margin.* I have to observe, the enemy had every advantage of wind and weather during the whole day. The weather had been foggy, at times, a great part of the morning; and very soon after we had brought them to action, the fog was so very thick, at intervals, that we could, with great difficulty, see the ship ahead or astern of us; this rendered it impossible to take the advantages of the enemy, by signals, I could have wished to have done; had the weather been more favourable, I am led to believe, the victory would have been more complete.

I have very great pleasure in saying, every ship was conducted in the most masterly style; and I beg leave here publicly to return every captain, officer, and man, whom I had the honour to command on that day, my most grateful thanks, for their conspicuously gallant and very judicious good conduct.

The Honourable Captain Gardner, of the Hero, led the van squadron in a most masterly and officer-like manner, to whom I feel myself particularly indebted; as also to Captain Cumming, for his assistance during the action.

Enclosed is a list of the killed and wounded, on board the different ships. If I may judge from the great slaughter on board the captured ships, the enemy must have suffered greatly. They are now in sight to windward; and when I have secured the captured ships, and put the squadron to rights, I shall endeavour to avail myself of any opportunity that may offer, to give you some farther account of these combined squadrons.

"At the same time it will behove me, to be on my guard "against the combined squadrons in Ferrol, as I am led to be"lieve, they have sent off one or two of their crippled ships last "night for that port; therefore, possibly, I may find it necessary "to make a junction immediately, off Ushant, with the whole "squadron."

I have the honour to be,

Sir, your most obedient servant,
R. CALDER, Vice-admiral.

Honourable Admiral Cornwallis.

*S. Rafael, eighty-four guns, Firmè, seventy-four guns.

List of the ships of the squadron under the orders of Vice-admiral Sir Robert Calder, Bart. on the 22d of July, 1805.

LONDON GAZETTE, August 6, 1805.

Admiralty Office, August 3, 1805. Copy of a letter from Sir Robert Calder, Bart. Vice-admiral of the blue, to the Honourable William Cornwallis, Admiral of the white, &c. dated on board his Majesty's ship the Prince of Wales, the 25th of July, 1805.

SIR,

I am induced to send by the Windsor Castle, a triplicate of my despatch of the 23d instant. Owing to a very great omission of my secretary, who, from indisposition, and an interlineation in my first letter, neglected to insert the name of Rear-admiral Charles Stirling in my public thanks; I am therefore to request you will be pleased to cause the mistake to be corrected as early as possible.

I have the honour to be, &c.

ROBERT CALDER.

The force of the enemy in the action was as follows:

Spanish Van.

Argonauta 80 Adm. Gravina Rafael 84 Don Francis Mendez

We now offer the French official account; for the

veracity of which our readers must exercise their own judgment.

Letter from Vice-admiral Villeneuve to the Minister of Marine and Colonies, dated on board the Bucentaure, in the road of Vigo, July 29, 1805.

MONSEIGNEUR,

I gave you an account of the rencontre I had on the 22d with an English squadron, composed, as I believe, of fifteen sail of the line. I had the honour of informing you at the same time of the manœuvres I practised to retain the advantage of the wind, and to disconcert the project of the enemy for placing my rear between two fires.

The fog, with which we were enveloped during the action, prevented me from giving such orders as might be necessary; but after an action of three hours I had every reason to think that I had the advantage of the action, when upon the fog clearing up, I missed two of the Spanish ships. I at first flattered myself that they got into some Spanish port, but as I have not since heard of them, and as one of them was dismasted, I think it possible they may have fallen into the power of the enemy.

i

It was in vain that on the 23d and 24th, I endeavoured to force the English Admiral to renew the action; he constantly avoided it. On the 26th, having lost sight of him, I steered for Ferrol, to unite under my flag his Catholic Majesty's squadron, commanded by Lieutenant-general Grandelana. For two days I contended against a fresh N. E. wind, and a heavy sea, which impeded my course so much that I determined to anchor in Vigo, in order to disembark the wounded, and some of the soldiers who were ill; and also to take in water, which the Achilles and the Algeziras in particular stood in need of, not having remained long enough in the Antilles to take any in.

In the rencontre of the 22d, we engaged at a considerable distance, and I send you a list of the killed and wounded, which is very inconsiderable. Your Excellency may be assured that I shall remain but a short time in this road, and that as soon as I have taken in water, I shall go in search of the English squadron, without, however, neglecting the mission with which I am charged.

As the English Admiral who engaged me has certainly three of his vessels rendered unfit to keep the sea, I do not think he can have more than twelve with him. I cannot praise too highly the skill and the noble conduct of Admiral Gravina. All the Spanish vessels fought with the utmost bravery; but I am still at a loss to comprehend how it was that we lost the two ships that

are missing. Nevertheless, your Excellency will perceive, that the two disabled vessels might fall into the enemy's line, without its being in my power to secure them.

.

I beg you will assure the Emperor that I did my utmost to attack the enemy again; that I obstinately pursued them, and that they constantly declined the action. I cannot too highly praise my captains and crews.

I have the honour to be, &c.

VILLENEUVE.

Then follows an account of the killed and wounded, amounting to fifty-five killed and one hundred and sixteen wounded.

Taking an impartial review of the force and number of ships, with the known difference in the weight of metal, posterity may, on comparing this with other actions of the same war, think that Sir Robert Calder was severely treated. Villeneuve had the option of renewing the action, and declined it. The British Admiral had not the power at any time of renewing the action, unless his enemy concurred with him; though it is admitted, that he might have continued it longer on the evening of the 22d; but on this charge he was not tried.

The action off Ferrol was considered by most persons as a prelude to one of a more decisive nature. The officer, who brought the despatches to the admiralty, was Lieutenant Nicholson, of the Suwarrow lugger. In addition to the Admiral's letters, he gave much verbal information, and among other things stated, that Sir Robert Calder. when he quitted the Prince of Wales, the flag-ship, said to him, "Tell the lords of the admiralty I can bring the enemy to action again, and I certainly will do it." These words, afterward denied by Sir