Curtis, on seeing this, regardless of the danger he was running,
or that those in distress were enemies, embarked with several of his
boats to their assistance. They boldly boarded the burning ships and
rescued the perishing crews. While engaged in this glorious service,
one of the largest of the ships blew up, scattering its fragments far
and wide around. One English gunboat was sunk, and another was
considerably damaged. A piece of timber falling struck a hole in the
bottom of the barge in which was Captain Curtis. His coxswain was
killed, and two of his crew wounded, and the boat would have sunk had
not the seamen stuck their jackets into the hole. By these means she
was kept afloat till other boats came to their assistance. Don Moreno
left his flag flying on board his ship, and it was consumed with her.
The English garrison had sixty-five killed and four hundred wounded, and
the naval brigade only one killed and five wounded. Soon after this a
heavy gale from the southward sprang up, dispersing the enemy's fleet.
A fine seventy-four was driven close under the Rock, when, after a few
shots, she struck. Others received much damage. The garrison was
finally relieved by the fleet under Lord Howe, who attacked the French
and Spaniards, and gave them a severe drubbing. They managed, however,
to escape, and stood up the Mediterranean, where Lord Howe didn't
consider it prudent to follow them. Tom Pim and I agreed that we wished
we had been there. When we had gone over the place, we were not so much
surprised as we might have been at its having been able, with so small a
garrison, to resist the enormous force brought against it. The
Spaniards received a lesson at that time which they have never since
forgotten.

All now looked peaceable and quiet. The country people came jogging on
their mules across the neutral ground up to the forts, and seemed on
perfectly good terms with their old enemies. After spending a week at
Gibraltar, we steered for the Bay of Naples, Lord Robert intending, we
heard, to pay his respects to the king and queen of that very
insignificant state, and to give an entertainment to their majesties.
Cork harbour is a fine place, but the Bay of Naples, we all agreed, beat
it hollow.

Lord Robert went on shore, and was, we suppose, received by the king and
queen, for two days afterwards we were ordered to dress the ship with
flags, and to rig an awning over the quarter-deck, so as to turn it