us to rights; for you well know that inaction in the Tagus must make us all cowards. General Stuart is expected every hour in the Argo, with very much the same staff he had in Corsica. I only know him by reputation, yet I think he will soon drive this government into active measures, or quarrel with it. I am, my dear General, &c. J. JERVIS. Sir, To the Hon. Robert Walpole. Victory, in the Tagus, 9th January, 1797. I am honoured with your Excellency's letter of this date, enclosing one from Don Rodrigo de Souza Coutinho, conveying the resolution come to by his royal highness the Prince of the Brazils, to unite the squadron of her most Faithful Majesty to that of Great Britain, under my command; and desiring a meeting for the purpose of concerting ulterior measures, previous to the departure of the combined squadron. It would give me great pleasure if the state of your health would permit of this meeting being held at your house, where I will be at eleven o'clock to-morrow; but, should you find it inconvenient to be present, I will go from thence to the house of Don Rodrigo, and you will oblige me very much by making such arrangements with him as may best suit the circumstances of your convalescence. I have the honour, &c. J. JERVIS. Sir, To the Hon. Robert Walpole. Victory, in the Tagus, 11th January, 1797. Many thanks to your Excellency for the prompt answer to my letter of this morning, enclosing the reply of Don Rodrigo de Souza to the communication of the Admiralty despatch. In respect to the postscript thereof, I shall consider it my duty to see the Brazil convoy safe into the sea, to the southward and westward of Cape St. Vincent; but neither the defence of the kingdom of Portugal, nor the necessary attention to the garrison at Gibraltar, nor to the Spanish fleet, will permit of my proceeding so far as the island of Madeira; the return of the squadron from thence being a matter of great uncertainty in point of time. I have the honour, &c. J. JERVIS. Sir, To the Hon. Robert Walpole. January 12th, 1797. I had ordered all the Spanish prisoners to be conveyed to England in the Gibraltar, before I had the honour of receiving your Excellency's letter, and the enclosure from M. Poshier, the last paragraph of which, I must confess, is very disgusting, and an ill return to the conduct I have observed to the Spanish prisoners which have fallen into my hands; and if it will not give you too much trouble, I should be glad of an explanation of it, before I consent to the exchange under such an apparent subterfuge. I have the honour, &c. Sir, To John Lemprière, Esq. J. JERVIS. Victory, off Cape St. Vincent, 6th February, 1797. The easterly winds have prevented my reaching this station until to-day, and I am without the smallest intelligence respecting the movements of the Spanish fleet. Its continuance at Carthagena for such a length of time is incomprehensible, unless waiting for supplies of stores and provisions. I will thank you for all the information you are in possession of, by Lieutenant Gibson of the Fox cutter, who is directed to wait your I have received intelligence of the Spanish fleet from Carthagena having passed the Straits, and probably put into Cadiz. You are, therefore, to join me with the squadron under your orders, off Cape St. Vincent; or, not falling in with me on that rendezvous before the 15th, you are to proceed to Lisbon. I am, my lord, J. JERVIS. CHAPTER XI. Importance of Minorca to England at this crisis-Disasters of the British Fleet on its way from thence to Gibraltar-The Fleet loses four sail of the line-Loss of the Courageux, owing to the custom of keeping Courts-Martial sitting in all weathers-The capture of the Nemesis and Sardine Violation of Neutrality-Sir John Jervis joined in the Tagus by Sir William Parker with six sail of the line-Sails in search of the Spanish Fleet-St. George gets on shore, and is disabled-Nelson joins the Admiral-Hears of the Spanish Fleet-Falls in with them-Brings them to Action-Battle of Cape St. VincentParticulars-List of the contending Fleets-Observations-Letters to Governor Connell-To General O'Hara-Observations on Collingwood's Two Medals-To General De Burgh-To Captain Fremantle-To the Speaker of the House of Commons-To the Lord Chancellor-To the Lord Mayor of London-To Captain Hope-To Don Roderigo de Sousa-Order to Sir Thomas Thompson-To the Hon. Robert Walpole. WHEN the unhappy peninsula, forced to cede to adverse fate, fell under the fatal power of revolutionary France, the Spaniards were compelled to shut their ports to our shipping, and to side with the republicans. It was very clear, from what passed at Toulon, in 1793, that a |