ward, that large ships will always be exposed to considerable
risk, and more particularly so from the months of October
to March inclusive.
Under such disadvantages, it was considered as a bold
measure of Admiral Blake to run in with a fair wind, in order
to take or destroy a fleet of Spanish galleons, which, however,
he completely effected and, by a fortunate shift of the wind,
escaped with his own fleet ; but it is far from certain what
the consequences might have been to his ships, had not this
sudden, and by no means to be expected, change of wind in
his favour taken place at the moment he had finished his
work of destruction, and carried him out of the bay ; leaving
the Spaniards in astonishment (as Hume expresses it) at the
happy temerity of their audacious visitors. Blake was a
brave officer but not a good seaman, a profession of which
a competent knowledge can scarcely be attained by one who
like him first engages in it at the meridian of life. Still more
daring than Blake’s, though less successful, was the attempt
of the late Lord Nelson to take the place by surprise, in thé
year 1797, by embarking about one thousand brave fellows
in the boats of his squadron, and entering the bay in the
middle of the night. Being unfortunately discovered on approaching
the mole, the alarm was instantly communicated
to the town, the bells were rung, the drums beat to arms,
and the lines and the batteries began to open upon the invading
party. The night was so dark that a great number
of the boats never reached the pier, on which a considerable
force was drawn up to oppose their landing. It was here that
the immortal hero, always the first in every, perilous enters
prise, lost his arm, and had almost the whole of his party
killed or wounded by grape and musquetry from the citadel
on the left; not, however, before they had completely dispersed
the enemy, and driven them from the mole. Another
division landed to the southward of the mole, among rocks
•and breakers, where all the: boats were dashed in pieces.
From this place, however, under the command of Captain
(now Rear-Admiral) Sir Thomas Troubridge, the party forced
their way into the great square, where they formed about
four hundred strong. Here they were informed that eight or
ten thousand Spaniards, with a considerable artillery, were
preparing to attack them ; which, although not strictly true
as to numbers, they had no reason to disbelieve.' Yet, in.
this situation, cool and collected as a British officer is generally
found to be in the most critical moments, Sir Thomas
sent to the Governor a Spirited message to say that, on condition
of his immediately supplying a sufficient number of
boats to reimbark his people, the squadron would forbear to
bombard the town ; otherwise, that he could not answer for
the consequences. The Governor required them to surrender
as prisoners of war ; in reply to which, Captain Troubridge
declared, in the most peremptory manner, that if the terms
he proposed were not instantly accepted he would be under
the necessity of setting fire to the town having kindled a
blaze on the windward side of the square, to shew them that
they had it in their power to put their threat in execution.
On this being reported, the Governor not only complied, but
performed-the conditions of the treaty in a manner that was
highly honourable to his character.