In the mean time, so enraptured was Sir John Jervis, with the skill and bravery which he had witnessed in the gallant commodore, that he literally clasped him in his arms, when he came on board the Victory, after the action—dirtied and disfigured as he was, with great part of his hat shot away—and pressed to his own valiant bosom one of the most heroic hearts that ever inhabited a human breast.
This undoubted fact is given on no less authority than that of Thomas Bolton, Esq. who received it from the honourable lips of his immortal brother-in-law.
A week after the action, on his way to Lisbon, the commodore wrote a letter to Captain Locker, dated on board the Irresistible, Lagos Bay, February 21, 1797; in which, observing that he had been too unwell to write by the Lively frigate, which carried the news of victory to England, he mentions that, as he knows how anxious his friend would be for his welfare, both in health and reputation, he sends him a short detail of the transactions of the Captain: adding that, if he approved of it, he was at perfect liberty to insert it in the newspapers; inserting the name of "Commodore," instead of "I." He mentions, that Captain Miller and Berry, &c. authenticated the truth, till he quitted the San Josef, to go on board La Minerve; and that, farther than this, the detail should not be printed. As he does not write for the press, he modestly intimates, there may be parts which require the pruning-knife, which he desires him to use at discretion, without fear. "I pretend not to say," concludes he, "that these ships might not have fallen, had I not boarded them: but, truly, it was far from impossible that they might have forged into the Spanish fleet, as the other two ships did."
Though the account inclosed in the above letter is in a considerable degree anticipated by the more copious and general narrative of Colonel Drinkwater, and in some measure by the letters of the commander in chief, the circumstance of it's having been written by the heroic commodore himself will be a better apology for inserting it, than any that could be offered by his biographer for it's omission.
A few Remarks relative to the Proceedings of his Majesty's Ship Captain, on board of which Ship Commodore Nelson's Pendant was flying on the 14th of February 1797.
WRITTEN BY THE COMMODORE.
"At one P.M. the Captain having passed the sternmost of the enemy's ships, which formed their van, and part of their centre, consisting of seventeen sail of the line, they on the starboard, we on the larboard tack, the admiral made the signal to tack in succession; but, perceiving all the Spanish ships to bear up before the wind, evidently with an intention of forcing their line, going large, and joining their separated divisions, at that time engaged with some of our centre ships, or flying from us—to prevent either of their schemes from taking place, I ordered the ship to be wore; and, passing between the Diadem and Excellent, at a quarter past one o'clock, was engaged with the headmost, and of course leewardmost, of the Spanish division. The ships, which I knew, were the Santissima Trinidada of one hundred and thirty-six guns, San Josef of one hundred and twelve, Salvador del Mundo of one hundred and twelve, San Nicolas of eighty; there was another first-rate, and a seventy-four, names unknown.
"I was immediately joined, and most nobly supported, by the Culloden, Captain Troubridge. The Spanish fleet, not wishing, I suppose, to have a decisive battle, hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, which brought the ships abovementioned to be the leewardmost and sternmost ships in their fleet. For near an hour, I believe, but I do not pretend to be correct as to time, did the Culloden and Captain support this not only apparently, but really, unequal contest; when the Blenheim, passing between us and the enemy, gave us a respite, and sickened the Dons. At this time, the Salvador del Mundo, and San Ysidro, dropped astern; and were fired into, in a masterly stile, by the Excellent, Captain Collingwood, who compelled the San Ysidro to hoist English colours; and, I thought, the large ship, Salvador del Mundo, had also struck: but Captain Collingwood, disdaining the parade of taking possession of a vanquished enemy, most gallantly pushed up, with every sail set, to save his old friend and messmate; who was, to appearance, in a critical state. The Blenheim being ahead, the Culloden crippled and astern, the Excellent ranged up within two feet of the San Nicolas, giving a most tremendous fire. The San Nicolas luffing up, the San Josef fell on board her; and the Excellent, passing on for the Santissima Trinidada, the Captain resumed her station abreast of them, and close alongside. At this time, the Captain having lost her fore-top-mast, not a sail, shroud, nor rope left, her wheel away, and incapable of farther service in the line or in chace, I directed Captain Miller to put the helm a-starboard; and, calling for the boarders, ordered them to board. The soldiers of the sixty-ninth, with an alacrity which will ever do them credit, and Lieutenant Pearson of the same regiment, were almost the foremost on this service. The first man who jumped into the enemy's mizen chains was Captain Berry, late my first-lieutenant—Captain Miller was in the act of going, also, but I directed him to remain—he was supported by our spritsail yard, which hooked in the mizen rigging. A soldier of the sixty-ninth regiment having broken the upper quarter-gallery window, I jumped in, myself, and was followed by others as fast as possible. I found the cabin doors fastened, and some Spanish officers fired their pistols: but, having broke open the doors, the soldiers fired; and the Spanish brigadier—commodore, with a distinguishing pendant—instantly fell, as retreating to the quarter-deck; where immediately onwards, for the quarter-deck; where I found Captain Berry in possession of the poop, and the Spanish ensign hauling down. I passed with my people, and Lieutenant Pearson, on the larboard gangway, to the forecastle; where I met two or three Spanish officers, prisoners to my seamen. They delivered me their swords. A fire of pistols or muskets, opening from the admiral's stern-gallery of the San Josef, I directed the soldiers to fire into her stern; and, calling to Captain Miller, ordered him to send more men into the San Nicolas, and directed my people to board the first-rate, which was done in an instant, Captain Berry assisting me into the main-chains. At this moment, a Spanish officer looked over the quarter-deck rail, and said they surrendered. From this most welcome intelligence, it was not long before I was on the quarter-deck; where the Spanish captain, with a bow, presented me his sword, and said the admiral was dying of his wounds. I asked him, on his honour, if the ship surrendered. He declared, she was. On which, I gave him my hand; and desired him to call in his officers, and ship's company, and tell them of it: and, on the quarter-deck of a Spanish first-rate, extravagant as the story may seem, did I receive the swords of vanquished Spaniards; which, as I received, I gave to William Fearney, one of my bargemen; who put them, with the greatest sang-froid, under his arm. I was surrounded by Captain Berry, Lieutenant Pearson of the sixty-ninth regiment, John Sykes, John Thompson, Francis Cooke—all old Agamemnons—and several other brave men, seamen and soldiers. Thus fell these ships.
"N.B. In boarding the San Nicolas, I believe, we had about seven killed, and ten wounded; and about twenty Spaniards lost their lives by a foolish resistance. None were lost, I believe, in boarding the San Josef.
"Rear-Admiral Don Francisco Winthuysen died of his wounds on board the San Josef, and Commodore Gerraldelino on board the San Nicolas, soon after the action ceased.