only 22 men on board, was obliged to stand out for the purpose of procuring assistance from a boat she had in the offing, and could not reach the anchorage till the conclusion of the action. She had 1 man wounded, the Speedy 2; but neither of them dangerously.
On the 3d Oct. following, whilst running through the Gut of Gibraltar, in sight of a British convoy, Captain Brenton observed a number of small vessels coming out of Algeziras; and concluding they were Spanish gun-boats endeavouring to cut off some of the merchantmen, steered for them in order to defeat their purpose. He soon after perceived they were coasting vessels, eight in number, under the protection of an armed cutter and schooner. All sail was now made in chase, and the two sternmost were soon separated from the others, but took shelter under the guns of a castle, which opened a heavy fire upon the Speedy as she approached, and prevented her bringing them off. Captain Brenton now pursued the main body, passing within gun-shot of the castle at Tariffa; and at length came up with and destroyed four of them in a bay to the eastward of Cape Trafalgar, without any loss on the part of the Speedy, although her boats were exposed to the fire from a fortification under which the enemy had sought refuge, and some musketry on the beach; as also to a heavy surf, which rendered their approach dangerous. Rear-Admiral Duckworth, in reporting this affair to the Admiralty, said, “It is but justice to Captain Brenton to observe, that his exertions and gallantry at all opportunities, do him the highest honor.”
Captain Brenton’s next encounter with the enemy was on his entering the Gut, with a transport ship and a merchant brig under his protection from Lisbon, Nov. 9, 1799. On that day two Spanish schooners, each carrying .two long 24-pounders and 50 men; ten other vessels of one 24-pounder, and 40 men each; and a French xebec privateer of 8 guns, pushed out from Algeziras, and directed their first assault against the transport, but without effect. They then attempted to get possession of the brig, in which they were also foiled by the skill and bravery of Captain Brenton, who passed through the midst of them, and poured in such repeated broadsides of round and grape, that they fled in con-
