“At twelve o’clock she ran ashore. Wore ship and fired our larboard broadside at the remaining two-decker, which was also making for the shore. At ten past twelve, discontinued the action.”

A rather more stirring account of the action is given in a private letter from an officer on board the Superb.

This letter also contains the story of the chase of the former squadron on Christmas Day.

“After leaving Lord Collingwood we fell in with a French squadron on December 25, off the Canaries, which we now know was commanded by Jerome Bonaparte.

“You cannot conceive the joy expressed by every one on board. Every individual thought himself a king, and expected that day to be one of the happiest Christmases he had ever spent. But from the very bad sailing of several ships of the fleet, Jerome had the good luck to escape, and the joy of the squadron was turned into melancholy, which had not altogether worn off until we found the squadron at St. Domingo (quite a different one). I can give you very little idea of the exultation expressed by every countenance when we were certain of bringing them to action. The scene was truly grand, particularly when you consider the feelings on board the two squadrons, the one making every exertion to get away, and determined to run the gauntlet in order to escape, and the other straining every nerve to prevent their flight. They were at this time going before the wind, and we were endeavouring to cross them, in order to prevent the possibility of their escape, which fortunately, from the superior sailing of the Superb, we were able to effect.

“The enemy brought their two largest ships together (l’Alexandre, the headmost, and l’Impériale) seemingly with a view to quiet the fire of the English Admiral in the Superb, before any of the other ships could come up; but in this they were disappointed, for the second broadside from the Superb fortunately did such execution on board the enemy’s headmost ship, l’Alexandre, that she became quite unmanageable and lost her station. The three-decker was by this time within pistol-shot of the Superb, and apparently reserving her fire for us; but at this critical moment Admiral Cochrane in the Northumberland came up, and notwithstanding the small distance between the Superb and l’Impériale, he gallantly placed her between us, and received the whole broadside of the largest, and esteemed the finest, ship in the French navy. Several of the shot passed quite through the Northumberland into the Superb. The action then became general, and, as you must be already informed, terminated most honourably for the British Navy; for although the enemy was a little inferior, yet, according to the most accurate calculation, they were entirely annihilated in the short space of one hour.”

According to the log of the Canopus, the time seems to have been nearer two hours than one, but something must be allowed for the enthusiasm of the young officer who writes this letter, and his pride in the very “superior sailing” and other perfections of the Superb.

Jerome Bonaparte was not in command of the whole squadron sighted on Christmas Day, but was captain of one of the ships, the Veteran. He soon became tired of the sea, however, finding the throne of Westphalia more congenial to his tastes.

The exact comparison between the enemy’s force and that of our own is given in the log.

english line. guns.

men.

 french line. guns.

men.

Superb 74 590 Le Diomède 80 900
Northumberland 74 590 L’Impériale 120 1300
Spencer 74 590 L’Alexandre 80 1080
Agamemnon 64 490 Le Jupitre 74 700
Canopus 80 700 Le Brave 74 700
Donegal 74 590
Atlas 74 590
Frigates, &c.
Acasta 40 320 La Comette 40 350
Magicienne 36 250 La Félicité 40 350
Kingfisher 36 250 La Diligente 24 200
Epervier 16 95