colours were hoisted over the
Spanish. The Sabina's main and fore masts fell overboard before she
surrendered.

"This is, Sir, an unpleasant tale; but the merits of every officer
and man in La Minerve and her prize, were eminently conspicuous
through the whole of this arduous day. The enemy quitted the
pursuit of La Minerve at dark."

There were ten men wounded in this last attack, but none killed; and the
mainmast was much damaged, and the rigging greatly cut.

D'Arcy Preston, Esq. captain of La Blanche, had brought, on the
preceding night, a few minutes after La Minerve's first broadside, the
smaller Spanish frigate to close action. The enemy made but a trifling
resistance, and eight or nine broadsides completely silenced them; when
they called out for quarter, and their colours were hauled down.

"I am sorry to add," says Captain Preston, in his letter to
Commodore Nelson, written at sea, December 20, "the very near
approach of three fresh ships, two of which we discovered nearly
within gun-shot before we went into action, rendered my taking
possession of her impracticable; when I wore, to join La Minerve.
Finding the ships did not then close with the frigate, which I had
left much damaged in her hull, sails, and rigging, I again stood
after her: but she had, by this time, got her fore-sail, fore
top-sail, and fore top-gallant sail, set; and not only out-sailed
the Blanche, before the wind, but was joined by another ship
standing from the land.

"Nothing could exceed the steadiness and good conduct of the
first-lieutenant, Mr. Cowen; and the whole of the officers, and
ship's company, I have the honour to command. I have great pleasure
to inform you, that not one person was hurt, or the rigging the
least damaged.

"I beg leave to add, how much I am obliged to Captain Maitland, who
is on board, a passenger, to join his ship, for his very great
assistance on the quarter-deck during the action."

The worthy and gallant commodore was far less chagrined at the loss of
these two prizes, than at that of his brave officers and men who were
unfortunately on board that of which La Minerve had taken possession. He
seized, therefore, the first possible opportunity of sending a letter,
by a flag of truce, to his Excellency Don Miguel Gaston, Captain
General of the Department of Carthagena, of which