DECEMBER, 1796-JUNE, 1797.  AGE, 38.

“When we quitted Toulon,” wrote Nelson to his old captain, Locker, while on the passage to Gibraltar, “I remember we endeavoured to reconcile ourselves to Corsica; now we are content with Elba—­such things are.”  Even this small foothold was next to be resigned.  Upon reaching Gibraltar, Jervis received orders from the Admiralty to evacuate the island.

This was the duty upon which Nelson was so soon despatched again to the Mediterranean.  Though “most important,” wrote he to his wife, “it is not a fighting mission, therefore be not uneasy.”  The assurance was doubtless honestly given, but scarcely to be implicitly accepted in view of his past career.  Leaving the admiral on the evening of December 14, with the frigates “Blanche” and “Minerve,” his commodore’s pendant flying in the latter, the two vessels, about 11 p.m. of the 19th, encountered two Spanish frigates close to Cartagena.  The enemies pairing off, a double action ensued, which, in the case of the “Minerve,” ended in the surrender of her opponent, “La Sabina,” at half-past one in the morning.  Throwing a prize-crew on board, the British ship took her late antagonist in tow and stood away to the southeast.  At half-past three another Spanish frigate came up, and, in order to meet this fresh enemy on fairly equal terms, the “Minerve” had to drop her prize.  The second fight began at 4.30, and lasted half an hour, when the Spaniard hauled off.  With daylight appeared also two hostile ships-of-the-line, which had been chasing towards the sound of the guns.  These had already been seen by the “Blanche,” which was by them prevented from taking possession of her antagonist, after the latter struck.  The pursuit lasted through the day, the “Minerve” being hard pressed in consequence of the injuries received by all her masts during the engagement; but both British frigates succeeded in shaking off their pursuers.  “La Sabina” was recaptured; she had already lost one mast, and the remaining two were seen to go over the side as she was bringing-to, when the enemy overtook her.  It is interesting to note that her captain, Don Jacobo Stuart, was descended from the British royal house of Stuart.  He, with many of his crew, had been transferred to the “Minerve,” and remained prisoners.

Nelson reached Porto Ferrajo a week later, on the 26th of December.  “On my arrival here,” wrote he to his brother, “it was a ball night, and being attended by the captains, I was received in due form by the General, and one particular tune was played:[41] the second was ’Rule Britannia.’  From Italy I am loaded with compliments.”  Having regard to comparative strength, the action was in all respects most creditable, but it received additional lustre from being fought close to the enemy’s coast, and in full view of a force so superior as that from which escape had been handsomely made, under conditions requiring both steadiness and skill.  Though on a small scale, no such fair stand-up fight