where there was hardly a chance of a man being saved. In this situation. Captain Malcolm without hesitation ordered the cables of the Donegal to be cut, and stood after the Berwick, giving orders for the boats to save all the wounded Frenchmen before they brought away the English; these were punctually obeyed; the English were next removed; but before the boats could return, the Berwick struck upon the shoals, and every soul on board perished, to the number of 200. The wounded seamen who were saved were supplied with cots and bedding, which had been prepared for our own sick and wounded; and after being treated with every kindness and mark of attention, they were sent into Cadiz with a flag of truce with the cots and bedding on which they had been placed, that they might suffer as little pain and inconvenience in their removal as possible. The other instance we shall notice, is as follows; On the 26th Oct., whilst the Donegal was at anchor off Cadiz in a violent gale of wind, with upwards of 600 prisoners then on deck, an unfortunate Spaniard fell overboard; notwithstanding the sea was then running so high, they had not ventured to hoist a boat out for twelve hours before, two seamen of the Donegal jumped overboard in hopes of saving his life, to the admiration of the Spaniards, who were lost in astonishment at so daring an act. The poor man however sunk, and was drowned, just as one of the English seamen, Joseph Thompson, had about got hold of him. A boat was immediately hoisted out, and fortunately the two gallant fellows were got safe on board. We are happy to find that the uncommon exertions which we were all witness to of Captain Malcolm and his gallant crew, to get his ship ready for sea, on their receiving intelligence of the enemies’ fleets having left Cadiz, has not been entirely unrewarded. The Donegal, it will be recollected, sailed from this on the 22d, having her fore-yard towing alongside, and with great difficulty passed the Straits that night, every other vessel that attempted it being forced to return. On the following day they had the good fortune to capture El Rayo of 100 guns, which had lost her main-mast, and was at anchor near Cadiz. The Spaniards did not attempt to fire, as the Donegal was brought to anchor in so advantageous a position across her bow, that any resistance on the part of El Rayo in her crippled state would have been unavailing, and a wanton sacrifice of lives, without a chance of success. The Donegal afterwards, during the storm, repeatedly examined the whole coast between Lagos Bay and Cadiz, to assist any vessels she might find in distress; and besides the number of lives she had saved, she was fortunate enough to bring in the Bahama, one of the finest of the line-of-battle ships in the Spanish navy, which she discovered near St. Lucar deserted. The Donegal lost an officer, Mr. Fourneaux, of Marines; a Master’s Mate, Bell; the Carpenter, Ellis; and 25 men, on board El Rayo.”
It is almost unnecessary to state that Captain Malcolm’s conduct obtained the unqualified approbation of Nelson’s worthy successor.
The Donegal continued off Cadiz under the orders of Sir
