commanded by that daring and eccentric officer, Lord Cochrane,* encountered, off Barcelona, a Spanish xebec. The magnitude of the enemy had no effect on the nerves of the British captain. He told his crew that he intended to board her; they swore to follow him, to use their own terms, "to h-," and prepared accordingly: not a man or boy but what partook in the honour. The surgeon, Mr. James Guthrie, took the wheel, and the little audacious vessel was laid alongside of the towering Spaniard. The British sailors, led by their captain, mounted the rigging and leaped on her decks, dealing death at every blow. The astonished Spaniards, after some resistance, fled and gave up their ship, which proved to be the Gamo, of thirtytwo guns; twenty-two long twelve pounders, eight nine pounders, and two heavy carronades; she was manned with three hundred and nineteen men, of whom the captain and fourteen were killed, and forty-one wounded; being one more than the number of the crew of the Speedy. Mr. Parker, the first lieutenant, and eight men, wounded, and three were killed.

*This gallant officer, whose character we have always admired when in the presence of the enemies of his country, was peculiarly happy in the equivoque he passed upon the Spanish officer, who succeeded to the command of the Gamo. He required from Lord Cochrane a certificate that he had done his duty his Lordship immediately wrote, "I do hereby certify that Don (with many high sounding names) conducted himself like a real Spaniard." This precious document was received with every mark of respect and gratitude.

In the month of June following, in the same vessel, and in company with the Kangaroo brig, commanded by Captain Pulling, Lord Cochrane defeated a very superior force, sunk two vessels, and brought off three others, loaded with provisions; having silenced the batteries under which they had vainly sought protection.

The career of the Speedy was closed by her capture, a few days after these exploits. Falling in with the squadron under Rear-admiral Linois, there was no device or manœuvre which Cochrane did not employ to evade the pursuit of the enemy, but in vain; he was at length secured, and the Speedy was carried to Algeziras.

In the month of June, Rear-admiral Sir James Saumarez was sent from England to maintain the blockade of Cadiz; Sir Richard Bickerton's squadron having gone to Egypt. The force under the orders of Sir James Saumarez, was as follows:

On the 5th of July, Sir James received intelligence, by means of an advice-boat from Gibraltar, that a French squadron, of three sail of the line and one frigate, had anchored at Algeziras, within four miles of the rock of Gibraltar.

The Rear-admiral instantly decided upon attacking the enemy, in the sanguine hope of being able to capture these ships, and resume his station off Cadiz, before the Spanish squadron, he was then blockading, could be in readiness to avail themselves of his absence. For this purpose he directed the Superb, then off San Lucar, to recall the Thames from her station to the westward, and then follow the squadron, which made all sail for the entrance of the Straits. The wind, which had been easterly during the night, became favourable in the course of the afternoon. The signal was made to prepare for battle, and for anchoring by the stern; in imitation of the example of Nelson in the battle of the Nile. The squadron, entering the Straits in the evening, had little wind during the night; but at daylight a fresh breeze sprung up from the westward. All sail was instantly made; and at forty-five minutes after seven, the Venerable, having got abreast of Cabrita Point, made the signal for seeing the enemy,* and

* The accompanying plan will shew the situation of the ships, the island, and the batteries: those marked with shade are the second positions, taken by the contending squadrons.

Battery

www

C.Hullmandel's Lithography