between the Admiral and Captain, at which I was present, the Admiral
being confined with the gout, it was decided to persist in the same
course, with the signal to engage to leeward." Rodney at that time
was nearly sixty-two, and a constant martyr to gout in both feet and
hands.

The two successes by the way imparted a slightly triumphal character
to the welcome of the Admiral by the garrison, then sorely in need
of some good news. The arrival of much-needed supplies from home was
itself a matter of rejoicing; but it was more inspiriting still to see
following in the train of the friendly fleet five hostile ships of
the line, one of them bearing the flag of a Commander-in-Chief, and
to hear that, besides these, three more had been sunk or destroyed.
The exultation in England was even greater, and especially at the
Admiralty, which was labouring under the just indignation of the
people for the unpreparedness of the Navy. "You have taken more
line-of-battle ships," wrote the First Lord to Rodney, "than had been
captured in any one action in either of the two last preceding wars."

It should be remembered, too, as an element in the triumph, that this
advantage over an exposed detachment had been snatched, as it were, in
the teeth of a main fleet superior to Rodney's own; for twenty Spanish
and four French ships of the line, under Admiral de Cordova, were
lying then in Cadiz Bay. During the eighteen days when the British
remained in and near the Straits, no attempt was made by Cordova to
take revenge for the disaster, or to reap the benefit of superior
force. The inaction was due, probably, to the poor condition of the
Spanish ships in point of efficiency and equipment, and largely to
their having uncoppered bottoms. This element of inferiority in the
Spanish navy should be kept in mind as a factor in the general war,
although Spanish fleets did not come much into battle. A French
Commodore, then with the Spanish fleet in Ferrol, wrote as follows:
"Their ships all sail so badly that they can neither overtake an enemy
nor escape from one. The _Glorieux_ is a bad sailer in the French
navy, but better than the best among the Spaniards." He adds: "The
vessels of Langara's squadron were surprised at immense distances
one from the other. Thus they always sail, and their negligence and
security on this point are incredible."

On approaching Gibraltar, the continuance of bad weather, and the
strong easterly current of the Strai