BRILLIANT NAVAL ACTION OFF CAPE ST. VINCENT, UNDER ADMIRAL SIR JOHN JERVIS, (afterwards enobled by that Title,) Feb. 14, 1797. Having already been afforded occasion (a circumstance which Lord St. Vincent has elegantly recognized in the second of the following letters) to record Parliamentary honors of this noble veteran, the less remains to be said of himself, and space remains not to describe the advantages of this critical service. Deserted by her allies, without any great land army, while that of France had become every way aggrandized, Great Britain had been left to contend in the great struggle for Europe alone, and to depend almost entirely on her naval force. Nor was this all, for some of those allies had turned their arms upon her, and an important part of her empire, that "emerald isle" famed for warriors and poets, was threatened with alienation. In this comparative situation, France for the purposes of invasion, had induced Spain to furnish a fleet of no less than 27 sail of the line, including eight ships of 112 guns, and it remained only for this vast acquisition to join her own, when a dreadful torrent swelled with all that could augment its rage, was to be poured on our shores. To preclude this junction was a British fleet comparatively small, but composed of such elements as can be but rarely combined, stationed under Sir John Jervis, and with a wonderful success. This British fleet was composed of fifteen sail of the line, four frigates, a sloop of war, and a cutter. With this the Admiral, fraught with the critical moment, determined to attack the insidious aid of Spain. He captured two ships of 112 guns, an 84, and a 74, and drove the rest ineffective into Cadiz harbour. This was done, as his Lordship states, by passing through their fleet, tacking, and thus separating a third from the main body. Here were Nelson, and Collingwood, and Troubridge, names of which the continuance of Lord St. Vincent in this command yet gives better opportunity of mention; and here was Lieutenant Pearson, 69th Regiment, who with his men have been immortalized as the enterprizing associates of Nelson in the glory of the day, by the pen of Nelson. ' I Never were thanks more propitiously voted; the following are the terse and elegant answers of the commander of the fleet. Martis 25 die Aprilis, 1797. I request your Lordship to convey (in terms I want power to express) the very high sense entertained by me, the flag officers, captains, officers, seamen, marines and soldiers, I have the honor to command, of the resolution come This interesting document is preserved in the memoirs (pour servir à l'histoire) of Captain Charnock, a writer always employed in useful labours, but who unhappily died too early for their comple. tion. to by the House of Lords, on occasion of the action with the fleet of Spain on the 14th of February, and your Lordship has a just claim to my particular acknowledgements for your very kind expressions towards me in the communication thereof. I have the honor to be, with the greatest regard, your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, J. JERVIS. Luna 24 die Aprilis, 1797. Sir, Victory, in the Tagus, March 22d, 1797. To have merited the approbation of the House of Commons of Great Britain, twice in the same war, falls to the lot of few men, who hold high commands in his Majesty's fleets; and I beg you will assure the House, how highly I prize the great honour I have received; and that I will not fail to convey to the Admirals, captains, officers, seamen, marines, and soldiers under my command, the very honourable testimony the House has been pleased to express of their skill, bravery and discipline, in the successful action with the fleet of Spain, on the 14th of February last. Permit me to make my best acknowledgements to you, Sir, for the very obliging terms in which you have made this communication; and I have the honor to be, with great respect, Sir, your most obedient humble servant, To the Right Hon. H. Addington, Speaker. J. JERVIS. |