40 ACTION WITH LANGARA. On the 16th of January, at one o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy, under the command of Don Juan de Langara, appeared in sight, consisting of fourteen ships of the line. When first discovered, they were under an easy sail, and some of them either lying to, or standing towards our fleet. The weather being hazy, and the English line much extended, it was imagined the Spaniards did not immediately discover the whole of Admiral Rodney's force, for it was some time before they began to retreat. Meanwhile our fleet was steering directly towards them, with a fair wind, and under a press of sail. The moment their intentions to escape was perceived, the signal for the line of battle was hauled down, and another thrown out for a general chase, to engage as the ships came up, by rotation, in order to prevent the enemy's retreat into their own ports. At four o'clock, the headmost ships being very near the enemy, a general signal was made to engage, and close. Admiral Rodney then, as it was now dusk, and the Spanish force could not be distinctly seen, called the master of the Sandwich, and said, "Master, take notice that this ship is not to pay any attention to the merchantmen, or small ships of war. Lay me alongside the largest ship you can see, or the admiral's, if there be one." In a few minutes, the four headmost ships, being copper-bottomed, began the action; which was returned with great briskness by the Spaniards. At forty-four minutes after four, the San Domingo, of seventy guns and six hundred men, blew up. with a tremendous explosion, and every soul on board perished. At six, another of the Spanish ships of the line, struck. The action and pursuit continued, with a constant fire, till VICTORY OVER LANGARA. 41 two in the morning; at which time, the Monarca, the headmost of all the Spanish ships, struck to the Sandwich, after receiving one broadside. All firing having now ceased, signal was made for the fleet to bring to. This running engagement led the British fleet, and the prizes, very near the Spanish coast; which, as the wind now blew hard, and the sea was consequently tempestuous, proved a very dangerous lee-shore. Great difficulty therefore was experienced in removing the prisoners, and putting the prizes in a state to proceed. The two last which surrendered, the San Eugenio and San Julian, were so much disabled, and got so near the harbour of Cadiz, that it became extremely hazardous, with such rough weather, to attempt taking them in tow. The San Eugenio, therefore, was abandoned, and soon struck upon some rocks, from whence she was shortly afterwards got off by the Spaniards themselves. The San Julian having been driven, with only the stump of her foremast standing, very close to the shore, on the west side of Cadiz Bay, the British officers who had charge of her, seeing that it was impossible to bring her off, ran the prize aground near to the bar of Port St. Mary, where she was entirely lost; but providentially, all on board, both Spaniards and English, were saved. It continued very bad weather the whole of the next day; when the Royal George, Prince George, Sandwich, and several other ships, were in great danger, and under the necessity of making sail, to avoid the shoals of St. Lucar; nor did they get into deep water till the following morning, when, having joined the convoy, and made Cape Spartel, the British commander despatched two frigates to Tangier, to acquaint the consul there with the F victory that had been gained, and desiring him to hasten a supply of fresh provisions for the garrison of Gibraltar. The next day, as there was no person on board the Sandwich acquainted with the Bay of Gibraltar, RearAdmiral Digby was ordered to lead in; and, at the same time, two frigates were sent ahead, to give notice to the governor of the approach of the fleet, and of the defeat of the enemy. The weather proved still very bad; and the current was so strong, that most of the ships were driven to the back of the rock. The Sandwich, therefore, and many of the men-of-war, with the prizes and English transports, on board which were one thousand troops, did not arrive in the bay till the 26th of January. The following is a list of the Spanish force : Phenix, Don Juan de Langara, admiral, eighty guns, seven hundred men; taken. She was built of mahogany and cedar, at the Havannah. After her capture, she was taken into the British navy, and obtained the name of the Gibraltar. She is now a sheer hulk at Plymouth. San Augustin, seventy guns, six hundred men; escaped. San Genaro, seventy guns, six hundred men; escaped. San Justo, seventy guns, six hundred men; escaped, much damaged. San Lorenzo, seventy guns, six hundred men; escaped, very much damaged. San Julian, seventy guns, six hundred men; taken, but lost. San Eugenio, seventy guns, six hundred men; taken, and run ashore. Monarca, seventy guns, six hundred men; taken. Diligente, seventy guns, six hundred men; taken. |