fresh ships, under a crowd of sail (two of the three which had previously been detached to Algesiras *), were coming down from the west-south-west ; and the lee division of seven sail of the line, † well formed, and including among them three three-deckers, having made a good stretch to windward on the starboard tack, were approaching on the opposite or larboard one, from the southward. These 11 ships, fast-closing round the yielding, if not already surrendered four-decker, saved her from further molestation.

It was about 3 h. 52 m. when the Victory, then on the starboard tack, observing the approach of those fresh ships, made the signal for the fleet to prepare to bring to, in order to be ready to cover the prizes and disabled British ships. At 4 h. 15 m. a signal was made for the frigates to take the prizes in tow, and at 4 h. 39 m. for the ships of the fleet to form in close line ahead in the wake of the Victory. At about 4 h. 50 m. p.m. the Britannia, who, from her slow sailing, had hitherto possessed no chance of getting into action, happening to lie in the way of the Spanish lee-division in its approach to succour the Santisima-Trinidad, became exposed to a few comparatively harmless broadsides ; which the Britannia herself, assisted by the Orion, and one or two other ships, returned. This was the last of the battle of Valentine's day; and at 5 p.m., the British advanced ships having previously, in compliance with the signal to that effect desisted from pursuit, the firing on both sides ceased.

The damages of the British ships, in a general point of view, were of very trifling amount. The only ship dismasted was the Captain ; whose fore topmast, as already related, had been carried away : her hull was also much hit. With respect to the Colossus, when at 1 h. 30 m. p.m., the Minerve approached to take her in tow, her assistance was declined, and, the former having, by 3 p.m., with creditable zeal and alacrity, got up a topsail yard for a fore yard, and set upon it a treble-reefed fore topsail, Captain Murray felt little inclined to have the Colossus considered as a disabled ship. The Egmont had received one shot through the main, and another through the mizen mast ; and the Goliath, a shot through her foremast : in both cases from the two three-deckers belonging to the enemy's lee division.

The Culloden had her fore and main masts, main topmast, several other spars, and the chief of her rigging and sails shot through. Her boats had been cut to pieces ; her hull was also pierced with shot, both above and below water, and the ship, in consequence, was very leaky. She had likewise one carronade, and two lower and two second-deck guns dismounted. If we add to all this the damage she had previously sustained by running foul of the Colossus, the Culloden's state after the action may be pronounced to have been the worst in the fleet.

* See p. 32. The Guadalupa frigate had joined about an hour before.
† Log of Southampton ; thus confirming our account.

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