CHAPTER XIII.
Cadiz, Minorca, Majorca, Alicant, Carthagena, Algiers, Oran, Altea Bay—Drive a French Privateer on shore near Denia.
On the 13th of June I sailed in H.M. Ship Brune for Cadiz, at that time besieged by Marshal Soult. I waited on Admiral Legg, and our ambassador (Sir Henry Willesley), and delivered my despatches, and, after remaining there two days, proceeded to Gibraltar and Minorca, where I was placed under the orders of Rear-Admiral Benjamin Hallowell, who, on the 4th July, sent me to Palma Bay, Majorca, to collect Spanish troops, and embark them on board transports and the Brune. After making two or three trips between the two above-named islands, I embarked Major-General Whittingham’s brigade of Spanish troops, who were not a bad-looking body of men.
I dined occasionally with his Excellency the Governor-General of the Balearic islands, the Marquis de Coupigny, who was a very pleasant, gentlemanly person, and at whose table I met several of the Spanish noblesse, who had taken refuge at Palma during the troubles on the continent.
I observed that smoking was not uncommon with the Spanish ladies. Whence this custom originated it is perhaps difficult to determine, unless, indeed, the habit of using tobacco—to which the other sex are immoderately addicted—has gradually, from social motives, been adopted by the fair; for we can hardly suppose that a practice so generally reprobated by them should at once be resorted to by ladies as a recreation, or even solace. The compliment, if such it be, ought to be duly appreciated by their husbands. But what will not woman do or suffer to conduce to the comfort or to mitigate the care of him she loves!
In Spain are to be seen beautiful women in every rank of life, with very fine eyes, pretty feet and hands. They generally carry a fan—a most useful auxiliary whilst conversing; indeed, they would be hardly able to talk without one. Their dress is calculated to set off a good figure and fine features to great advantage.
After embarking the brigade of General Whittingham, we proceeded to Alicant. The castle and fortress of this place make a figure in history, particularly during the war of succession, and bring to remembrance the brave and chivalric conduct of the Earl of Peterborough. The anchorage in the bay is good, and, with a long scope of cable, ships may ride out a heavy gale with the wind in, for the under-tow is so great that you ride with little strain on the cables.
After the battle of Salamanca, Soult, thinking his situation before Cadiz insecure, raised the siege, and retired into the interior; but it being doubtful whether he might not make a dash at Carthagena, Rear-Admiral Sir Sidney Smith proceeded thither from Gibraltar in the Tremendous (74), to communicate with the general commanding our army at Alicant and Rear-Admiral Hallowell on the subject. I was, therefore, sent thither with two Spanish regiments, embarked on board transports, to be ready to act in case of necessity, but with orders on no account to land the troops, unless the place was threatened, as a bad periodical yellow fever was raging in the town with great violence. The gallant admiral (Sir Sidney Smith), however, would take me on shore to show me the best places to plant cannon and take up position in case of attack. After this, we must go to the hospital to inquire into the nature of the fever, &c. Every now and then he gave me a pinch of snuff, telling me not to swallow my saliva, and there would be no danger of catching the disease. In the course of a week I was attacked by fever, but, being in the outer roadstead, the fresh air probably prevented its attaining that malignancy it had reached in the town, but it was some weeks before I perfectly recovered.
The Tremendous (74), with the admiral, sailed the day after our visit to the city to join the fleet off Toulon. Several other men-of-war arrived in the course of a few days with more troops from headquarters. Whether Soult was deterred by the sickness prevailing in the place, or had heard of the reinforcements, he passed on his route, and we all returned to Alicant.
Shortly after, I was sent to Altea Bay, to lie there and protect any transports that might arrive to procure water.