l letter of the commander in chief, as addressed, on this
occasion, by Sir John Jervis, to Evan Nepean, Esq. Secretary of the
Admiralty, and published in the London Gazette, it has been frequently
observed, was remarkable for not containing a single syllable of
individual praise. This circumstance has been differently accounted for,
by different persons, as they have been swayed by their prejudices,
their partialities, or their imaginations; few, however, appear to have
been very solicitous about the truth. Indeed, there are no
inconsiderable number of writers, and of readers too, who would be
rather mortified than pleased to discover any positive verity which
might overthrow, or even oppose, their own preconceived notions, however
unjust or erroneous.

That the omission to mention names was the result of design, and not of
accident, in the public letter of the commander in chief, is certainly
true; and the Earl of St. Vincent need never blush at avowing the
motive by which he was laudably actuated to avoid mentioning the names
of individuals. He had seen an instance of the fatal consequences of
such selections, in the then recent example of Lord Howe; who, with the
best intentions, had thus unfortunately excited the most cruel pangs in
the bosoms of many brave commanders. He resolved, therefore, with the
most humane and benevolent view, to speak only, to the public, in terms
of general approbation.

Having had occasion to say so much respecting this public letter, it's
omission might, by the malignant, be construed into a wish to prevent
it's being sufficiently investigated. Truth, however, is always a gainer
by minute enquiry: notwithstanding, therefore, the repetition which this
letter necessarily contains of what has been already seen by the reader
in Colonel Drinkwater's Narrative, it is here subjoined--

"Victory,
off Lagos Bay,
February 16, 1797.

"SIR,

"The hopes of falling in with the Spanish fleet, expressed in my
letter to you of the 13th instant, were confirmed, that night, by
our 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 south-east winds, I had never been able to reach:
and, that they were not more than three or fo