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Naval History of Great Britain - Vol II
1799 Light Squadrons and Single Ships 358

off the Santa-Brigida, who had just before thrown overboard her anchors and boats, from Port de Vidre. At 8 a.m. the three British frigates closed with the Spanish frigate amidst the rocks of Commarurto at the entrance of Muros ; whereupon the Santa-Brigida, after a brave resistance, preceded by the most skilful efforts to escape, hauled down her colours.

The Triton had one seaman wounded, and received considerable damage from striking on the rocks. The Alcmène had one seaman killed, and one petty officer and eight seamen wounded. The Naiad did not get near enough to sustain any loss ; nor had the Santa-Brigida herself any more than two seamen killed and eight wounded.

All four ships were over foul ground ; but, a breeze springing up from the shore, they were enabled to put their heads to the sea. While the prisoners were exchanging, four large ships, one with a broad pendant, came out of Vigo, as if with the intention of attacking the British frigates. The latter immediately got ready to receive them ; but the Spaniards, owing to some unexplained cause, suddenly put back to their port.

On the 21st the Thetis, and on the following day the Santa-Brigida, in company with the frigates which had captured them, arrived at Plymouth. The cargo of the Santa-Brigida consisted of two bales or serons of indigo, 26 of cochineal, 23 of cocoa, and 16 of sugar, of the estimated value, altogether, of about £5000. This frigate had also 446 boxes, containing each 3000 dollars, 59 bags of dollars, and many others of uncertain number, and three kegs likewise uncertain. Neither the Santa-Brigida nor the Thetis were considered eligible for the British navy : their chief and almost only value was in the cargoes they carried.

As some readers may feel an interest in these matters, we will show how the treasure was subsequently disposed of. On the 28th and 29th, the days on which the two cargoes were landed, 63 artillery waggons, escorted by horse and foot soldiers and armed seamen and marines, and accompanied by bands of music and an immense concourse of people, conveyed the treasures to the dungeons of the citadel of Plymouth. Thence, towards the latter end of November, it was removed to London, with all the pomp and ceremony usual on such occasions, and was, finally deposited in the bank of England. The share of prize-money which each class received for the Spanish frigates, exclusive of the value of their hulls, stores, masts, &c., appears to have been as follows:

 

each

£

s.

d.

Captains

40,730

18

0

Lieutenants

5091

7

3

Warrant-officers

2468

10

Midshipmen, &c .

791

17

Seamen and marines

182

4

One could wish that, in cases of this kind, it were the practice

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