Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-12-26

ships of the line, forming the van, of the COM
bined fleet, stood away for Cadiz and Admiral
Dumanoir, with four French ships, took fight,
pouring his broadside, as he passed, not only
into the British ships, but the Spanish prizes
which had struck their colors n circumstance
which, although probably unavoidable, from the
confused way in which friend and foe were in
termingled, contributed not little to augment
the irritation between the two nations which
this terrible disaster could not fail to produce.
The British ships were too much occupied in
taking care of their numerous prizes to be able
to give chase and Dumanor stood out TO the
northward and got clear off, only, however, to
fall into the hands of another squadron, and
and ultimately reach British harbor.
1t had been Nelson's dying instructions to
Admiral Collngwood to bring the feet to an
chor and it would have been well for that
great and good man had this advice been fol-
lowed, as he would have probably brought his
nineteen noble prizes, in safety to Spithead
AS it was he deemed it an unnecessary pre-
caution Ill nine at night and consequences
proved eimenty disastrous. Early on the
morning of the 22d strong southerly wind
arose, with squay weather. and heavy swell
set in from the Atlantic into the bay of Cadiz.
Notwithstanding the utmost efforts of the
British, it was found impossible to keep the
prizes in tow, or make the necessary repairs on
their pierced and ruined sides, to enable them
to ride out the gale; and the consequences was
that most of them drited their cables, and
either foundered at sea or were wrecked on the
coast. The crew of the Algesiraz rose upon
the slender British guard which had her in pos
session, and escaped with them into Cadz,
where the authorities had the generosity to al
low the English who had her in. possession to
return on parole to the English fleet. En-
couraged by this circumstance, Captain Kirgu-
lieu the senior French officer in the harbor, put
TO sea with five sail of the line and five rigates
the only part of the combined fleet which was
in condition for service, in the hope of recap
turing some of the dismastel hulls which were
drifting about the coast. The British instantly
formed line of battle, covering such of the
prizes as they still had in tow and the French
did not approach within gunshot; but their
trigates succeeded in getting hold Of the Santa
Ana and Neptune, which dritted into their hands,
and brought them into Cadiz. Many melan-
choly catastrophes happened during the storm.
Among the rest, the Indomitable was wrecked
on the coast, having on board, besides her own,
the survivors of Bucentaur's crew. and above
1000 persons pershed. Many of the prizes
foundered in the gale others were sunk by he
British. Four only reached Gibraltar in safe
ty. But the British took Aamirals Villeneuve,
Alava, and Cisneros, 10000 prisoners, including
the land-torces on board and the combined
fleet was almost totally annhilated, while their
own loss was 1890 men killed and wounled. BE-.
"Six and. twenty ships of the line" says Cen
eral Mitthieu Dumas "at Trafalgar, or Cape
Ortegal, were compelled to strike their colors."
1t may truly be said that there were left only a
few remnants of the fleet which two months
before had filed England with alarm.
An interchange of courteous deeds took
place between the English fleet and the Span
iards at Cadiz. The magnitude of the disas
ter had extinguished all feelings of irritation,
and brought the people into that state of sad
eXaltation which is nearly allied to generous
emotion. Admiral Colingwood made an offer
to send all the wounded Spaniards a,hore a
proposal which excited the DEEPEST gratitude in
that high spirited people, and was at the same
time reasonable relief to the British squad
ron, already sufficiently occupied with its own
wounded and the numerous prizes in their
hands. In return, the Marquis of Solana, gov
ernor of Cadiz sent to offer the English the
use of their hospitals for their wounded, pledg-
ing the Spanish honor that they should be care
fully attended to. When the storm after the
action drove some Of the prizes upon the coast,
they declared that the English who were thus
thrown into their hands should not be consid-
cred prisoners OF war, ana the spanish soldiers
gave up their own beds to their shipwrecked
enemies. Already was to be seen the COM
mencement of that heartfelt alliance which was
so soon destined to take place between these
generous enemies; and it was amid the tenn
pests of Trafalgar that the feelings were pro-
duced which brought them to stand side by side
at Vittoria and Toulouse
No words can describe the mingled feelings
of JOY and grief, of exutaton and melancholy,
which pervaded the British empire upon the
news being received of the battle of Trafalgar.
The greatest naval victory recorded in the an
nails of the world had been gained by their
arms. The danger Of invasion, the menaces of
Napoleon, were at end. Secure in their sea
girt isle, they could now behold without alarm
the marshalled forces of Europe in hostility
against them. In single moment, from the
result of one engagement, they had passed
from state anxious solcitude to one of in
dependence and security. Inestimable as these
blessings were they yet seemed inadequately
purchased by the life of the hero by whom they
had been gained. The feelings of grief were
even more powerful than those of gratitude
apd England, with the fleets of her antagonist
sunk in the deep, seemed less secure than when,
in presence of her yet unscathed enemies, she
was protected by the hero whose flaming sword
turned every way.