on of the governor, the garrison, and the inhabitants,
although themselves in a state of privation, was unremitting. We shall
leave them for the present preparing to take farewell of each other on
the evening before the Admiral's departure, to meet what must have
appeared to every spectator an overwhelming foe!

CHAPTER XVII.

1801.

Occurrences at Gibraltar.--Determination of Sir James to attack
the combined squadron.--Caesar rehoists the Admiral's flag.--Sir
J. Brenton's description of that interesting scene.--His
account of the battle.--Destruction of two Spanish
three-deckers.--Capture of the St. Antonio.--Action between the
Venerable and Formidable.--Public letters.--Private
letters.--French details of the battle.--Spanish ditto.--Orders
of sailing.--Remarks.

General O'Hara the gallant governor, and the brave garrison of
Gibraltar, had beheld from the Rock, which is only four miles from
Algeziras, the long-contested, severe, but unfortunate conflict of the
6th of July. They had witnessed the bravery of their countrymen. Their
intense anxiety for the success of the Admiral's daring attack had
been changed into sympathy for the loss his squadron had sustained;
and, fully convinced that not only no honour had been sacrificed, but
that the character of the nation had been gloriously maintained, the
unsuccessful were received at the Rock, as if they had returned from a
victory. The garrison beheld with admiration the wonderful efforts
which were made to meet a still more formidable foe. Every day marked
the progress of the Herculean labours in preparation for that event;
the exertions, zeal, and intrepidity of Sir James's officers and crews
increased in proportion to the multiplied force of the enemy, which,
to men of any other cast, would have appeared overwhelming!

After one of the severest engagements on record, the British squadron,
in the short space of five days, had repaired its damages, and sought
the enemy, whose force had been nearly tripled by the junction of six
ships and three frigates from Cadiz. With such men, and in such a
cause, victory seemed certain, notwithstanding the great disparity of
force between the belligerents, and the exertions of the enemy proved,
that he expected a tremendous struggle. Every circumstance contributed
to render the approaching contest more eventful. Their late
unsuccessful attack only served to animate the officers and