the larboard tack. In the morn ing of the 14th, the fleet being to the fouthward of the enemy fix or feven leagues, and the wind changing foon after to the eastward, the opportunity was taken to pafs fuch of the ftore-fhips as were then with the fleet into the bay.

On the night of the 18th, the reft of the ftore-hips, which had been ordered to a special rendezvous with the Buffalo, on fight of the enemy on the 13th (the Thompson victualler, that had parted company in the mean time, excepted) were likewife anchored in Rofia Bay. The troops embarked in the fhips of war, together with a large fupply of powder being landed at the fame time, and the wants of the garrifon amply provided for in every refpect, I propofed taking advantage immediately of the easterly wind, which had prevailed the two or three preceding days, for returning through the Straits to the weftward.

At break of day on the 19th, the combined force of the enemy was feen at a little distance to the N. E. The fleet being at that time fo nearly between Europa and Ceuta Points, that there was not fpace to form in order of battle on either tack, I repaffed the Straits, followed by the enemy.

The wind changing next morning (the 20th) to the northward, the combined fleets (confifting of forty-five or forty-fix fhips of the line) ftill retained the advantage of the wind.

The British fleet being formed to leeward to receive them, they were left, uninterruptedly, to take the distance at which they fhould

think fit to engage. They began their cannonade at fun-fet on the van and rear, feeming to point their chief attack on the latter, and continued their fire along the whole line, at a confiderable diftance, and with little effect, until ten at night. It was returned occafionally from different fhips of the fleet, as their nearer approach at times afforded a more favour able opportunity for making any impreffion upon them.

The enemy hauling their wind, and the British fleet keeping on all night with the full fail directed before the commencement of their fire, the fleets are now much feparated; but as I conceive the knowledge of the relief of Gibraltar may be of much confequence at this time, I take the opportunity, while it is now almost calm, and the fhips are refitting the damages they have fuftained in their mafts and rigging by the enemy's fire, to forward this dispatch without further delay.

P. S. The Minerva naval traníport, with the baggage of the regiments embarked in the fhips of war, feparated from the fleet in the night of the 13th, and was, I hear, fince taken by the enemy.

Extract of a Letter from Lord Vif count Howe to Mr. Stephens, dated on board the Victory, at Jea, Oct. 24, 1782.

SIR,

DEEMING it effential to his Majefty's fervice that the debarkation of the troops and stores at Gibraltar fhould be communicated to the Lords Commiffioners of the Admiralty as foon as poffible, I fent the Peggy cutter the 21ft inft.

with a general report of my proceedings, in execution of my orders, to that period.

A duplicate of that report went in the Buffalo, ordered for Eng land the next day, on account of the ftate of her wounded mafts; and I enclofe a triplicate of the fame by this conveyance, to connect the relation of the different circumstances refpecting the employment of the fleet, which have fince occurred. Some of the fhips having fustained more damage in their mafts and yards by the fire of the enemy on the 20th than was at first obferved, the neceffary repairs were not completed until the 22d. But as it was mostly calm, in the mean time no advantage could have been made of an opportunity to follow the enemy (who, when laft feen on the 21ft, were ftanding off to N. N. W. by the wind on the starboard tack) if the masts had been earlier fecured. A lift of the killed and wounded will likewife accompany this difpatch. I have only to exprefs my regret, that the little confidence the enemy fhewed in their fuperiority, by keeping always as near as they could haul to the wind, prevented the full effect of the animated exertions which, I am fure, would have been made by every officer and feaman in the fleet under my command, if they could have closed with their opponents: but as I judged fuch nearer approach could not then be feafonably attempted, I made no change in the difpofition of the fhips as formed at first to receive the enemy.

For fimilar reafons I do not dwell more particularly on the merits of the flag officers of the

fleet on the fame occafion, being certain they would difregard any commendations of their efforts a

gainst an enemy who declined giving them an opportunity to dif charge the duty of their stations, in repelling a more serious attack: but at the fame time I am reminded of the advantages derived to his Majefty's fervice, from the extenfive knowledge of the difficult navigation within the Straits acquired by and the unremitting afliduity of my first captain, Levefon Gower.

Having had but very little wind from the N. E. chiefly fince the 21ft, I cannot much longer, with prudence (under the reduced state of the water and stores in many of the thips) make the pursuit of the enemy's fleet (which I fuppofe are on their return to Cadiz) the first object of my attention.

Capt. Duncan of the Victory, taking his paffage in the Latona, is charged with this dispatch; and as Capt. Curtis, who was fent off to me for the last time the 19th, with Gen. Eliott's confidential fentiments, could not be put on flore again, in confequence of the return of the enemy from the eastward that morning, I have ap pointed him to command the Victory for the time being, until their lordships pleafure is fignified for his future conduct.

Return of the Killed and Wounded from the Fire of the Combined Fleets, Od. 20, 1782.

LINE OF BATTLE

Van Squadron, or of Commander in 2d post, Firft or Starboard Divifion. Seam.or Mar. Officers. Ships Names. killed. d. killed. wd.

Goliah Ganges

[R] 4

Royal

Extract of a Letter from Captain Curtis, of his Majefty's fhip Brilliant, to Mr. Stephens, dated Camp at Europa, Gibraltar, September 15, 1782.

BE pleased to acquaint my Lords Commiffioners that the combined fleet of France and Spain, confifting of thirty-eight fail of the line, arrived in this bay on the 12th inftant; fix fail of the line were here before.

At eight o'clock in the morning of the 13th, the ten battering fhips of the enemy lying at the head of the bay, under the com mand of Admiral Moreno, began to get under fail, in order to come against the garrifon : every thing

was

was in readiness for their reception. At ten the admiral's fhip was placed about one thoufand yards from the King's Baftion, and commenced his fire. The others were very shortly afterwards posted to the north and fouth of him, at fmall diftances afucder, and began their cannonade. They were all fixed to the ftations allotted them, in a masterly manner. Our batteries opened as the enemy came before them: the fire was very heavy on both fides: the redhot flot were fent with fuch precifion from the garrifon, that in the afternoon the fmoke was feen to iffue from the upper part of the admiral, and one other, and men were perceived to be using fire engines and pouring water into the holes, endeavouring to extinguifh the fire. Their efforts proved ineffectual; by one o'clock in the morning the two before mentioned were in flames, and feveral others actually on fire, though as yet not in fo great a degree. Contufion was now plainly obferved among them, and the numerous rockets thrown up from each of the fhips, was a clear demonftration of their great diftrefs: their fignals were anfwered from the enemy's fleet; and they immediately began to take away the men, it being impoffible to remove the fhips. I thought this a fit opportunity to employ my gun-boats; and I advanced with the whole (12 in number, each carrying a twenty-four or eighteen-pounder) and drew them up fo as to flank the line of the enemy's battering fhips, while they were annoyed extremely by an exceffive heavy and well directed fire from the garrifon. the garrifon. The fire from the gun-boats was kept up with great vigour and effect.

The boats of the enemy durft not approach; they abandoned their fhips and the men left in them to our mercy, or to the flames. The day-light now appeared, and two feluccas, which had not yet escaped, endeavoured to get away; but a fhot from a gun-boat killing five men on board one of them, they fubmitted. The scene at this time before me was dreadful to a high degree: numbers of men crying from amidft the flames, fome upon pieces of wood in the water, others appearing in the fhips where the fire had as yet made but little progrefs, all expreffing by fpeech and gefture the deepeft diftrefs, and all imploring affittance, formed a fpectacle of horror not easily to be defcribed. Every exertion was made to re lieve them; and I have inexpreffible happiness in informing my lords, that the number faved amounts to 13 officers and 344 men. One officer and 29 wounded (fome of them dreadfully) taken from among the flain in the holds, are in our hofpital, and many of them in a fair way. The blowing up of the fhips around us as the fire got to the magazines, and the firing of the cannon of others, as the metal became heated by the flames, rendered this a very perilous employment; but we felt it as much a duty to make every effort to relieve our enemies from fo fhocking a fituation, as an hour before we did to aflift in conquer ing them. The lofs of the enemy must have been very confiderable. Great numbers were killed on board, and in boats. Several launches were funk. In one of them were fourfcore men, who were all drowned, except an officer and twelve of them, who were

floated