Sir Horatio offered to take charge of his despatches for the Spanish Government, and thus actually became the first messenger to Spain of his own defeat.
The total loss of the English in killed, wounded, and drowned, amounted to 250.

Nelson made no mention of his own wound in his official despatches; but in a private letter to Lord St.Vincent--the first which he wrote with his left hand--he shows himself to have been deeply affected by the failure of this enterprise.

"I am become," he said, "a burthen to my friends, and useless to my country; but by my last letter you will perceive my anxiety for the promotion of my son-in-law, Josiah Nisbet.

When I leave your command I become dead to the world--'I go hence, and am no more seen.' If from poor Bowen's loss, you think it proper to oblige me, I rest confident you will do it.

The boy is under obligations to me, but he repaid me by bringing me from the mole of Santa Cruz.