unsuccessful expedition commanded by Sir Francis Drake was repulsed
at Las Palmas in 1595, and about sixty years later Sir Robert Blake,
in command of 36 vessels, attacked Santa Cruz, in Teneriffe, but
beyond destroying forts, the shipping in the harbour, and sinking some
treasure galleons, he does not seem to have done much. The English
again disturbed the peace of the islanders in 1743, but Admiral
Nelson’s attack of Santa Cruz in 1797 is the one which is of principal
interest to the English, from the fact probably that it was Nelson’s
one defeat, and here also he lost his arm. To this day Nelson’s two
flags are carefully preserved in glass cases on the walls of the
Iglesia de la Concepcion and are an object of great interest to
many English travellers. The news that a galleon laden with treasure
had arrived in Santa Cruz reached Admiral Jervis during the blockade
of Cadiz, and he at once ordered Vice-Admiral Nelson, in command of
1500 men and 393 guns, to proceed to Teneriffe to secure the coveted
prize. The Spanish authorities were formally demanded to deliver up
the treasure on July 20, 1797, and not unnaturally refused. The town
seems to have been strongly garrisoned, and Nelson, hampered by an
unfavourable wind, made unavailing attempts to land and draw the
soldiers from their forts. Under cover of darkness 700 men succeeded
in getting close to the mole before the enemy discovered them, but
soon a deadly fire was opened upon them, and several of the boats
were sunk. Nelson had no sooner set foot on the jetty than his arm
was shattered by a cannon ball. Incapacitated though he was by pain
and loss of blood, directly he got back alongside his ship his first
thought was for the men who had been left behind, and orders were at
once given for the boat to go back to their assistance. The men who had
succeeded in landing on the mole, encouraged by repulsing the enemy
and spiking their guns, made a desperate attempt to attack the town.
Their opponents were too numerous for this brave little band, and the
guns from the Fort of San Christobal killed the greater number of
their officers and wounded the rest; the survivors retreated in good
order after holding their position on the mole nearly all night. In
consequence of the darkness a party under Captain Trowbridge became
separated and eventually landed at the other side of the town, and took
possession of the old Dominican Monastery. Taking it for granted that
Nelson’s party were in possession of the mole, and advancing to meet
them, Trowbridge demanded the surrender of the fort, only to find that
his enemy and not his friends were the victors. Eventually, seeing
that success was impossible, he asked for permission to leave the town
with all arms, and promised not to attack any part of the Canaries, or
in the event of these conditions being refused he threatened to burn
and sack the town. It is well known in history how courteously (once
the evacuation terms were agreed to) the Spaniards treated their foe.
The wounded were carefully tended, the invaders were allowed to buy
provisions, and presents were interchanged between the greatest of
England’s Admirals and Don Antonio Gutierrez, the Comandante-General of
the Canaries, and it is said that the first letter Nelson wrote with
his left hand was to thank the Spanish general for his care of his
wounded men. After Nelson’s attack the Canaries appear to have remained
in the undisputed possession of Spain, and were made a province of the
Mother Country, Santa Cruz, Teneriffe, being made the capital and seat
of government, somewhat to the annoyance of the other islands. Those
who are really interested in the history of the conquest of the Islands
will find that there are many histories written in Spanish, most of
which are to be seen in the great public library at La Laguna.
FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA
_By_ FLORENCE DU CANE
Containing 16 full-page illustrations in colour by ELLA DU CANE
Price 6/- net
(_By post_, 6/6)
_The Garden_ (on first edition).—“A charming book.... The coloured
illustrations are not only instructive, but gems of their kind....
Should be in every library.”
GARDENS OF SOUTH AFRICA
_By_ DOROTHEA FAIRBRIDGE
Containing 16 full-page illustrations in colour by ELIZABETH DRAKE and
others.
Price 10/6 net
(_By post_, 11/-)
_Daily Mail._—“To pick up this book--with its singularly beautiful
pictures in colour--on a drear day of English Autumn is to be
vouchsafed a glimpse into a glowing Horticultural Paradise.”
A FEW FLOWERS OF THE ITALIAN RIVIERA
_By_ HILDA G. DAY
With 16 full-page illustrations in colour by the author.
Price 2/6 net
(_By post_, 2/9)
Published by
A. & C. BLACK, LTD., 4, 5 & 6 Soho Square, London, W.1
HIGHWAY AND HEDGES
_By_ HERBERT A. MORRAH
New Edition, with 16 full-page illustrations in colour by B. BENGER
PRICE 3/6 NET (_by post_, 3/10)
_Daily Telegraph._—“Mr. Berenger Benger has selected delightful ‘bits’
for his brush, and has presented them in a manner that makes us wish
again to take to the open road and the footpath way.... A pleasant
addition to our open-air literature.”
THE CALL OF THE OPEN
_A Nature Anthology_
_Edited by_ L. H. STOWELL
With 16 full-page illustrations in colour and decorative end-papers.
PRICE 3/6 NET (_by post_, 3/10)
In Imitation Leather, 6/- net (_by post_, 6/11)
“The Call of the Open” is an anthology of poems about the open air,
the countryside, the seasons, the sea and shore, from the works of
more than a hundred poets, from Milton and Herrick to Masefield and
Drinkwater.
FLOWERS IN THE HOME
_By_ MENIE WATT
With 8 full-page illustrations from photographs.
PRICE 2/6 NET (_by post_, 2/10)
_The Times._—“A useful and charming little book on the choice and
arrangement of flowers for the room and table.”
GARDENS IN THEIR SEASONS
_A Nature Book for Young People_
_By_ C. VON WYSS
Containing 32 illustrations in colour and 32 in black and white.
PRICE 2/6 NET (_by post_, 2/11)
Published by
A. & C. BLACK, LTD., 4, 5 & 6 Soho Square, London, W.1.
_SOME OTHER BEAUTIFUL BOOKS ON FLOWERS AND GARDENS_
GARDENS OF ENGLAND
_By_ E. T. COOK
_Edited by_ E. T. ELLIS, F.R.H.S.
New Edition, containing 16 full-page illustrations in colour by
BEATRICE PARSONS
Price 6/-net
(_By post_, 6/6)
_Country Life._—“... Highly deserving of a place in the country
house.... It is instinct with the spirit of the garden, and no one
could turn its leaves, or look at the pictures, without obtaining many
a hint that could be put to practical purpose.”
THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN
_By_
M. E. KENNEDY-BELL, F.R.H.S.
With frontispiece in colour and attractive picture jacket.
Price 2/6 net
(_By post_, 2/10)
_The Scottish Field._—“It will be read with delight by all true garden
lovers.... The book is full of delightful verse and attractively
written prose dealing with gardens and gardening.”
Published by
A. & C. BLACK, LTD., 4, 5 & 6 Soho Square, London, W.1.
[Illustration: SKETCH MAP OF THE
CANARY ISLANDS
Published by A. & C. Black, London, 1911
]