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making sail to avoid the shoals of St. Lucar, nor did they get into deep water till the 'next morning, when, having joined the convoy, and made Cape Spartel, I despatched ' two frigates to Tangier to acquaint his Ma'jesty's consul with our success, that Great 'Britain was again mistress of the Straits, ' and desiring him to hasten a supply of fresh provisions for the garrison. At sunset we ' entered the gut.

The gallant behaviour of the admirals, captains, officers, and men, I had the honour ' to command, was conspicuous; they seemed ' actuated with the same spirit, and were eager to exert themselves with the utmost ' zeal to serve his Majesty and to humble the ' pride of the enemy.

<

'I may venture to affirm, though the enemy 'made a gallant defence, that had the weather 'proved but even moderate, or had the action 'happened in the day, not one of their squa'dron had escaped.

Inclosed I send a list of the Spanish 'squadron, as likewise of his Majesty's ships, ' with the damage they received*.

* See Appendix, for Sir George Rodney's line-of-battle.

Phoenix, Don Juan de Langara, Admiral, 80 guns, 700 men;

' taken, and brought into Gibraltar.

⚫ San Augustin, 70 guns, 600 men; escaped.

San Genaro, 70 guns, 600 men; escaped.

'San Justo, 70 guns, 600 men; escaped, much damaged. 'San Lorenzo, 70 guns, 600 men; escaped, very much damaged.

'San Julian, 70 guns, 600 men; taken, officers shifted; a Lieutenant with seventy men put on board, afterwards went on shore. 'San Eugenio, 70 guns, 600 men; the officers shifted, but driven ' on shore on the breakers, and lost.

Monarca, 70 guns, 600 men; taken, and brought into Gibraltar Princessa, 70 guns, 600 men; taken, and brought into Gib' raltar.

'Diligente, 70 guns, 600 men; taken, and brought into Gibraltar. 'San Domingo, 70 guns, 600 men; blown up in action. 'Santa Gertrude, 26 guns, 250 men; escaped.

'Santa Rosalia, 28 guns, 250 men; escaped.

Next day, having no person on board the 'Sandwich acquainted with the Bay of Gib'raltar, I ordered Rear Admiral Digby to 'lead in, and sent two frigates ahead to give notice to the garrison of our approach. The 'weather proved very bad, and the current so

strong, that most of the fleet were driven to 'the back of the rock. The Sandwich and 'many of the ships did not arrive in the Bay 'till yesterday. All the transports and vic'tuallers are unloading, and every despatch 'shall be used to put his Majesty's further 'commands into execution.

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As the wind continued to blow hard

westerly, I thought it forwarding his Ma'jesty's service to make sure of the convoy's

arriving safe at Minorca, by sending three copper-bottomed ships of the line to see 'them in safety off that island, where I am 'sure they must have arrived before this time,

as the wind has continued to blow hard westerly ever since they sailed.'

FROM LADY RODNEY.

'London, January 20th, 1780.

Though it is uncertain, my dear Sir George, 'whether this letter ever will reach

you,

I

cannot, as it is the first opportunity that 'has offered since you sailed, omit writing 'a few lines by it. It will be delivered to

you, should he ever meet with you, by Mr. 'Manners, son of Lord Robert Manners, who 'is one of the many young men who are or'dered to the West Indies, in the four newly 'raised regiments. He is an intimate friend

6

of Mr. Wraxall's, and assured me he would ‘take great care of my letter, and that he

VOL. I.

Q

6

'should be happy to be presented by it to

your notice.

The wind and weather here were SO 'favourable for a fortnight after your departure, that I felt most happy about you. It is rumoured that you are certainly des'tined first for Gibraltar, and then to pro'ceed to the West Indies. Lord George 'Germain says he hopes to hear of you in ' a very few days. The papers, indeed, have 'made you take some rich ship or other every day almost since you sailed.

It is impossible to say how anxious I am 'to hear from you; and the uncertainty where

you are, and when any accounts may be 'expected from you, adds greatly to my un

' easiness.

Mr. Rodney assures me he left you per'fectly well the day you left St. Helen's. 'Heaven grant that your health may con'tinue, and success may attend you wherever

The dear girls are quite well, and join me

in love and affectionate remembrance to

'you. Adieu, and believe me ever,

'&c. &c. &c.

'H. R.'

'TO LADY RODNEY.

'Gibraltar, February 7th, 1780.

I send this letter by Captain Thompson*, 'who carries duplicates of the despatches,

giving an account of our great success in

taking the greatest part of the Spanish fleet, 'which I hope will have arrived long before 'this comes to your hands. Captain Thomp'son promises to deliver this letter himself; and as he was the Captain I appointed to repeat my signals, if your curiosity leads you to hear the particulars of a sea-battle, 'he can better inform you than any other

* It is a singular fact, that the news of this victory was first communicated to the British government by Mr. Fitzherbert (now Lord St. Helens), the then British minister at Brussels, to which court a despatch had been sent express from Madrid; in which it was pretended that the advantage was in favour of the Spanish Admiral.

Mr. Fitzherbert, who was allowed a cursory view of it, with the practised eye of an adroit diplomatist soon saw throught he cheat, and without delay acquainted the British cabinet, that Sir George Rodney had gained a victory over Langara's fleet. Captain Thompson did not arrive in England with the Admiral's official despatch till many days afterwards, he, as well as Captain Mac Bride, who was charged with a duplicate thereof, having encountered the most tempestuous weather and adverse winds, during a voyage of nearly a month.

Mr. Fitzherbert's letter reached London on the 12th of February.