DEFEAT OF THE SPANISH FLEET OFF SICILY BY ADMIRAL SIR GEORGE BYNG, JULY 31, 1718.
+Source.+--Byng's original despatch in Oldmixon's _History of England: George I._, 1735. P. 663.
_August 6_, O.S.--Early in the Morning, on the 30th of _July_, as we were standing in for _Messina_, we saw two Scouts of the _Spanish_ fleet in the _Faro_, very near us; and at the same time a _Felucca_ coming off from the _Calabrian_ shore, assur'd us they saw from the Hills the _Spanish Fleet_ lying by; upon which the Admiral stood thro' the _Faro_ after the scouts, judging they would lead us to their Fleet, which they did, for before Noon we had a fair sight of all their Ships.... Their Fleet consisted of 26 Men of War, great and small, two Fireships, four Bomb Vessels, seven Galleys, and several Ships with Stores and Provisions. The Admiral order'd the _Kent_, _Superbe_, _Grafton_ and _Oxford_, the best Sailors in the Fleet, to make what Sail they could to come up with the _Spaniards_; and that the Ship that could get nearest to them should carry the Lights usually worn by the Admiral, that he might not lose sight of them in the Night, and he made what sail he could with the rest of the Fleet to keep up with them. It being little Wind the _Spanish_ Galleys tow'd their heaviest Sailors all Night. The 31st in the Morning, as soon as it was day, they finding us pretty near up with their Fleet, the Galleys and smaller Ships, with the Fireships, Bomb-Vessels, and Store-Ships separated from their Admiral and bigger Ships, and stood in for the Shore. After whom the Admiral sent Captain _Walton_ in the _Canterbury_, with the _Argyle_ and six Ships more. As those Ships were coming up with them, one of the _Spaniards_ fir'd a Broadside at the _Argyle_. The Admiral seeing those Ships engag'd with the _Spanish_ which were making towards the Shore, sent orders to Captain _Walton_ to rendezvous after the Action at _Syracuse_.... We held our Chace after the _Spanish_ Admiral with three of his Rear Admirals and the biggest Ships, which staid by their _Flags_, till we came near them. The Captains of the _Kent_, _Superbe_, _Grafton_ and _Orford_ having Orders to make all the Sail they could to place themselves by the four Headmost Ships, were the first that came up with them. The Spaniards began by firing their Stern Chace at them. But they having Orders not to fire unless the _Spanish_ Ships repeated their firing, made no return at first, but the _Spaniards_ firing again, the _Orford_ attack'd the _Santa Rosa_, the _St. Charles_ struck without much Opposition, and the _Kent_ took Possession of her. The _Grafton_ attack'd the _Prince of Asturias_, formerly call'd the _Cumberland_, in which was Rear Admiral _Chacon_, but the _Breda_ and _Captain_ coming up, she left that Ship for them to take, which they soon did, and stretched ahead after another 60 Gun Ship, which was at her Starboard Bow while she was engaging the _Prince of Asturias_, and kept firing her Stern-Chace into the _Grafton_. About One o'clock the _Kent_ and _Superbe_ engaged the Spanish Admiral, which with two more Ships fir'd on them, and made a running Fight till about Three, when the _Kent_ bearing down upon her and under her Stern gave her a Broadside, and went away to Leeward of her; then the _Superbe_ put for it and laid the _Spanish_ Admiral on Board, falling on her Weather-Quarter, but the _Spanish_ Admiral shifting her Helm and avoiding her, the _Superbe_ rang'd under her Lee-Quarter, on which she struck to her. At the same time the _Barfleur_ being within Shot of the said _Spanish_ Admiral, one of their Rear Admirals, and another 60 Gun Ship, which were to Windward of the _Barfleur_, bore down and gave her three Broadsides, and then clapt upon a Wind, standing in for the land; the Admiral in the _Barfleur_ stood after them till it was almost Night, but it being little Wind ... he left pursuing them and stood away to the Fleet again, which he found two Hours after Night. The _Essex_ took the _Juno_, the _Montague_ and _Rupert_ took the _Volante_; Vice Admiral _Cornwall_ followed the _Grafton_ to support her ... Rear Admiral Delaval with the _Royal Oak_ chas'd two Ships that went away more Leewardly than the rest, one of them said to be Rear Admiral Crammock, a Scotch or Irish _Renegade_, who had serv'd several years in the English Fleet; but we not having seen them since, know not the Success.[2]