h precision, under the direction of Lieutenant Baynes of
the Royal Artillery. But, unfortunately, it was soon found, that
the large mortar was materially injured, from it's former services;
I therefore judged it proper to order her to return, under the
protection of the Goliah, Terpsichore, and Fox; which were kept
under sail for that purpose, and for whose active services I feel
much obliged.

"The Spaniards having sent out a great number of mortar and
gun-boats, and armed launches, I directed a vigorous attack to be
made on them; which was done with such gallantry, that they were
drove and pursued close to the walls of Cadiz, and must have
suffered considerable loss: and I have the pleasure to inform you,
that two mortar-boats, and an armed launch, remain in our
possession.

"I feel myself particularly indebted, for the successful
termination of this contest, to the gallantry of Captains
Freemantle and Miller, the former of whom accompanied me in my
barge: and to my coxswain, John Sykes; who, in defending my person,
is severely wounded, as was Captain Freemantle, slightly, in the
attack: and my praises are, generally, due to every officer and
man; some of whom I saw behave in the most noble manner, and I
regret that it is not in my power to particularize them.

"I must also beg to be permitted to express my admiration of Don
Miguel Tyrason, the commander of the Spanish gun-boats. In his
barge, he laid my boat alongside, and his resistance was such as to
honour a brave officer; eighteen of the twenty-six being killed,
and himself and all the rest wounded.

"Not having a correct list of our killed and wounded, I can only
state that, I believe, about six are killed, and twenty wounded.

"I have the honour to be, Sir, your most obedient servant,

"Horatio Nelson."

The encounter so modestly described in the above letter, was one of the
sharpest conflicts in which the heroic writer had ever been engaged. Sir
Horatio fought, hand to hand, with the Spanish commandant; and, though
the crew of his own barge consisted only of himself, Captain Freemantle,
the coxswain, and ten bargemen, they killed or wounded the whole of the
twenty-six men, with the commandant, who were in the Spanish armed
launch. Never, indeed, had the rear-admiral been in a more perilous
state. It was