Cape St. Mary, in company with the Medusa, Amphion, and Lively frigates, discovered four sail, which formed the line of battle a-head on the approach of the British squadron, and continued to steer for Cadiz, the van ship carrying a broad pendant, and the one next her a Rear-Admiral’s flag. The Medusa being the headmost of the British frigates, her commander (the present Sir John Gore) placed her on the weatherbeam of the Commodore; Captain Moore took a similar position along-side of the Rear-Admiral, the Amphion and Lively each taking an opponent in the same manner, as they came up. After hailing to make them shorten sail, without effect, the Indefatigable fired a shot across the Rear-Admiral’s hawse, on which he shortened sail, and Captain Moore sent a Lieutenant to inform him, that he had orders to detain his squadron, and earnestly wished to execute them without bloodshed. An unsatisfactory answer being returned, a close engagement ensued, when in less than ten minutes la Mercedes, the Spanish Admiral’s second astern, blew up alongside the Amphion, with a tremendous explosion, and all on board perished, with the exception of 40 persons, who were taken up by the boats of her antagonist. In half an hour more, two others struck; and the fourth, having in vain attempted to escape, was captured before sunset. The loss of the British on this occasion was very trifling; but that of the Spaniards was 20 killed and 80 wounded, besides 240 lives lost by the explosion. It was a peculiarly affecting circumstance, that in the ship which blew up, was the lady and eight children of a native of South-America, who with one of his sons, had gone before the action on board another ship, from which he was a melancholy spectator of the dreadful catastrophe.
The lading of the captured vessels was of immense value in gold and silver bullion, and rich merchandize, the destination of which for the service of France, was the reason assigned for their detention, without a previous declaration of war, which was not published till Jan. 24, 1805, six weeks after that of the Spanish government against England.
We next find Captain Moore employed as commander of a squadron sent to escort the royal family of Portugal, from Lisbon to Brazil; on which occasion he was directed by Sir W. Sidney Smith, under whose command he had been for
