iards, and that her followers should pass her to leeward,
successively engaging from the enemy's rear towards the van.

At 4 P.M. the signal for battle was made, and a few minutes later
the four headmost of the pursuers got into action. At 4.40 one of the
Spanish ships, the _Santo Domingo_, 80, blew up with all on board, and
at 6 another struck. By this hour, it being January, darkness had set
in. A night action therefore followed, which lasted until 2 A.M., when
the headmost of the enemy surrendered, and all firing ceased. Of the
eleven hostile ships of the line, only four escaped. Besides the
one blown up, six were taken. These were the _Fenix_, 80, flag of
the Spanish Admiral, Don Juan de Langara, the _Monarca_, 70, the
_Princesa_, 70, the _Diligente_, 70, the _San Julian_, 70, and the
_San Eugenio_, 70. The two latter drove ashore and were lost.[73] The
remaining four were brought into Gibraltar, and were ultimately added
to the Navy. All retained their old names, save the _Fenix_, which
was renamed _Gibraltar_. "The weather during the night," by Rodney's
report, "was at times very tempestuous, with a great sea. It continued
very bad weather the next day, when the _Royal George_, 100, _Prince
George_, 90, _Sandwich_, 90 (Rodney's flagship), and several other
ships were in great danger, and under the necessity of making sail to
avoid the shoals of San Lucar, nor did they get into deep water till
the next morning."

It was in this danger from a lee shore, which was deliberately though
promptly incurred, that the distinction of this action of Rodney's
consists. The enemy's squadron, being only eleven ships of the line,
was but half the force of the British, and it was taken by surprise;
which, to be sure, is no excuse for a body of war-ships in war-time.
Caught unawares, the Spaniards took to flight too late. It was
Rodney's merit, and no slight one under the conditions of weather and
navigation, that they were not permitted to retrieve their mistake.
His action left nothing to be desired in resolution or readiness. It
is true that Rodney discussed the matter with his flag-captain, Walter
Young, and that rumor attributed the merit of the decision to the
latter; but this sort of detraction is of too common occurrence to
affect opinion. Sir Gilbert Blane, Physician to the Fleet, gives
the following account: "When it was close upon sunset, it became a
question whether the chase should be continued. After some discussion