'During the course of the day the English re-embarked, bearing with a guard of honour the corpses of Captain Bowen and of another officer of rank. [Footnote: This is fabulous. Captain Richard Bowen, 'than whom a more enterprising, able, and gallant officer does not grace H.M.'s naval service,' was the only loss of any consequence. All the rest were lieutenants.] They (who?) had stripped off his laced coat when he expired in a cell of the Santo Domingo convent, [Footnote: In Spanish two saints claim the title 'Santo,' viz. Domingo and Thomas: all the rest are 'San.'] disfigured his face, and dressed him as a sailor. The wounded, twenty-two in number, did not leave the hospital till next day: among them was Lieutenant Robinson in the agonies of death. 'Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson hearing the politeness, the generosity, and the magnanimity with which our Commandant-General followed up his success, and feeling his own noble heart warm with grateful sentiments, dictated to him an official letter, which he signed for the first time with his left hand. [Footnote: The original of this peculiarly interesting document, written on official paper, was kept in a tin box under lock at the Captain-General's office, Santa Cruz, and in 1864 it was transferred to the archives of Madrid. The writing is that of a secretary, who put by mistake 1796 for 1797. A copy of it, published in Harrison's _Life of Nelson_ (vol. i. p. 215), was thence transferred to Nicolas's _Despatches and Letters_. It is _bonâ fide_ the first appearance of Nelson's signature with his left hand, despite the number of 'first signatures' owned by the curious of England.] '_To His Excellency Don Antonio Gutierrez, Commandant-General of the Canary Islands._ 'His Majesty's ship _Theseus_, opposite Santa Cruz de Teneriffe: July 26, 1796. 'Sir,--I cannot take my departure from this Island without returning your Excellency my sincerest thanks for your attention towards me, by your humanity in favour of our wounded men in your power or under your care, and for your generosity towards all our people who were disembarked, which I shall not fail to represent to my Sovereign; hoping also, at a proper time, to assure your Excellency in person how truly I am, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant, '(Signed) HORATIO NELSON. 'P.S. I trust your Excellency will do me the honour to accept of a cask of English beer and a cheese. 'To Señor Don Antonio Gutierrez, Commandant-General, Canary Islands. 'Having received with due appreciation this honourable letter, our chief replied as follows:--