fusion-, taking shelter under Fort Barbary. The Speedy on this occasion had only 3 men killed and wounded; but she was very much cut up in her hull, masts, and rigging. The Spaniards, according to their own account, lost 11 men.
To Captain Brenton, it appeared very singular that, although this brush with the enemy’s flotilla took place close to the rock, a single shot fired from Europa point was the only effort made by the garrison of Gibraltar to assist him. He consequently anchored in the bay, much out of humour with the Governor, General O’Hara; but was soon informed of the cause by his Excellency, who addressed him on his appearing at the convent[1], in the following terms:
“I conclude, Sir, you think I have treated you very ill, in not affording you assistance; but I have made arrangements with the Governor of Algeziras, to prevent this town being kept in a state of constant alarm and annoyance by the Spanish gun-boats, which in consequence are never to be fired on from the rock: there is the copy of a letter which I have written to the Admiralty, and I most sincerely wish you may obtain your promotion[2].”
The letter alluded to was so handsomely worded, that Captain Brenton could say nothing about the preceding transaction; and he was soon after rewarded for his gallantry by a post commission, appointing him to the command of the Caesar; in which ship, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiral Sir James Saumarez, the inhabitants of Algeziras again witnessed his exertions, on that memorable day, July 6, 1801, when our intrepid tars were unhappily thwarted by calms and currents in their attempt to cut off a French squadron, and obliged to haul off from the formidable batteries under which they had drifted, with the additional mortification of leaving the enemy to exult in the capture of a British 74[3].
Nothing daunted by this failure, Sir James Saumarez, with astonishing celerity, refitted part of his shattered squadron; and, reinforced by Captains Keats and Hollis, of the Superb and Thames, pursued his vain-glorious enemy; who, notwithstanding their immense superiority, sought for safety in an
- ↑ The Governor’s residence.
- ↑ See Naval History of Great Britain, by Captain Edward Pelham Brenton, Vol. II. p. 490.
- ↑ See Vol. I. p. 187.
