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aground upon the South Cachop. At 9 p.m., the ship striking very hard, the tiller was broken and the rudder unshipped. The St.-George's fore and mizen masts were now cut away to ease her ; but, notwithstanding every exertion on the part of her officers and crew, the St.-George remained aground until the evening of the 20th ; when, chiefly by the aid of the St.-Albans, she again got afloat, and was obliged, of course, to return to Lisbon to repair. With his remaining 10 sail, the British admiral proceeded to sea, accompanied by the Portuguese convoy. On the 6th of February, while Sir John, having parted from the Portuguese ships, was on his return to his station off Cape St: Vincent, the five sail of the line* and one frigate, which had been detached to him from the Channel fleet, effected their junction. Thus reinforced, the admiral had under his command the:
The frigates, by the time some had joined and others parted company; remained as follows:
It so happened, that the accession of these five ships did no more than make up the number which the admiral had with * See p. 22. Captain Brenton (vol. ii., p. 150) by mistake says six., ^ back to top ^ |