“I have the honour to inform your lordship, that on the 9th inst., in company with the Defender, British Privateer of Gibraltar, of fourteen guns, we captured the Spanish armed vessels, as per margin, after an action of two hours and a half. Upon seeing us they ran into a small sandy bay, five leagues to the eastward of Cape de Gatte, and moored in a close line, within a boat’s length of the beach; we engaged them an hour and three quarters under sail, before we could gain soundings, although not more than a cable’s length distant from the rocks; but finding the enemy had much the advantage, from our constant change of position, I determined to push for an anchorage, and was fortunate enough to effect one within pistol shot of the centre vessel. After three quarters of an hour close action, the Spaniards took to their boats, cutting the cables of two of the vessels which drove on shore; they were, however, all brought off by our boats, under a constant fire of musketry from the hills. The privateer, having but twenty-two men, was obliged to stand out, to procure assistance from a boat she had in the offing, and could not reach the anchorage, till the conclusion of the action. The conduct of her commander was highly meritorious throughout, and must have considerably accelerated the event. The officers and men under my command behaved in such a manner as would have ensured our success against a more formidable enemy. The Speedy had but two men wounded, the Defender one, neither dangerous. We found two men dead on board the Spaniards; the remainder of the crews escaped on shore. “JAHLEEL BRENTON.” Ships mentioned in the margin: “Santo Christo de Garcia, eight guns, six and nine pounders. “Name unknown, ten guns, six and nine pounders. “Name unknown, four guns, sixes.” * * * * * “ADMIRALTY OFFICE, OCTOBER 26, 1799. Copy of a letter from Rear Admiral Duckworth to Evan Nepean, Esq., dated Leviathan, off Lisbon, the 13th inst. “SIR, “You will be pleased to lay before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty the copy of a letter from Captain Brenton, of the Speedy, relating the destruction of three Spanish vessels he chased on the 3rd inst.; it is but justice to this officer to observe, that his exertions and gallantry at all opportunities do him the highest honour. “I have the honour to be, &c. “J. J. DUCKWORTH.” * * * * * “SPEEDY, AT SEA, OCTOBER 4, 1799. “SIR,