The prisoners, accordingly, were immediately sent for; but there seems to have been a backwardness in the Spanish admiral’s performance of the conditions proposed:  and, on the 10th, Rear-Admiral Nelson resolutely demanded them again, that they might be immediately sent to England, if they were not received as prisoners of war; which, at length, was reluctantly agreed to.

It appears that, about this time, intelligence had been received, by the commander in chief, of a prodigiously rich ship, El Principe d’Asturias, belonging to the Philippine Company, and bound from Manilla to Cadiz, being then in the port of Santa Cruz, the capital of the island of Teneriffe; where the treasure was intended to be landed for security, as had previously been the case with several other rich cargoes.  With a view of obtaining possession of these valuable treasures, an expedition against that place was determined on, under the conduct of Rear-Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson.

He was accordingly detached, by Sir John Jervis, on the 15th of July, with three ships of the line, the Theseus, Culloden, and Zealous; the Terpsichore, Emerald, and Seahorse, frigates; and the Fox cutter.  These were afterwards joined by the Leander of fifty guns.  The general orders which Sir Horatio Nelson received were, to make a vigorous and spirited attack; but, on no account, personally to land with the forces, which were to be under the command of Captain Troubridge, unless his presence should be absolutely necessary.  These particular injunctions were generally thought to have been most humanely given, by the commander in chief, for the sake of preserving the valuable life of the rear-admiral; which might, otherwise, from his known disregard of danger, be too much exposed:  and some also ascribed them to the wish of giving Captain Troubridge a considerable share in the glory of that intended brilliant enterprise.

The plan of this expedition was contrived with all that masterly address and precision which ever marked the operations projected by the judicious and gallant rear-admiral; and, as the author is favoured with the opportunity of giving them in detail, the principles which they comprise may be adopted, perhaps, with deserved success, by other commanders, on many future occasions.

The first order issued by Rear-Admiral Nelson was addressed to Thomas Troubridge, Esq. captain of his majesty’s ship Culloden, and commander of the forces ordered to be landed for taking Santa Cruz.

     “Theseus,
      at Sea, July 20, 1797.

     “SIR,

“I desire you will take under your command the number of seamen and marines named in the margin, who will be under the command of Captains Hood, Freemantle, Bowen, Miller, and Waller, and the marines under the command of Captain Thomas Oldfield, and a detachment of the Royal Artillery under the command of Lieutenant Baynes; all of whom are now embarked on board