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HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY.

*ANECDOTES of CAPTAIN BLACKWOOD-ACTION between the BRILLIANT and the two FRENCH FRIGATES - CAPTURE of the GUILLAUME TELL LETTERS of LORD NELSON-TRAFALGAR LETTERS of BLACKWOOD-Loss of the AJAX.

IN N July 1798, Captain Blackwood, in the Brilliant of 28 guns, maintained a most unequal combat off the Island of Teneriffe, with two French 44-gun frigates, La Vertu and La Regénérée.

The following is his account of that skilful and daring action:"Late in the day of the 26th of July, after having chased a sail which, from the information I had, as well as the course she was steering, I suspected to be a French privateer, on her return to Santa Cruz; at night, leaving off chase, I bore up for the N.E. end of Teneriffe, in order to intercept her; but, the morning of the 27th being very hazy, and thinking she might have passed me in the night, I stood close into the bay of Santa Cruz, where (when well in), perceiving two large French frigates (the one of 40 guns, carrying a broad pendant, the other of 36) in the act of getting under weigh, and making preparations to set all sail, I judged it prudent (crowding every thing I could) to steer to the

southward.

"At about five o'clock p. m., perceiving that the enemy had

wad, as gained a good deal, and, as the wind had failed us, was gaining still faster, I determined, if possible, to prolong the period of their bringing me into action, till after the close of day, and to manœuvre in the interim, so as to prevent their engaging me both at once. In consequence of which, shifting my steering sails with expedition to the starboard side, and at the same time changing my course to S.W., I increased my distance nearly a mile; I then reefed my topsails, keeping my steering sails set, in order that my intentions should not be suspected. When all was ready for hauling to the wind, and I had taken in my steering sails, unfortunately the wind shifted so far to the eastward, that I lay nearly along the S.E. side of Teneriffe; in this situation, I had no other alternative but that of bearing up, and coming into immediate action with the headmost frigate.

"About seven p. m., the second in command of the enemy had approached so near as to commence his fire, and which I returned with such success, from four stern-cha

These anecdotes are selected from a most interesting Memoir of Sir Henry Blackwood, in Blackwood's Magazine.

sers, that he judged it prudent to alter his attack to my leequarter, where, by very superior sailing, he soon took his station, and engaged me about an hour, at the distance of two cables.

"Previous to this, the commodore, from having hauled more to the wind, had gained my weatherquarter; and, perceiving that he was now coming down with his people ready aloft for boarding me, I judged, that, if I continued in my present position, it would only depend on them to engage me with much advantage together; watching, therefore, most anxiously the moment the frigate to leeward had reached abreast of my mainmast, I bore up athwart his hawse, and raked him so effectually with in pistol-shot, that, in a few minutes, I left him with his top-sails and top-gallant-sails down on the caps, and otherwise in such confusion, that I embraced the present as the most favourable moment to haul to the wind.

"The commodore had now neared me so much, that I expected every instant he would engage me on my weather-quarter; but judging, I conclude, from the reception his consort had met with, that he should not be more successful, instead of choosing his situation and distance for engaging me with effect, he shortened sail and bore upinto my wake. By this manœuvre, which was affected with wonderful promptitude, I gained so much to windward and ahead, that I was very soon out of gun-shot.

"Till twelve o'clock I continued my course; when, just as I was going to tack, a perfect calm succeeded, when the enemy, more fortunate, carrying the breeze up with them, were enabled to place themselves so as to annoy me, with

out a possibility of my bringing a gun to bear on them. In this mortifying predicament I remained exposed nearly an hour to a very galling fire, when a fresh breeze of wind coming off shore, I weathered and fore-reached them so much, that, very soon losing sight of both, I bore up one point every half hour until eight o'clock a. m., the 28th, when I hauled close to the wind on the starboard tack.

"From the enemy having directed their fire entirely at my rigging, I had but three men killed, and ten wounded slightly; my damage, therefore, consists in a few spars, sails, some standing, and most of my running rigging, together with two bower anchors and two boats I was obliged to cut away early in the chase."

On his return to England, in March, 1799, Captain Blackwood found himself, in consequence of that action, appointed by Lord Spencer to the command of the Penelope, of 36 guns, and, in September of the same year, was ordered to the Mediterranean, where he served till May, 1802. During this period, when on the blockade of Malta, he was instrumental in the capture of the Guillaume Tell, an 80-gun ship of great power, which had escaped from Aboukir. This vessel had been watched in the port of Valette by a British squadron blockading Malta; and, on the night of the 30th of March, "taking advantage of a strong southerly gale, and the darkness that had succeeded the setting of the moon, weighed and put to sea." Blackwood, in the Penelope, making the necessary signals to the other ships of the squadron, the Foudroyant, 80, captain sir Edward Berry, and the Lion, 64, captain Manly Dixon (now sir Manly

Dixon), instantly made sail in pursuit; and having, at half-past twelve, closed with the chase, luffed up under her stern, and gave her the larboard broadside. The Penelope then bore up under her larboard quarter, and gave her the starboard broadside-a game which she kept playing till five o'clock, and with such effect, that, just before the dawn of day, down came the Guillaume Tell's main and mizen-topmasts and mainyard; while the little Penelope, "whose manœuvres," says James in his "Naval History" directed by a practised seaman," had sustained little or no damage. "A hundred times," says Decres, the gallant French admiral, in his

66 were

letter to the minister of marine and the colonies, "I was tempted to manœuvre, in order to cripple her from fighting; but, as the wind blew fresh, and I observed, notwithstanding the darkness of the night, several ships at the extremity of the horizon, in full sail to support her, I was sensible that, by lying to, I should be giving them all time to come up, and that my escape would be impossible. We were thus annoyed during the whole night by this frigate, whose fire brought down our main-topmast about five in the morning." True that Decres durst not, without great peril, have attempted to manœuvre; but, if he had, no doubt he would have been baffled

by the matchless seamanship of Blackwood. The Lion, on coming up, ran close alongside of the enemy, who appeared of immense bulk and full of men, keeping up a prodigious fire of musketry; and, after the Lion had been engaged with her for 50 minutes, from a judicious position in which she could endure that broadside so far

superior in weight of metal to her own, the Foudroyant came up, and, after the hottest action that probably was ever maintained by an enemy's ship opposed to those of his majesty, and being totally dismasted, the French admiral's colours and flag were struck. Captain Blackwood, on this occasion, received the following letter from lord Nelson.

"My dear Blackwood,- Is there a sympathy which ties men together in the bonds of friendship without having a personal knowledge of each other? If so (and I believe it was so to you), I was your friend and acquaintance before I saw you. Your conduct and character, on the late glorious occasion, stamps your fame beyond the reach of envy: it was like yourself-it was like the Penelope. Thanks; and say every thing kind for me to your brave officers and men. When I receive any official letters on the subject, I shall notice your and their gallant services in the way they merit. Tell captain Ormsby I have recommended him to lord Keith, and hope it will answer his wishes. How fortunate he has been to be with you! It will give him, I am sure, the next step, and not interfere with captain Long, or any other master and commander who might have been present. I shall see you very soon, either here or at Malta. But, in every situation, I am your sincere

and attached friend,"

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the inshore squadron, consisting of five frigates and four sloops, to watch and report the movements of the enemy. Nelson had offered him a line-of- battle ship-his choice of several-among them the Revenge, one of the finest ships in the navy; but he resolved to remain in the Euryalus, thinking he would have more service to perform as senior officer of the frigates. From the day he joined to the 20th of October, the day previous to the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson maintained a station from thirteen to twenty leagues west of Cadiz, but kept up a constant communication with the commodore by a line of signals. On the first of October, the report from rear admiral Louis, commanding the advanced squadron off Cadiz, made to Lord Nelson was, that thirty-four ships of the line (eigh teen French and sixteen Spanish), with four frigates and two brigs, were ready for sea in the outer harbour; and, on the next day, Blackwood sent his Lordship word, "that, within the last few days, there had been a great deal of bustle and movements in Cadiz; every one capable of serving had been sent on board the ships, and the French troops, disembarked on their arrival, had been reimbarked." The following original letters of Lord Nelson show how completely his mind was occupied with hut one desire, one hope that the enemy might come out and meet annihilation, though he had an assurance he was himself to die!

Victory, October 4th, 1805, Cadiz, east 17 leagues. "My dear Sir:-I have received from rear admiral Louis your information respecting the intended movements of the enemy, which strengthens my conviction that you

estimate as I do the importance of not letting these rogues escape us without a fair fight, which I pant for by day and dream of by night. I am momentarily expecting the Phoebe, Sirius, Naïad, and Niger, from Gibraltar; two of them shall be with you directly as I get hold of them; and if you meet them, and there is any way of sending information and their despatches from Gibraltar, keep Naïad and Phoebe. Juno is a fixture between Cape Spartel and Gibraltar ; Mars, Colossus, and Defence, will be stationed four leagues east from the fleet, and one of them advanced to the east towards Cadiz, and as near as possible in the latitude. The fleet will be from sixteen to eighteen leagues west of Cadiz; therefore, if you throw a frigate west from you, most probably, in fine weather, we shall communicate daily. In fresh breezes easterly, I shall work up for Cadiz, never getting to the northward of it; and, in the event of hearing they are standing out of Cadiz, I shall carry a press of sail to the southward towards Cape Spartel and Arrache, so that you will always know where to find me. I am writing out regular instructions for the frigates under your orders; but I am confident you will not let these gentry slip through our fingers, and then we shall give a good account of them, although they may be very superior in numbers. The Royal Sovereign and Defiance were to sail after the 24th. Belleisle, ton, is ordered here. I send you two papers; I stole them for you.

"Ever, my dear Blackwood,
most faithfully your friend,
(Signed)

"NELSON and BRONTE."

the night close in shore; and as Weazle sails faster, you can send her to me with accounts when you can't communicate by signals; I should never wish to be more than forty-eight hours without hearing from you. Hydra you can victual and water out of the other frigates, who are all full. There were no letters for you in the Royal Sovereign; at least none came to the Victory. Collingwood has got the

Victory, October 8th, 1805. "My dear Sir:-I sent Naïad to you, and will Phoebe and Weazle as I can lay hands upon them. I am gratified (because it shows your soul is in your business) and obliged by all your communications. I see you feel how much my heart is set on getting at these fellows, whom I have hunted so long: but don't, my dear Blackwood, be angry with any one; it was only paper of the 23rd; if he has not a laudable anxiety in admiral Louis, and nothing like complain ing.

"The Portuguese is a rogue; but I have desired the bullocks to be bought, and threatened him the next time. Defiance has joined. Royal Sovereign has signalized. If there are letters you shall have them; but I fear the cutter will never beat up to you. I wish I may be able to keep the Pickle with you; she will be very handy to protect your boats, &c. in the night.

Believe me ever yours faithfully. (Signed)

"NELSON and BRONTE." "P.S.-Sir John Duckworth comes out in the London, Sir Robert Barlow in Barfleur, vice Geo. Martin, very ill, but this is all; therefore you will give due weight to the report. The canal of St. Pedro is a good speculation for boats in the night. Several ships and brigs are coming from Tariffe."

Victory, October 9th, 1805, 8 A. m.

Cadiz, due east 19 leagues. "My dear Sir:-Many thanks for your letter of yesterday. Let us have them out. The Weazle, I hope, has joined, although you don't mention her. Keep the schooner; she will be useful in

lent it, I have desired him to send it to you. Agamemnon, Belleisle, and, very probably London, are at this moment on their passage; therefore, if Mr. Decres means to come forth (if he would take my advice, which I dare say he won't), he had better come out directly. Those who know more of Cadiz than either you or I do, say that after those Levanters come several days of fine weather, sea-breezes westerly, land-wind at night; and that, if the enemy are bound into the Mediterranean, they would come out at night, which they have always done, placing frigates on the Porpoises and Diamond, and the Shoal of Cadiz run to the southward, and catch the sea-breezes at the mouth of the Gut, and push through whilst we might have little wind in the offing. In short, watch all points, and all winds and weathers, for I shall depend upon you. Remember me to Capel, Parker, Munday, and Captain Prowse, and be assured I am ever.

"And always yours,
(Signed)

NELSON and BRONTE."
Victory, October 10th, 1805,
Cadiz, east 13 leagues,

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