nt state of
it. I am, &c.

"J. Jervis."

"Evan Nepean, Esq."

This is, certainly, a very fair hasty sketch of the business; in which,
though the names of particular commanders are not mentioned, for the
reasons already stated, they are, perhaps, more than sufficiently
hinted, to an eye of any discernment, by those of the ships described as
having suffered most severely in the action.

Nor is this all. Sir John Jervis, in his private letter, of the same
date, addressed to Lord Spencer, then First Lord of the Admiralty, as a
guide for merited promotion, was by no means backward in naming those
commanders who had been enabled most to distinguish themselves.

Of this important letter, which cannot fail to demonstrate that he did
ample justice to individual gallantry and exertion, the author has been
kindly honoured with an extract; which is now, for the first time,
presented to the public, with the consent of the Earl of St. Vincent.

"The correct conduct of every officer and man in the squadron, on
the 14th instant, made it improper to distinguish one more than
another, in my public letter; because I am confident that, had
those who were least in action been in the situation of the
fortunate few, their behaviour would not have been less
meritorious: yet, to your lordship, it becomes me to state, that
Captain Troubridge, in the Culloden, led the squadron through the
enemy in a masterly stile, and tacked the instant the signal flew;
and was gallantly supported by the Blenheim, Prince George, Orion,
Irresistible, and Colossus. The latter had her fore and
fore-topsail yards wounded, and they unfortunately broke in the
slings in stays; which threw her out, and impeded the tacking of
the Victory.

"Commodore Nelson, who was in the rear on the starboard tack, took
the lead on the larboard, and contributed very much to the fortune
of the day; as did Captain Collingwood: and, in the close, the San
Josef and San Nicolas having fallen foul of each other, the Captain
laid them on board; and Captain Berry, who served as a volunteer,
entered at the head of the boarders, and Commodore Nelson followed
immediately, and took possession of them both. The crippled state
of these ships, and the Captain, entangled as they were, and that
part of the enemy's fleet which had been kept off in the
morning--as d