At this time, three other ships were seen standing for La Minerve.  The hope was now alive, that they were only frigates, and that La Blanche was one of them:  but, when the day dawned, it was mortifying to find that they were two Spanish ships of the line, and two frigates, while La Blanche was far to windward.  In this situation, the enemy, by bringing up the breeze frequently within shot, it required all the skill of Captain Cockburne, which he eminently displayed, to get off with his crippled ship.

“Here,” says commodore Nelson, from whose letter to Sir John Jervis the above facts are chiefly collected, “I must also do justice to Lieutenants Culverhouse and Hardy, and express my tribute of praise for their management of the prize.  A frigate repeatedly fired into her without effect; and, at last, the Spanish admiral quitted the pursuit of La Minerve for that of La Sabina, which was steering a different course; evidently, with the intention of attracting the notice of the admiral, as English colours were hoisted over the Spanish.  The Sabina’s main and fore masts fell overboard before she surrendered.

“This is, Sir, an unpleasant tale; but the merits of every officer and man in La Minerve and her prize, were eminently conspicuous through the whole of this arduous day.  The enemy quitted the pursuit of La Minerve at dark.”

There were ten men wounded in this last attack, but none killed; and the mainmast was much damaged, and the rigging greatly cut.

D’Arcy Preston, Esq. captain of La Blanche, had brought, on the preceding night, a few minutes after La Minerve’s first broadside, the smaller Spanish frigate to close action.  The enemy made but a trifling resistance, and eight or nine broadsides completely silenced them; when they called out for quarter, and their colours were hauled down.

“I am sorry to add,” says Captain Preston, in his letter to Commodore Nelson, written at sea, December 20, “the very near approach of three fresh ships, two of which we discovered nearly within gun-shot before we went into action, rendered my taking possession of her impracticable; when I wore, to join La Minerve.  Finding the ships did not then close with the frigate, which I had left much damaged in her hull, sails, and rigging, I again stood after her:  but she had, by this time, got her fore-sail, fore top-sail, and fore top-gallant sail, set; and not only out-sailed the Blanche, before the wind, but was joined by another ship standing from the land.

“Nothing could exceed the steadiness and good conduct of the first-lieutenant, Mr. Cowen; and the whole of the officers, and ship’s company, I have the honour to command.  I have great pleasure to inform you, that not one person was hurt, or the rigging the least damaged.

     “I beg leave to add, how much I am obliged to Captain Maitland, who
     is on board, a passenger, to join his ship, for his very great
     assistance on the quarter-deck during the action.”