Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1805-12-23

at this port, as nehtOHed IH OuA iaSt'
The victory acquired by tie Englifh Is one Of the
mo complete, recorded in navalhRory, and is worthy
the HERO who has loft his life in obtaining it.
From me London Guzette Extraordinary.
ADMIRALTY OFFICE, NOV. s.
Dispatches, Of which the following are CO.
pics, were received at the Admiralty this day,
1t one O'clock, A. X. from Vice Admiral Col
lingwood, Commander in Chief of His Majes-
tvs ships and vessels off Cadiz:
EIrya!48, Of Catlc trafalgar, Der. %.
Sir, the ever to be lamented death Of Vice
Admiral Lord Niscount Nelson, who, in the
late conflict with the enemy, fell in the hour Of
victory, leaves to me the duty ofinfornling my
Lords Commissioners Of tie Admiralty, that
on the 10th inst it was communicated TO the
Commander in Chief, from the ships watching
the motion of the enemy in Cadiz, that the
combined fleet had put to sea as they sailed
with light winds westerly, his Lordship con-
clud d their destination was the Mediterrane-
an, and immediately made all sail forthe Straits
entrance, with the british Squadron, consist
ing Of27 ships, three Uf them GAPS, where his
Lordslip was informed by capt. Blackweod,
(whose vigilance in watching, and giving no.
tice Of the enemy's movements, has been high
y meritorious) that they had not yet passed
the Straits.
On Monday, the 21st inst, at day light,
when Cape Trafalgar bore Il. by S. about
leagues, the enemy was discovered SIX or sew
en- miles to the Eastward, the wind about west
and very light the Commander in Chief i'm
mediately made the signal for the fleet to bear
up in two columns. as they are formed in or
der Disabling, mode Of attack his Lordship
had previously directed TO avoid the inconve-
niences and delay in forming a line Of battle
in the usual manner. The enemy's line con-
sisted Of thirty three ships (of which IS were
French aud IS Spanish) commanded by Ad
Nilleneuve, the Spaniards under the direction
of Gravina, were, with their heads to the north
ward, and formed their line of battle with great
closeness and correctness but as the mode Of
attack was unusual, 50 the structure Of their
line was newt formed a crescent convexing
to leeward--so that, in leadiug down TO their
Centure, had both their van and rear abafthe
beam before the fire opened, every alternate
ship was about a cables length to wirdward
of her second ahead, and astern, forming a
kind Of double line, and appeared, when on
their beam, to have very little interval be-
tween and this without Crouding their ships
Ad. N lleneuve was in the BuCentaure, In the
centrt and the Prince Of Asurias bore Crawl
mas fl 3 in the rear but the French and Span
ish 81 is were mixed, without any apparent
regar to order of national Squadrons.
AS the mode of our attack had been previ4
OrlSl ,I-r,y al
flag officers and captains, few signals were ne
cessary, and none were made except to direct
close order as the lines bore down.
The Commander in Chief in the Victory,
led the weather column, and the Royal Sow
ereign which bore my Flag, the lee.
The action began at II o'clock, by the lead4
ing ships of the columns breaking through the
enemies line, the Commander in Chief, about
the tenth ship from the van, the second in COM
mand about the twelfth from the rear, leaving
the van OF the enemy unoccupied the sue
ceeding ships breaking through in all parts,
astern of their leaders end engaging theenemy
at the muzzlcs of their guns the conflict was
severe the enemy's ships were fought with
a gallantry highly honorable to their officers,
but the attack on thOm was irresistible and
it pleased the Almighty Disposer, Of all events
to grant his Maiesty's arms q complete and
glorious victory. About three, P. NJ. many
of the enemy's ships having struck their
colors, their line gave way. Admiral Gravi-
ma, with ten ships, Joining their frigates to lee
ward, stood toward Cadz. Thefiye headmost
ships tackled, and standing to the southwark,
to the windward Of the British line were enga-
ged, and the sternmost Of them taken the
others went of, leaving to His Maiesty's squa-
dron NINETEEN ships Of the line Cof which
tive are first rates, the SantissiIna Trinidad,