[A] The writer was taken prisoner in the last war in America.
[B] Here followed a minute relation of the battle, which the
Alexander sustained for two hours and a quarter, against three ships,
each of her own strength, and just before she struck against _five_. But
as all the circumstances of the action, and of the causes which led to
it, have been detailed by him, who like Cæsar, knew not only how to
execute, but to narrate deeds of glory, I have thought it right to
suppress my description; and beg leave to refer the reader to the
official letter of Captain, now Rear Admiral Bligh, which appeared in
the Gazette, either about the latter end of January, or the beginning of
February, 1795.----The names and force of the squadron by which we were
taken, were as follows, under the command of Contre-Amiral Neilly.
Guns.
Le Tigre, 74
Les Droits de l’Homme, 74
Le Jean Bart, 74
Le Pelletier, 74
Le Marat, 74
La Fraternité, 40
La Gentille, 40
La Charente, 40
Le Papillon, 14
[C] The Alexander sailed from Portsmouth on the 13th of
September, having under her command the Canada of 74 guns, the Adamant
of 50, the Thorn sloop, and a convoy bound to the Mediterranean. Owing
to foul winds we put into Plymouth on the 16th, whence we sailed on the
26th of the same month. The Adamant and Thorn, with the merchant ships,
parted from us off Cape St. Vincent. The Canada was in company when we
were chased, saw us engage, and strike. Her signal was made, to join and
support us; but this, which she attempted, a manœuvre of the enemy
prevented her from executing: Captain Hamilton, who commanded her, then
very properly began his retreat. Malevolence was not wanting to attack
his character upon this occasion; but I am happy in bearing my
testimony, that farther perseverance on his side was not wished by us,
as it would have caused only an useless effusion of blood, and the
capture of two British ships of the line, instead of one.
[D] Since the above was written, I have read Major Cartwright’s
opinion on this subject; and am only more thoroughly convinced from his
arguments, that neither a “_Saxon militia_,” or any other militia,
beyond the regular establishment of the kingdom, is necessary for our
preservation from invasion, which can be effected by a strong naval
force only.
[E] Formerly Le Jacobin, the ship supposed to be sunk on the
first of June.
[F] Brother of the Earl of Mornington, who with his sister Lady
Anne Fitzroy, was taken in a packet, by French frigate, on their passage
from Lisbon.
[G] This commissary was ordered by the representatives then at
Brest, to take a blanket from each prisoner who possessed two, and to
pay him for it. He executed this commission by turning out of bed, into
the court of the prison, all the prisoners, in the middle of the night,
when he took away _not half, but all their blankets_, without making any
recompence whatever for them. Their complaints of this robbery produced
no notice or redress.
[H] I was once carelessly humming, at a fire-side, the
_Carmagnole_; when a lady, suddenly interrupting me, exclaimed, “For
God’s sake cease that hateful tune! It brings to my remembrance nothing
but massacres and guillotines.”