The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-12-03 00:00:00

LAWN MAIL

SPANISH OFFICIAI, REPoRT OF THE BATTLE

or TRAFALGAR.

(FIOM TIIE.MADItIt) GAZETTE, NOV. 3 )

The Chef d'Escadre Dun Antonio de Estado,
blajor•Genetal of the Scpadron of the Ocean, has
written, fiorn the port of CAdia, to His Excellency
the Prince of Peace, under date of the 2U of Octo-
ber, as follows:
MOST VICILLI.LIST att4loll. NV LORD,

The situation of LicatoGeeeral Don Frederick
Gravina, in consequence of a ball he received in his
left arm, at the close of the anion of yesterday.
does not permit him to inform your Excellency of
that bloody combat ; and although I have had the
fortune to spill my hlresd for the !limner of His Ma-
jesty's arms; yet nn-ling tint-selfless inconverienced
than the brave and worthy Genital in Chit 1, on
whom His Mojesty, with a confidence which he
merits, had conferred the command of the fine, I
renter upon In, neinfol but necessary ditty of infor
ing your Excellence. that our efforts, Ann the dis-
charge of nnr de. y, have nat been able to avert a
loss, which would be greater, if we were not firmly
persuaded that nothing was left undone ; and con-
srquentiv, that our honour was saved.
I know that, under dote of the 13th horn the
General Greek' ha f informed your &meth et v.
the Admiral Viilenewre had signified rn him his
intention of putting to sea the next day, and desired
to knew whethe' the Spanish sone& on were :endy
to accompony him ? Your Excellence is not igno-
rant of what was 'he answer of tic General : satis-
fied that his squadron w. old primptly follow the
movements of the French, and thar such were the
repeated nolert your Excellency had cotnmuricated
to him. With this info, meth Ai tlie french' Admiral
returned on board, at'l, sehsequently. made the
signal for getting up Anchors and signals, which was
repeated by this ship, the rei-feire .neternis, and
followed by the most ready execution for emh irking
the artillery and marine., st id] various others which
were on shore. On the mornicg of the 19th, same
French and Spanish ships got under weigh, in con-
sequence of a signal male by Admiral Vflh nenve,
but we were not all able to HIM it that clay, the
wind having veered to the S.W. out getting round
to E.S.E. they all successively got Out, on the morn-
ing of the 20th.
Scarcely had we cleared the mouth of the har-
bour when the wind shifted to S.S.W. so strong,
and with such alarming appearances, that one of the
first signals made ley Admiral Villeneuve, who had
his flag on board the Befenteme, was, to take in two
reefs in the main-sail ; the shifting of the. wind tie.
cessatily occasioned a dispersion of the fl et. till to-
wards the evening, when the wind again shifted,
and the horizon cleorirg. a signal teas made to fnent
in five columns, and to smite An advanced frigate
made signals for eighteen sail of the enemy in sight;
and, in consequence fff this inforinatien; the ships
were cleared, every thing got ready for action.
At three, we tacked, and stood on for the Streights,
preserving the same farmotinn of five columns, as
begirt this movement ; after we had executed it,
four of die enemy's frigates appeared, which were
chased by order of Admiral Villeneuve ; and to this
ship he attached L'.diele,..4lxeliris,a,ul Se* 71,1*, at
a squadron of observation, which might reit:force the
ships in chase ; with instratione, to 't-unie• with
the main body of the fleet before night tall ; at
half past seven, a Fre. ch ship advised us of
Vibe/. having reconnoitred eighteen enemy's
ships in line ef bank, and scion after we saw,
et no glee distance, seiernl lights, whirls, doubt-
less, were from the enemy's frigates, intefspers-
ed between the two fl-eta. At nine, the Leo.
lish made signals by firing caionin ; and, by the
interval between the flesh and ter nit. they oppiraied
to be distant about two nines. The French Admi-
ral made sips: that it was ereessary to form in line
of battle upon the leeward .hips, which was after-
wards repeated he that Admiral, and, in this. if der,
the day-break at the nisi :erne on with the enemy in
sight, in number 28 ships, amen); them right thief.-
detkers, formed in matt of battle. /1,1 smote in the
morning, the t'een'y approached, in different co-
lumns, upon our squadron, with a direnien to the
centre and rest, upon which Admiral Villeneuve
ordeted them to tack in succession, which btought
the sqientiron of observation, cernmonoed by ce.
moot Grevina, into the sitteeion of tear-guard Ge-
neral Grovine made to his sciontirnit the signals
most proper to enable them to perforre the various
movements, which the exigency of the circum-
stances ermined, with ability and precision. and,
on nearing the enemy, he ordered them to Ouse
their distances, and coniplete their order.
At eight minutes before twelve, an ienglish three-
decker, with a flag at her maintop, penetrated fun
line in the centre, supported by the ships which
were in her wake. The heads of the other column
of the enemy did the same; one of them doubled
out rear-guard, another entered between I:Airk
and San Ithfottnt, and from that moment the aeltion
was confined to a furious combat between the wind
of the enemy's squadron sod halt of ours, the
greater part of the time within pistol-shot. I have
not the necessary information to enable me to ac-
quifilt your Excellency with the particulars of the
;talon ; neither can 1, at present, say any thing of
the movements of the vanguard, which. I am as-
sured, from the commencement, supported that part
of the squadron which was attacked. What I can
affirm to yovr Excellency is, that all the ships, both
French and Spanish, which were within my obser-
vation. most fully performed their duty, and that this
ship, after a hot rible combat of four hoars,with three
o four of the enemy, with all her sails and rigging
cat, without stays, without the power of making
sail. her masts, and top-masts pierced through with
balls, and in a most dotressed condition. was oppor-
'tenet,' assisted by the Spanish ship San Jaw. and
:n