Monday, 6th July, wind variable off Algeziras,--Gibraltar Bay, light breezes, and variable,--the captain went on board the Caesar,--all sail set,--squadron in company,--the captain returned,--got the sheet-cable through the stern-port, and bent it to the anchor,--got springs on the sheet and bower-anchors; at 2h. Captain Hood went on board the Admiral; at 3h. returned,--received a midshipman and seven men per the Plymouth lugger, and from the Boladore, Spanish lugger; at 4h. Cape Trafalgar, N.E. seven or eight miles,--all sail set,--made and shortened sail occasionally for the squadron, and tacked occasionally,--A.M. do. weather; at 4h. made more sail; at 7h. discovered the enemy, consisting of three two-decked ships and a frigate, with an Admiral's flag flying, at anchor under the town and batteries of Algeziras, protected by many gun-boats, &c.--all sail set, standing in for the enemy, followed by the Pompee, Audacious, Caesar, Spencer, and Hannibal; at 7h. 50m. the batteries opened their fire on us,--Pompee and Audacious one mile and a half distant from us astern. At 8h. it fell calm; at 8h. 20m. the Pompee and Audacious, bringing up the breeze, passed us to windward, when the enemy's ships opened their fire on us; at 8h. 14m. a light air sprung up,--passed the Audacious to leeward, at which time the Pompee and Audacious opened their fire; at 8h. 20m. the breeze dying away, came to with the sheet-anchor, as did the Pompee and Audacious,--hove in the spring; and at 8h. 30m. opened our fire on the French Admiral's ship: at 10h. the Caesar anchored on our bow, and sent a spring on board of us; at the same time the action became general, and the Hannibal got on shore, after attempting to cut off the French Admiral's ship. At 10h. 20m. the Pompee drifted between us and the French Admiral's,--hove in our spring, and brought our guns to bear on the other enemy's ship on our bow, and the other's stern: at 12h. the Pompee drifted between our fire and the enemy's,--slipt the sheet-cable, and eight-inch hawser, the spring, with the intention of getting alongside the enemy's southernmost ship,--light air springing up at the time from the N.E.; in awaiting this opportunity, the mizen-top-mast, fore-braces, and jibb halyards, with various other standing and running rigging, shot away, and main-mast badly wounded: at 11h. 15m. breeze dying away prevented our intention,--opened our fire on the southernmost ship; at 12h. calm and hazy,--Caesar, Hannibal, Audacious, Spencer, and us still firing on the enemy's ships, batteries, and gun-boats,--boats of the squadron towing off the Pompee to Gibraltar; P.M. calm,--still firing on the enemy's ships, which were warping farther in-shore.