I

viz., England expects every officer and man will do their utmost duty.' This, of course, was conveyed by general signals from his Ship; and the alacrity with which the individual Ships answered it, showed how entirely they entered into his feelings and ideas. Would to God he had lived to see his prizes, and the Admirals he has taken three in all: amongst them, the French Commander-inChief, who, I am sorry to say, is Villeneuve, and not Décres. fear I shall tire you with all this long account; but so entirely am I depressed with the private loss I have had, that really the Victory, and all the prize-money I hope to get, (if our prizes arrive safe) appear quite lost by the chasm made by Lord Nelson's death. I am, therefore, persuaded you will not think a tribute like this too much. I can scarcely credit he is no more, aud that we have in sight of the Spanish shore obtained so complete, so unheard-of a Victory. Our prizes, I trust, we shall save. Ever since last evening we have had a most dreadful gale of wind, and it is with difficulty the Ships who tow them keep off the shore. Three, I think, must be lost, and with them, above 800 souls each. What a horrid scourge is war! Would to God that this may pave the way to a general peace, I shall then so [erased... J. I must, now that I have time, impart my hopes and doubts as to our soon meeting, which I now wish, if possible, more than ever. Hardy (whose despair and grief for the loss of such a friend is touching) told me he should mention it to Admiral Collingwood, Lord Nelson's intention about sending me, and as he must send the account by a fast sailer, as well as a strong Frigate, I hope and think I may be the lucky man to bear Hardy company with such joyful tidings. Admiral Collingwood, who came to hoist his flag here for a week or so, because his own Ship was dismasted, and unfit for him, is a very reserved, though a very pleasing good man; and as he fought like an angel, I take the more to him. As yet he has said nothing on the subject, but I have secret hopes that I shall go, particularly as Lord Nelson's body is to be carried to England, and it will be sent in a safe Ship. The very idea sets me wild; and I assure you I am endeavouring to obtain it, by making my Ship as comfortable as circumstances will admit, and myself as useful in the work he has before him, which, with such a disabled Fleet, and in such weather, is no trifle. I hope, however, that to-morrow we shall have fine weather, and that the Ships and prisoners may be well secured. All will then be well, but at present our situation is an anxious one. This is the first night I shall be undressed since Saturday."

In a letter of the 23rd, Captain Blackwood said :-"On the day of the Action he not only gave me the command of all the Frigates, for the purpose of assisting disabled Ships, but he also gave me a latitude, seldom or ever given, that of making any use I pleased of his name, in ordering any of the sternmost Line of Battle Ships to do what struck me as best. I wish to God he had yielded to my entreaties to come on board my Ship. We all should have preserved a friend, and the Country the greatest Admiral ever was; but he would not listen to it, and I did not take my leave of him till the shot were flying over and over the Victory. Villeneuve says he never saw anything like the irresistible line of our Ships; but that

of the Victory, supported by the Neptune and Temeraire, was what he could not have formed any judgment of1."

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE MARQUIS DE SOLANA, CAPTAINGENERAL OF ANDALUSIA, GOVERNOR OF CADIZ.

[From the London Gazette of the 27th of November, 1805.] My Lord Marquis, Euryalus, off Cadiz, October 27th, 1805. A great number of Spanish Subjects having been wounded in the late Action between the British and the Combined Fleets of Spain and France, on the 21st instant, humanity, and my desire to alleviate the sufferings of these wounded men, dictate to me to offer to your Excellency their enlargement, that they may be taken proper care of in the Hospitals on shore, provided your Excellency will send Boats to convey them, with a proper Officer to give receipts for the number, and acknowledge them in your Excellency's answer to this letter, to be Prisoners of War, to be exchanged before they serve again.

I beg to assure your Excellency of my high consideration, and that I am, &c.,

C. COLLINGWOOD.

FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA SOLANA, CAPTAIN-GENERAL OF ANDALUSIA, AND GOVERNOR OF CADIZ.

[From the "Correspondence of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood," vol. i. p. 196. Translation.]

Cadiz, October 28th, 1805.

Most excellent Sir, Your Excellency's letter of yesterday's date, which was brought to me to-day under a flag of truce, convinces me that you are not less distinguished for your humanity than for your valour in battle. The mode which your Excellency proposes for alleviating the lot of the unhappy persons who are wounded on board the captured Ships, is so honourable to your generous feelings, that I have resolved, on my part, with the assent of General Gravina, that to-morrow, (if the weather permit,) when the Frigates of the Combined Fleet go out to receive them, they shall convey to your Excellency, at the same time, the English Officers and other persons who have been made prisoners in those Ships which were recovered after the Action, and have re-entered this Port. In sending them, I entreat your Excellency to deign to fulfil the agreement for an exchange of prisoners, which I had adjusted with Vice-Admiral Orde and Lord Nelson, whose death has overwhelmed me with sorrow. In consequence of this agreement, I am emboldened to request your Excellency's permission that not only the wounded may return to this place, but also the other Spanish and French

1 These and all the preceding letters from Captain Blackwood, were printed in Blackwood's Magazine for July 1833, but with so many alterations, as to rival even the license taken with Lord Nelson's letters by Clarke and M'Arthur. They are now printed literally from the originals, except the omission of some expressions of endearment.

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24 ámur du: I could resexy nd with respect to Zieke en back so year Squail or me not ari assistance which

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Har Szelener de sentments of the high conis ze honour of sweserving myself your Just arvient Sr. I kiss year Excel713 Mabutis 28 LÀ SOLANA.

Ishak your silener Se the mormazon wich you have been pesed 24 me speeting the Senores Veneuve and Cisters, ini so venerats in Tremy is your Excellency will be Dussed her that we Genem's Gravim. Jars and Escano, are Deegvering as Cher wands in 10t appear a be dangerous.

I have just seen Generi Aava, who has requested me (until his very sad emdie im w in so imself) to testify to your Excellency, is name, his jeepest gratitude for the generosity and goodness with wien vouz were pleased to treat him : for which he Will ever feel himself ander the greatest colgations, as well as for the attention and regard wieù le received from the other Officers of your Squirva.

CONDITIONS ON WHICH THE SPANISH WOUNDED PRISONERS WERE RELEASED, AND SENT ON SHORE TO THE HOSPITAL.

I Guilleme Valverde, having been authorized and empowered by the Marquis de Solano Governor-General of Andalusia and of Cadiz, to receive from the English Squadron the wounded prisoners, and such persons as may be necessary to their care, which release and enlargement of the wounded. &e., is agreed to, on the part of the Commander in-Chief of the British Squadron, on the positive condition that none of the said prisoners shall be employed again, in any public service of the Crown of Spain, either by sea or land, until they are regularly exchanged.

Signed on board His Britannic Majesty's Ship the Euryalus, at Sea, the 30th October, 1805.

(Signed)

GUILL. DE VALVERDE,

Edecan de S. E.

TO VICE-ADMIRAL DON IGNATIO MARIA D'ALAVA. [From the London Gazette of the 27th of November, 1805. This letter was sent under cover to Admiral Gravina.]

Sir,

Euryalus, off Cadiz, October 30th, 1805. It is with great pleasure that I have heard that the wound which you received in the Action is in a hopeful way of recovery, and that your Country may still have the benefit of your service. But, Sir, you surrendered yourself to me, and it was in consideration only of the state of your wound that you were not removed into my Ship. I could not disturb the repose of a man supposed to be in his last moments; but your Sword, the emblem of your service, was delivered to me by your Captain, and I expect that you consider yourself a prisoner of war, until you shall be regularly exchanged by cartel. I have the honour to be, &c.,

C. COLLINGWOOD.

FROM THE MARQUIS DE LA SOLANA TO VICE-ADMIRAL

COLLINGWOOD.

[From the "Correspondence of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood," vol. i. p. 206.]

November 1st, 1805.

My Adjutant has informed me, that in order to facilitate the delivery of the wounded with the least inconvenience and suffering to them, it was your Excellency's intention that all the Ships of your Squadron in which they were embarked should alternately approach this Port; and that on our side, Vessels should be sent out to receive them. Nothing can be more humane or more easily executed than this proposition; but as I thought that I had not of myself sufficient power to consent to it, I have had a conference with Admirals Rossily and Gravina; and as they see no objection, I have the honour to tell your Excellency that you may command it to be executed at your pleasure.

I wish it were possible for me to express to your Excellency all the gratitude I feel for the kindness and generosity which you continue to display towards the individuals of my Nation; and I beg you to be persuaded that the British subjects shall experience the same from me, as long as they remain in our territories.

It is a remarkable fact that one of the Spanish Lieutenants in the Battle of Trafalgar, was Vice-Admiral Alava's nephew, DON MIGUEL ALAVA, who afterwards served with such distinction under the Duke of Wellington in the Peninsula, as to receive from England, a Cross and five Clasps. He was also at Waterloo, and was perhaps the only individual who was present at the greatest Naval and the greatest Land Battle of this century. Don Miguel Alava was made a Knight Commander of the Bath in October 1815, and was for some time the Spanish Minister at this Court. He died, possessed of the esteem of all to whom he was known, in July 1843.