Memoirs and Correspondence of Admiral Lord de Saumarez Volume I Part 29

Santissima Trinidada 140 Atlante 80 Ferrivel 80 San Antonio 80 Suberano 80 San Justo 74 San Januario 80 Intrepido 80 Firme 80

The above s.h.i.+ps are commanded by French officers, and probably, therefore, are those which are alluded to as having been ceded to France.

Guns Guns A. Real de St. Carlos 120 Bergantina St. Andre 24 St. Hermenegildo 120 Balandra Aglina 14 St. Fernando 120 St. Nicalao 14 St. Agustino 80 4 gun-boats [27] 2 } St. Izidoro 80 20 built by the inhabitants } Argonauta 80 of Cadiz 1 } Fragata Sabina 44 18 gun-boats 1 Fragata Perula 40 4 burlates

[27] 24-pounders each.

Caesar, Cawsand Bay, 9th June 1801.

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of their lords.h.i.+ps'

secret orders, dated 6th instant; and, in compliance therewith, I have directed Captain Stirling, of his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Pompee, to put himself under my command.

Be pleased to inform their lords.h.i.+ps that Admiral Sir Thomas Pasley has acquainted me that there is no hired armed brig at this port except the Louisa, and has placed the Joseph, hired cutter, only under my orders.

I am, sir, Your most obedient servant, JAMES SAUMAREZ.

To Evan Nepean, Esq. &c. &c. &c.

We need scarcely add that every possible exertion was made on the part of the admiral, the captains, officers, and crews of the respective s.h.i.+ps, to get the squadron ready for sea; and in eight days the equipment was completed.

Before we record a circ.u.mstance which, in rewarding the merits of the new commander-in-chief, afforded great and universal satisfaction to the royal navy, we take occasion to introduce a correspondence, which, in order to avoid interruption of the narrative, has been omitted, and which will now be found more interesting.

Royal George, between Ushant and the Black Rocks, 26th July 1800.

MY DEAR LORD,

I need not describe to your lords.h.i.+p the merit of Sir James Saumarez, which cannot be surpa.s.sed. In a conversation I accidentally had with him last evening, I learned that his ambition had been much disappointed in not being created a baronet; and he thought I was wanting, in not pointing to this object in the letter I had the honour to write your lords.h.i.+p by him, after the battle of the Nile, where he was second in command; and he also conceives that your lords.h.i.+p led him to hope this mark of approbation of his services would have been conferred upon him. May I therefore trespa.s.s upon your indulgence, to request you will bring it about, if possible, as nothing can gratify me more, than that officers, who have signalised themselves under my auspices, should be amply rewarded.

Yours, most faithfully, ST. VINCENT.

To the Right Hon. Earl Spencer.

A copy of the preceding having been sent by Earl St. Vincent to Sir James, produced the following answer:--

MY LORD,

Permit me to express my sincere acknowledgments for the very handsome letter you have done me the favour to write on a certain subject to Lord Spencer. Whether it meets with the expected success, or otherwise, I shall ever feel grateful for your obliging intentions towards me: at the same time, I am persuaded your lords.h.i.+p must coincide with my feelings, when I observe that the boon now pointed out was no more than the services I had the good fortune to be employed upon, gave me reason to expect long before this.

That health, and every possible success may ever attend your lords.h.i.+p, is the fervent wish of

My dear lord, Your much obliged, and faithful humble servant,

JAS. SAUMAREZ.

Caesar, 29th July 1800.

On the 13th of June, his Majesty, having taken into consideration the meritorious services of Sir James Saumarez, was pleased to create him a Baronet of the United Kingdom; and, as an additional mark of the royal favour, permission was granted under the King's sign manual to wear the supporters to the arms of his family (which had been registered in the Heralds' office since the reign of Charles the Second); a privilege to which no commoner is ent.i.tled without a dispensation from the Crown. Of these honours Sir James was informed by Earl St. Vincent, at that time First Lord of the Admiralty, at the moment the Caesar and squadron were about to proceed on one of the most interesting, and, as it turned out, one of the most glorious expeditions that ever left the sh.o.r.es of Great Britain.

CHAPTER XIV.

1801.

Sir James sails from England in command of a squadron of six sail of the line on a particular service.--Arrives off Cadiz.--Attacks a French squadron at Algeziras.--Captain Brenton's account of the battle.--Loss of the Hannibal.--Colonel Connolly's statements.--Logs of the Caesar and s.h.i.+ps of the squadron.--Sir James proceeds to Gibraltar.--Remarks.--Flag of truce sent to Algeziras.--Correspondence with Linois.--Squadron refit at Gibraltar.

On the 16th June the signal was made to unmoor; and soon after, for the squadron to weigh. The wind being fair, the s.h.i.+ps quickly cleared the English Channel, and crossed the Bay of Biscay. Cape Finisterre was reached on the 22nd; on the 26th the squadron hove to off the Tagus, and sent letters on sh.o.r.e at Lisbon. The detachment was now joined by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, and proceeded off Cadiz, where it arrived on the 28th June: to announce this, the following letter was written to Admiral Lord Keith, who had then the chief command on the Mediterranean station:

Caesar, off Cadiz, 26th June 1801.

MY LORD,

I have the honour to inform your lords.h.i.+p of my arrival off Cadiz with the s.h.i.+ps named on the margin[28] under my orders; having sailed from Cawsand Bay on the 16th instant. On the 26th I was joined, off Lisbon, by the Phaeton, Captain Morris, from whom I received the enclosed state of the enemy's s.h.i.+ps at Cadiz.[29] The Venerable and Superb have both joined the squadron; and I have taken these s.h.i.+ps under my orders, agreeably to my instructions from my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

I shall take the earliest opportunity of transmitting to your lords.h.i.+p a copy of those instructions; but having at present no other vessel than the Plymouth, hired lugger, I cannot part with her further than to Gibraltar.

I have the honour to be, Your lords.h.i.+p's most obedient humble servant, JAS. SAUMAREZ.

Right Honourable Lord Keith, K.B. &c.

[28] Caesar, Pompee, Spencer, Hannibal, Audacious, Thames, Phaeton, and Plymouth, hired lugger.

[29] See list already given.

The squadron continued to cruise off Cadiz, and frequently to reconnoitre the harbour; while the Superb was stationed off Lagos as a look-out s.h.i.+p to westward, and the Thames in the Straits of Gibraltar to the eastward.

Nothing of importance occurred until the 5th, when intelligence was received as to the situation of a French squadron. Sir James accordingly despatched the Plymouth lugger with the following letters to the Secretary of the Admiralty, and to Mr. Frere, the English amba.s.sador at Lisbon:

Caesar, off Cadiz, 5th July 1801.

SIR

In my letter of the 29th ultimo, I acquainted you, for the information of my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, of my arrival before Cadiz with the squadron under my orders, and of my having been joined by the Venerable and Superb.

You will please to inform their lords.h.i.+ps, that, early this morning, a despatch-boat joined me from Gibraltar, with intelligence that three French line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps and a frigate were seen, on the 1st instant, endeavouring to pa.s.s the Straits from the eastward; and the Plymouth lugger has since joined me, whose commander informs me that they anch.o.r.ed yesterday off Algeziras. As from the different accounts I form great hopes of being able to attack them with success, I am proceeding to the eastward, and I hope to reach the bay early to-morrow morning. The s.h.i.+ps in Cadiz are getting in forwardness to put to sea. Eight appeared this morning with top-gallant yards across and sails bent, and four others with their top-masts rigged. I have directed the commander of the Plymouth, hired lugger, after having landed this letter at Faro, to cruise off Cape St. Mary's to apprise any of his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps of my rendezvous, giving them such further information as he may be possessed of.

I am, sir, your most obedient servant, JAMES SAUMAREZ.

Evan Nepean, Esq. &c. &c. &c. Admiralty.

Caesar, off Cadiz, 5th July 1801.

SIR,

I have the honour to acquaint you with my having this instant received information, by an express from Gibraltar, that three sail of French line-of-battle s.h.i.+ps and a frigate had anch.o.r.ed yesterday in Algeziras Bay, after being three days in endeavouring to pa.s.s the Straits from the eastward. They are supposed to be destined for Cadiz. I am proceeding off Gibraltar, in hopes it may be practicable to attack them, or prevent the junction of their other s.h.i.+ps, from whom they are said to be separated. I request you will please to forward the letters I take the liberty to enclose herewith. I have the honour to be, sir,

Your most obedient humble servant, JAMES SAUMAREZ.