then thirteen sail of the line and five frigates ready for sea, left the commander in chief to the westward of Toulon, and proceeded to Genoa.

In April, so highly did Sir John Jervis approve of Captain Nelson's conduct, that he promoted him to the rank of temporary commodore, with directions to wear a distinguishing pendant, which was accordingly hoisted on board the old Agamemnon.

In May, orders having arrived for a third rate, the worst ship then in the line, to return home with the convoy, there could be no doubt that the Agamemnon must be the ship: and John Samuel Smith, Esq. the commander of the Captain of seventy-four guns, being in a very ill state of health, and desirous of going to England, Captain Nelson was appointed to Captain Smith's ship; and he was to have went home in the Agamemnon, had he not, shortly after, died at Gibraltar.

So completely, indeed, had Captain Nelson worn out his old and favourite ship, by a series of hard service, that when it went into dock for refitment, there was not a mast, yard, sail, or any part of the rigging, which remained fit for service, the whole having been cut to pieces with shot. The hull, also, was so greatly damaged, that it had for some time been secured and kept together merely by having cables properly served or thrapped round.

On the 11th of August, he obtained the permanent rank of commodore, having a captain appointed to command under him in his new ship.

In the mean time, he had been also incessantly employed, and still continued actively engaged till October, in the various arduous services of blockading Leghorn; taking possession of Porto Ferrajio, with the island of Caprea; and, lastly, in the evacuation of Bastia.

Having convoyed, in safety, all the British troops from Corsica to Porto Ferrajio, he joined Sir John Jervis in St. Fiorenzo Bay, and proceeded with him to Gibraltar.

On his way to Gibraltar, November 5, 1796, in writing to his friend Captain Locker, he remarks that he has seen the first and the last of the kingdom of Corsica, It's situation, he says, was certainly most disirable for us; but the generality of the inhabitants were so greedy of wealth, and so jealous of each other, that it would require the patience of Job, and the riches of Croesus, to satisfy them. He adds, that they say, of themselves, they are only to be governed by the ruling power's shooting all it's enemies, and bribing all it's friends.

In this letter, too, he observes, to his old friend, with evident exultation, that as soon as the fleet is united, which was then expecting to be joined by Admiral Mann, he had no doubt that they should look out for the combined fleet; who, he supposed, were about thirty-four sail of the line, badly manned, and worse ordered: "while our's," exclaims the gallant commodore, "is such a fleet as I never before saw at sea! There is nothing, hardly, beyond our reach. I need not give you the character of Sir John Jervis, you know him well; therefore, I shall only say, that he is worthy of such a fleet, for he knows how to use it in the most beneficial manner for our country."

After landing at Minorca, the 11th of November, where he observes that they were on shore "upon velvet," the fleet proceeded to it's destination, and soon safely arrived.

The commodore, however, remained but a short time at Gibraltar with the fleet; being ordered, by the commander in chief, to remove his broad pendant on board La Minerve frigate of thirty-two guns, commanded by Captain George Cockburne; and, accompanied by La Blanche of the same force, Captain Preston commander, immediately to proceed to Porto Ferrajio, for the purpose of bringing away the troops, and naval and military stores, which still remained there, and which were much wanted at Gibraltar, in consequence of the change of circumstances occasioned by the recent commencement of the war with Spain.

During the night of the 19th of December, on his passage to Porto Ferrajio, Commodore Nelson fell in with two Spanish frigates of considerable force. The largest ship, which carried a poop light, was immediately attacked by the commodore; who, at the same time, directed La Blanche to bear down and engage the other. At forty minutes past ten, La Minerve brought it's opponent to close action; and the fire continued, without intermission, till half past one in the morning, when the Spaniard struck. It proved to be La Sabina Spanish frigate of forty guns; twenty-eight of them, on the main deck, being eighteen pounders; with two hundred and eighty-six men, commanded by Captain Don Jacobo Stuart. The captured ship lost it's mizen mast during the action; and the main and fore masts were so damaged, that they both gave way on the very first attempt to carry a press of sail. In this terrible conflict, one hundred and sixty-four Spaniards, more than half the crew, were killed and wounded; while La Minerve, though it's masts were shot through, and it's rigging much cut, had only seven men killed, and thirty-four wounded.

In Commodore Nelson's first letter to Sir John Jervis, relative to this action, dated December 20, 1796, he assumes not the smallest merit, but modestly gives the entire praise to his officers and crew.

"You are, Sir," says he, "so thoroughly acquainted with the merits of Captain Cockburne, that it is needless for me to express them: but the discipline of La Minerve does the highest credit to her captain and lieutenants, and I wish fully to express the sense which I have of their judgment and gallantry. Lieutenant Culverhouse, the first lieutenant, is an old officer of very distinguished merit; Lieutenants Hardy, Gage, and Noble, deserve every praise which gallantry and zeal justly entitle them to, as does every other officer and man in the ship.

"You will observe, Sir, I am sure, with regret, among the wounded, Lieutenant James Noble; who quitted the Captain to serve with me, and whose merits and repeated wounds, received in fighting the enemies of our country, entitle him to every reward a grateful nation can bestow."

In the handsomest manner, he thus liberally concludes with praising his vanquished antagonist--"La Minerve's opponent being commanded by a gallant officer, was well defended; which has caused her list of killed and wounded to be great, and her masts, sails, and rigging, to be much damaged."

Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, with a proper number of men, being put in charge of La Sabina, which was taken in tow, at four in the morning, a Spanish frigate, known by it's signals, was seen coming up; and, at half past four, engaged with La Minerve. Commodore Nelson now cast off the prize, and directed Lieutenant Culverhouse to stand to the southward. After a trial of strength for more than half an hour, the Spaniard wore, and hauled off; or it would, the commodore was confident, have shared the same fate as it's companion.

At this time, three other ships were seen standing for La Minerve. The hope was now alive, that they were only frigates, and that La Blanche was one of them: but, when the day dawned, it was mortifying to find that they were two Spanish ships of the line, and two frigates, while La Blanche was far to windward. In this situation, the enemy, by bringing up the breeze frequently within shot, it required all the skill of Captain Cockburne, which he eminently displayed, to get off with his crippled ship.

"Here," says commodore Nelson, from whose letter to Sir John Jervis the above facts are chiefly collected, "I must also do justice to Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, and express my tribute of praise for their management of the prize. A frigate repeatedly fired into her without effect; and, at last, the Spanish admiral quitted the pursuit of La Minerve for that of La Sabina, which was steering a different course; evidently, with the intention of attracting the notice of the admiral, as English colours were hoisted over the Spanish. The Sabina's main and fore masts fell overboard before she surrendered.

"This is, Sir, an unpleasant tale; but the merits of every officer and man in La Minerve and her prize, were eminently conspicuous through the whole of this arduous day. The enemy quitted the pursuit of La Minerve at dark."

There were ten men wounded in this last attack, but none killed; and the mainmast was much damaged, and the rigging greatly cut.

D'Arcy Preston, Esq. captain of La Blanche, had brought, on the preceding night, a few minutes after La Minerve's first broadside, the smaller Spanish frigate to close action. The enemy made but a trifling resistance, and eight or nine broadsides completely silenced them; when they called out for quarter, and their colours were hauled down.

"I am sorry to add," says Captain Preston, in his letter to Commodore Nelson, written at sea, December 20, "the very near approach of three fresh ships, two of which we discovered nearly within gun-shot before we went into action, rendered my taking possession of her impracticable; when I wore, to join La Minerve. Finding the ships did not then close with the frigate, which I had left much damaged in her hull, sails, and rigging, I again stood after her: but she had, by this time, got her fore-sail, fore top-sail, and fore top-gallant sail, set; and not only out-sailed the Blanche, before the wind, but was joined by another ship standing from the land.

"Nothing could exceed the steadiness and good conduct of the first-lieutenant, Mr. Cowen; and the whole of the officers, and ship's company, I have the honour to command. I have great pleasure to inform you, that not one person was hurt, or the rigging the least damaged.

"I beg leave to add, how much I am obliged to Captain Maitland, who is on board, a passenger, to join his ship, for his very great assistance on the quarter-deck during the action."

The worthy and gallant commodore was far less chagrined at the loss of these two prizes, than at that of his brave officers and men who were unfortunately on board that of which La Minerve had taken possession. He seized, therefore, the first possible opportunity of sending a letter, by a flag of truce, to his Excellency Don Miguel Gaston, Captain General of the Department of Carthagena, of which the following authentic copy is now for the first time printed.

"His Britannic Majesty's Ship the Minerve, at Sea, Dec. 24, 1796.