or
battle.

Early on Tuesday morning, the weather being hazy, with light
winds, the frigates on the look-out made the signal for
discovering the enemy, and soon after we discerned several ships
to leeward, and the body of the fleet to windward. We were then
on the starboard tack, standing to the southward. The signal was
made to different ships to chase; and, shortly after, for the
fleet to form in line of battle as most convenient. The enemy at
this time were bearing down to join their ships to leeward; but
we came upon them so fast, that, before they could effect the
junction, the headmost ships, which were the Culloden, Prince
George, Orion, Blenheim, and Colossus, with the Victory and the
rest coming up, it was effectually prevented. They then hauled
their wind on the larboard tack, and our Admiral made the signal
for the fleet to tack. Our sternmost ships then became the
headmost.

Commodore Nelson, who had joined from Elba the day before,
shifted his pendant to the Captain, the leading ship, and
distinguished himself most eminently. The Culloden, Blenheim,
Prince George, and Orion, were the next that came up, and were
warmly engaged for nearly three hours with the body of the
enemy's fleet, who had not had the time, or address, to form
into any order. But it is only doing them justice to say, they
defended themselves very bravely.

We were, for above an hour, opposed to a three-decker, the
Salvador del Mundo, which finally struck to this ship; we
lowered the boat from the stern, and gave orders to Mr. Luce,
the first lieutenant, to take possession of her; still making
sail for the other ships, and following Admiral Parker in the
Prince George. The Excellent, which had passed us to windward,
had made a line-of-battle ship, the San Domingo, strike some
time before this.

Several ships of the enemy were extremely shattered in their
masts and sails; but, keeping up a warm fire on their ships, the
Captain laid one of them, the San Nicolas, an eighty-four, on
board, and hauled down her colours. A three-decker, the San
Josef, wishing, I believe, to rescue the ship, got on board of
her, and gave Commodore Nelson an opportunity of also hauling
down her colours. His bravery on this occasion is above all
praise.

The Namur and other ships had by this time joined the van, and
engaged as they