oncepcion.
Conde de Regla.
Mexicano.
Principe de Asturias.
Salvador del Mundo.
San Josef.

80 Neptuno.
San Nicolas.

74 Atalante.
Bahama.
Conquistador.
Firme.
Glorioso.
Oriente.
Pelayo.
San Antonio.
San Domingo.
San Firmin.
San F'sco de Paula.
San Genaro.
San Ildefonso.
San Juan Nepomuceno.
San Pablo.
San Ysidro.
Soberano.
Terrible.

There were also twelve frigates, some gun-boats, and seventy
transports with troops, which were disembarked at Algesiras.

It is not positively known what the destination of this powerful fleet
was; some accounts say Cadiz, others Brest. It is, however, certain
that their admiral did not expect to meet more than ten or twelve sail
of the line with Sir John Jervis, and that he anticipated an easy
capture, and a triumphant entry into port with his prizes. His dismay
may therefore be easily imagined at seeing the English fleet of
fifteen sail of the line close to him, in excellent order of battle,
while his own fleet was in such a scattered situation as to render it
impossible to prevent his intrepid enemy from cutting off a group
which had separated from the main body of his fleet, and which in vain
attempted to rejoin by crowding all sail.

As it is not our intention to enter into the particulars of this
memorable battle, excepting as regards the Orion, an extract from the
admiral's despatch will be sufficient to show the bold and decisive
step which he took on that occasion, and by which he succeeded in
obtaining a most glorious victory over double his force.

Victory, Lagos Bay, 16th February 1797.

SIR,

The hope of falling in with the Spanish fleet, expressed in my
letter to you of the 13th instant, was confirmed last night by
distinctly hearing the report of their signal-guns, and by
intelligence received from Captain Foote, of his Majesty's ship
Niger, who had, with equal judgment and perseverance, kept
company with them for several days, on my prescribed
rendezvous, (which, from the strong S.E. wind, I had never been
able to reach,) and that they were not more than the distance of
three or four leagues from us.

I anxiously waited the dawn of day; when, being on the starboard
tac