nonade, the four following line of battle ships were obliged

to strike their flags, viz.

1. Il Salvador del Mundo, carrying 112 guns.

This memorable victory, fought off Cape St. Vincent in Spain, obtained for the British Admiral an earldom, while the Captain of the Fleet, who brought home the dispatches, was immediately knighted, and soon after received a patent of baronetage, by the style and title of Sir Robert Calder, of Southwic, in the county of Hants.

On the 14th of February, 1799, Sir Robert obtained his flag as Rear-Admiral, by seniority; and, in 1801, was dispatched with a small squadron in quest of Admiral Gantheaume, who had sailed from France, with the express purpose of supplying the army in Egypt with stores, ammunition, &c.

At the conclusion of the first peace with the French Republic, Sir Robert once more retired to his estate in Hampshire; but on the renewal of hostilities, he was immediately re-appointed, and in the promotion which took place the 23d April, 1804, he was advanced to the rank of Vice-Admiral of the White. While employed in this latter capacity, he was selected, in 1805, by Admiral Cornwallis, who then commanded the Channel Fleet, to blockade the harbours of Ferrol and Corunna. The force entrusted to him on this occasion proved very inadequate to the service; for, although there were then five French ships of the line and three frigates, together with five Spanish line of battle ships and four frigates, all ready for sea, in the ports just alluded to; yet he had only seven sail allotted to him on the present occasion; these indeed were afterwards increased to nine; but notwithstanding he repeatedly demanded two frigates and some smaller vessels to be placed at the entrance of the harbours in question, they could not be spared. He, however, retained his station, notwithstanding the manœuvres of the Brest fleet, and, on

being joined by Rear-Admiral Stirling with five sail of the line from before Rochefort, together with a frigate and a lugger, he proceeded to sea, for the express purpose of intercepting the French and Spanish squadrons from the West Indies, which were supposed to consist of no more than sixteen capital ships. Soon after this the combined fleet, consisting of no fewer than twenty sail of the line, seven frigates, and two brigs, were descried; while the English force amounted to no more than fifteen ships, two frigates, a cutter and a lugger. As this action not only made a great noise at the time, but actually produced a court-martial soon after, we shall here give a precise and authentic list of the respective forces.

ENEMY'S LINE OF BATTLE On the 22d of July, 1805.

7 Frigates, - L'Hortense, La Cornelia, La Didon, La Permaine, La Sirene,

ENGLISH LINE OF BATTLE on the 22d oF JULY, 1805.

After a sharp contest against a superior force, with the weather gage in their favour, which continued until dark, two sail of the line, the Rafael of eighty-four, and the Firme of Here follows an seventy-four, guns, were both captured. account of the engagement, as contained in the official letter, addressed to Admiral Cornwallis: the paragraphs suppressed in the Gazette will be found marked in italics.

"Sir,

"Prince of Wales, 23d July, Ferrol bearing E. distance forty-nine leagues, Cape Finisterre S. fifty-two E. distance thirty-nine leagues.

25th July.

"Yesterday, at noon, I was favoured with a view of the combined squadrons of France and Spain, consisting of twenty sail of the line, also three large ships armed en flute, of about fifty guns each, with five frigates, and three brigs.

"The force under my direction, at this time, consisting of fifteen sail of the line, two frigates, a cutter, and a lugger; I

immediately stood towards the enemy with the squadron, making the needful signals for battle in the closest order; and on closing with them, I made the signal for attacking their centre. When I had reached their rear, I tacked the squadron in succession; this brought us close up under their lee: and when our headmost ships reached their centre, the enemy were tacking in succession: this obliged me again to make the same manœuvre, by which I brought on a very decisive action, which lasted upwards of four hours, when I found it necessary to bring the squadron to, to cover the captured ships, whose names are in the margin.

"I have to observe, the enemy had every advantage of wind and weather. During the whole day the weather had been foggy at times: a great part of the morning, and very soon after we had brought them to action, the fog was so thick, at intervals, that we could with great difficulty see the ship ahead or astern of us. This rendered it impossible to take the advantage of the enemy by signals, as I could wish to have done. Had the weather been more favourable, I am led to believe the victory would have been more complete.

"I have very great pleasure in saying every ship exerted itself, and was conducted in the most masterly style; and I beg leave here publicly to return to rear-admiral Stirling, and every captain, officer, and man, whom I had the honour to command on that day, my most grateful thanks for their very conspicuous, gallant, and very judicious good conduct. The honourable captain Gardner, of the Hero, led the van squadron in a most masterly and officer-like manner: to whom I feel myself particularly indebted, as also to captain Cuming for his assistance during the action. Inclosed is a list of the killed and wounded on board the different ships. If I may judge from the great slaughter on board the captured ships, the enemy must have suffered greatly. They are now in sight to windward; and when I have secured the captured ships, and put the squadron to rights, I shall endeavour to avail myself of any opportunity that may offer to give you some further account of these combined squadrons. At the same time, it will behove me to be upon

my guard against the combined squadrons at Ferrol, as I am led to believe they have sent off one or two of their crippled ships last night for that port; therefore, possibly I may find it necessary to make a junction with you immediately off Ushant with the whole squadron. I have the honour to be, with great respect and regard, sir, your most obedient, humble servant,

"The Hon. Admiral Cornwallis, &c."

"ROBERT CALDER.

"P.S. I am under the necessity of sending the Windsor Castle to you, in consequence of the damage she sustained in the action. Captain Buller has acquainted me, that the prisoners on board the prizes assert Ferrol to be the port to which the enemy's squadron are bound, as you will perceive by letters inclosed with my original dispatch, together with other private information."

The conduct of Sir Robert Calder on this occasion, appears to have obtained the full approbation of his commander in chief, for he soon after dispatched him on purpose to cruize off Cadiz, with a considerable squadron, in order to watch the motions of the enemy. But the success did not appear sufficiently brilliant to the Lords of the Admiralty of that day, who had been accustomed to the most fortunate and decisive results, although the nation appeared to be perfectly satisfied with an action which had deprived a superior fleet of two sail of line of battle ships, and discomfited all further attempts on the part of the enemy.

However, on learning that he had been attacked in the most cruel and unmerited manner by some of the English newspapers, Sir Robert Calder, in a dispatch to the Admiralty, dated October 2, 1805, requested that an enquiry might immediately take place, respecting his conduct during the late action," for the purpose," observes he, "of enabling me to give my reasons publicly for my conduct at that time, and to refute all unjust, illiberal, and unfounded assertions; when I trust," it is added, "I shall make it appear to the satisfaction