[The Life of Horatio Lord Nelson by Robert Southey]@TWC D-Link bookThe Life of Horatio Lord Nelson CHAPTER IX 40/46
He lived to know that the victory was decisive; and the last guns which were fired at the flying enemy were heard a minute or two before he expired.
The ships which were thus flying were four of the enemy's van, all French, under Rear-Admiral Dumanoir.
They had borne no part in the action; and now, when they were seeking safety in flight, they fired not only into the VICTORY and ROYAL SOVEREIGN as they passed, but poured their broadsides into the Spanish captured ships; and they were seen to back their topsails for the purpose of firing with more precision.
The indignation of the Spaniards at this detestable cruelty from their allies, for whom they had fought so bravely, and so profusely bled, may well be conceived.
It was such that when, two days after the action, seven of the ships which had escaped into Cadiz came out in hopes of re-taking some of the disabled prizes, the prisoners in the ARGONAUTA, in a body, offered their services to the British prize-master, to man the guns against any of the French ships, saying, that if a Spanish ship came alongside, they would quietly go below; but they requested that they might be allowed to fight the French in resentment for the murderous usage which they had suffered at their hands.
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