by John Marshall

“ The plan of attack given out by Sir James Saumarez was, for the Venerable to lead into the bay, and pass the enemy’s ships without coming to anchor; the Pompée to anchor abreast of the inner ship; the Audacious, Spencer, Caesar, and Hannibal, to anchor abreast of the other French ships and the Spanish batteries; and the boats of the squadron to be lowered down and armed, in readiness to act where required. ”

“ Vincent [11] , the Orion had only 9 men wounded.
On the 30th April, 1798, Sir James Saumarez, who, subsequent to the above battle, had been employed in the blockade of Cadiz, accompanied Sir Horatio Nelson to the Mediterranean, and shared in the honours acquired off the Mouth of the Nile [12] . The Orion was the third ship that doubled the enemy’s van, firing as long as her larboard guns would bear on le Guerrier; then passing inside of the Goliath, and being annoyed by a frigate, Sir James yawed as much as enabled him to sink this opponent by a tremendous fire ”

“ The dispute with Spain being adjusted, the ships were dismantled, and Captain Saumarez remained unemployed until the commencement of the French revolutionary war, when he obtained the command of the Crescent, of 42 guns, the crew of which, consisting of 257 men, were principally volunteers from the island of Guernsey.
In this ship, being on a cruize near Cherbourg, Oct. 20, 1793, he fell in with, and after a close action of two hours and twenty minutes, captured le Reunion, of 36 guns and 320 men, 120 of whom were either killed or wounded. The Crescent had not a single man hurt. ”

“ A fortnight previous to the receipt of these orders, the noble Earl had sent that officer with a small squadron to endeavour to ascertain the object of the expedition; so sagaciously had his Lordship anticipated the views of the government at home. Sir Horatio Nelson, his flag-ship, the Vanguard, of 74 guns, having completed her water and provisions at Gibraltar, sailed from thence, May 9, 1798, accompanied by the Alexander and Orion 74’s, Emerald and Terpsichore frigates, and Bonne Citoyenne sloop. ”

“ In order to confer on him a signal mark of favour, the star and ribband of the most honourable military order of the Bath were transmitted by his late Majesty, and Sir James was invested with them by Lieutenant-Governor O’Hara, in the presence of all the officers of the garrison of Gibraltar. He also received the unanimous thanks of both Houses of Parliament, together with a pension of 1200l. per annum for life [21] , and the freedom of the city of London, accompanied by a handsome sword. ”

“ Disregarding the advantageous position of the enemy, as well as their superiority of metal, Rear-Admiral Nelson decided for an immediate attack; and the more effectually to surround and engage one part of their fleet, while the rest remained unemployed, and of no service, some of the British ships ran between those of the French and the shore. Unfortunately, in standing into the bay the Culloden struck upon a shoal, and to the mortification of her gallant officers and crew, could not be got off in time to join in the action ”

“ He then returned to England in the Leviathan, in which vessel he narrowly escaped shipwreck on the Scilly Isles.
Soon after his arrival, Mr. Saumarez was appointed one of the Lieutenants of the Victory, of 100 guns, carrying the flag of Sir Charles Hardy; and continued in that ship, under different flag-officers, until his removal, as Second Lieutenant, into the Fortitude, 74, with Vice-Admiral Sir Hyde Parker, who was at that time appointed to the command of a squadron fitting out in consequence of the rupture with Holland [3] . ”

“ It blew excessively hard till day-light, and in the morning the only ships seen by the Caesar were the Spencer far a-stern, the Venerable and Thames a-head, and the Formidable some distance from them standing towards the shoals of Conil. ”

“ That the object of this reinforcement was to conduct the French ships and their prize to Cadiz was very apparent; and nothing could surpass the exertions of the British officers and men to get their vessels ready for sea. The Caesar being dismantled, Sir James Saumarez removed his flag to the Audacious. On the morning of the 12th, however, by working day and night, the crew of the Caesar got their ship in readiness to be warped out of the Mole ”

“ The same news was circulated by the telegraphs through the whole of the republican dominions, without a word of the land batteries; and the destruction of the modern Carthage, as Great Britain was denominated, predicted, in an epigram greatly admired at Paris, because it had lost its Hannibal. ↑ Captain Ferris, his officers, and wounded men, were afterwards liberated on parole. ↑ This squadron was from Cadiz, and composed of the following ships, under the orders of Rear-Admiral Moreno: ↑ San Antonio, 74 guns. ”