Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1805-10-18


! Admiral Gravina has written to his ex.
cellency the prince of peace, under date Of
the 2sth, July as follows:
(" Leaving cape Finisterre, s5 leagues to
the south east, on the ed July the combin.
ed squadron proceeded with the wind at
w. n. w. in the direction of east to s..
J F.. formed in three columns, then covered
with thick fog.
At noon the chasing vessels, made sig
nal of seeing twenty one sail to the Z. E.
the greater part OF which. were ships Of the
line. We Immediately formed the line of
battle with the larboard lacks on board. [
placed myself at the head of the Spanish
squadron which composed the advanced
guard, and the French adn.ral placed him.
self in the centre OF the line.
The enemy appearing to have sixteen
vessels OF the line, OF which three were 8
deckers, q two armed en- flute vancouver.
ed on the opposite tack, apparently with a
design OF turning oar rear. 10 prevent this
the admiral made The signal to wear, when
was executed III an instant, without wait,
ing for the last signal 40 commence the e.
volution.
The las, vessel of the rear guard being
covered, the Argonaut, on which had my
fig, commenced fire CD the van guard Of
the English ,which continung the n, ve,nent
II had commenced, prevented il from dis
covering the one we had executed.
I'll, g., ,ool,c,, g.
circle, at The moment we executed the same
mancuvre, lhenbegun between our var & The
whole OF the enemy's line, within halt gun
shot, avery lively combat, which extend ed
itself successfully to our centre OF the line.
The fog was SO thick that in spite of the
proximity of the enemy, We could only
at intervals distinguish their vessels.
Our ire was constantly supported and
well directed. We saw one three deck
er which had lost her mizeu and one of
40 inferior size which had lost her main
and foremasts. The aclioneontinued un-
TIL nine O'Clock the enen1y then wore
and gave UP the action: we were then
ranged in firm lire.
The Esd at daybreak, notwithstanding
the fog we dicoverec that we had two vas
sells missing, the Firme and ST. Raphael.
We then SAW The enemy going on the op.
posite tack; immediately We re-estabiished
our line in giving them chase we then
saw they had three ships IN tow that were
dismasted, and THAI their line OF battle was
composed OF thirteen ships Of the line, one
of-which had lost her fofe-sopmast. We
contued the chace the whole day wi,hou,
success, The enemy haYing constantly ma
noeuyered in manner 10 prevent a second
reBcountre.
/ he 24th passed in the same manner;
We saw the enemy far 20 leeward, carrying
all sail on the stagboard tack, the wind
blowing gently from she northeast.
The 25,h, the wind was very strong at
north east with a high sea, We then saw
uoihing of the ENEMY !; during the day we
made Cape Flnistere, tearing due east.
In this sjtuation the wind being against
our proceeding to'Ferrol, and msny Of he
French vessels having water for no more
than six days, embarrassed besides with
1900 sick and wounded, without any means
OF succoriog them, We determined 10 enter
the port Of Vigo, that We might obtain the
necessaries we stood in need Of.
AS seon as | shall have received the par.
ticular details from each vessel, | will has.
ten to send them to your excellency. The
six vessels under.ay orders have fought on
this occasion with as much bravery as un-
Outstanding, and think that the enemy
avoided a@secoud reucountre, only because
he did not find the first very satisfactory.
The force was equal on each side, as to
the quality OF the vessels, as we had not
enc three-decker on our side, and had two
small ones of "a guns each.
The same admiral announces, that on
the sth OF June, the squadron being near
Barbados, TWO frisa,es discovered at 10
O'Clock in the morning, a convoy of Is
-aai1 apd ~ oda cirn,,f ror caaa~,I cl,,.a