"And here," says Nelson in his journal, "it is right we should notice
the noble and generous conduct of Don Juan Antonio Gutierrez, the
Spanish governor. The moment the terms were agreed to, he directed our
wounded men to be received into the hospitals, and all our people to be
supplied with the best provisions that could be procured; and made
it known that the ships were at liberty to send on shore and purchase
whatever refreshments they were in want of during the time they might
be off the island." A youth, by name Don Bernardo Collagon, stripped
himself of his shirt to make bandages for one of those Englishmen
against whom, not an hour before, he had been engaged in battle. Nelson
wrote to thank the governor for the humanity which he had displayed.
Presents were interchanged between them. 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. I hope you will be able to give me a frigate to convey the
remains of my carcass to England." "A left-handed admiral," he said in a
subsequent letter, "will never again be considered as useful; therefore
the sooner I get to a very humble cottage the better, and make room for