THE FIGHT OFF CAPE ST. VINCENT THE SCEPTRE OF THE SEA. "Old England's sons are English yet, Old England's hearts are strong;And still she wears her coronetAflame with sword and song.As in their pride our fathers died, If need be, so die we;So wield we still, gainsay who will, The sceptre of the sea. We've Raleighs still for Raleigh's part, We've Nelsons yet unknown;The pulses of the Lion-HeartBeat on through Wellington.Hold, Britain, hold thy creed of old, Strong foe and steadfast friend, And still unto thy motto true, ...
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THE FIGHT OFF CAPE ST. VINCENT THE SCEPTRE OF THE SEA. "Old England's sons are English yet, Old England's hearts are strong;And still she wears her coronetAflame with sword and song.As in their pride our fathers died, If need be, so die we;So wield we still, gainsay who will, The sceptre of the sea. We've Raleighs still for Raleigh's part, We've Nelsons yet unknown;The pulses of the Lion-HeartBeat on through Wellington.Hold, Britain, hold thy creed of old, Strong foe and steadfast friend, And still unto thy motto true, 'Defy not, but defend.' Men whisper that our arm is weak, Men say our blood is cold, And that our hearts no longer speakThat clarion note of old;But let the spear and sword draw nearThe sleeping lion's den, Our island shore shall start once moreTo life, with armed men."-HERMAN CHARLES MERIVALE. On the night of February 13, 1797, an English fleet of fifteen ships of the line, in close order and in readiness for instant battle, was under easy sail off Cape St. Vincent. It was a moonless night, black with haze, and the great ships moved in silence like gigantic spectres over the sea. Every now and again there came floating from the south-east the dull sound of a far-off gun. It was the grand fleet of Spain, consisting of twenty-seven ships of line, under Admiral Don Josef de Cordova; one great ship calling to another through the night, little dreaming that the sound of their guns was so keenly noted by the eager but silent fleet of their enemies to leeward. The morning of the 14th-a day famous in the naval history of the empire-broke dim and hazy; grey sea, grey fog, grey dawn, making all things strangely obscure. At half-past six, however, the keen-sighted British outlooks caught a glimpse of the huge straggling line of Spaniards, stretching apparently through miles of sea haze. "They are thumpers!" as the signal lieutenant of the Barfleur reported with emphasis to his captain; "they loom like Beachy Head in a fog!" The Spanish fleet was, indeed, the mightiest ever sent from Spanish ports since "that great fleet invincible" of 1588 carried into the English waters-but not out of them!- "The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of Spain." The Admiral's flag was borne by the Santissima Trinidad, a floating mountain, the largest ship at that time on the sea, and carrying on her four decks 130 guns. Next came six three-deckers carrying 112 guns each, two ships of the line of 80 guns each, and seventeen carrying 74 guns, with no less than twelve 34-gun frigates to act as a flying cordon of skirmishers. Spain had joined France against England on September 12, 1796, and Don Cordova, at the head of this immense fleet, had sailed from Cadiz to execute a daring and splendid strategy. He was to pick up the Toulon fleet, brush away the English squadron blockading Brest, add the great French fleet lying imprisoned there to his forces, and enter the British Channel with above a hundred sail of the line under his flag, and sweep in triumph to the mouth of the Thames!...
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Add this copy of Deeds that Won the Empire Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $8.04, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2015 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $16.00, good condition, Sold by Common Crow Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Pittsburgh, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1909 by Smith, Elder, & Co.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Gilt and silver stamped blue cloth boards, octavo, 328pp., illustrated in b&w. Book has rubbing and wear to boards and spine, binding tight, endpapers show toning and insect damage, crudely removed plate from front pastedown, text clean and unmarked, gilt to top edge of text block. No DJ.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $19.45, poor condition, Sold by Anybook rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Lincoln, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1898 by Smith, Elder.
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Seller's Description:
This is an ex-library book and may have the usual library/used-book markings inside. This book has hardback covers. In poor condition, suitable as a reading copy. Octavo. Green cloth covers with gilt lettering on backstrip and front cover. Coloured decorative stamping on front cover depicting two medals on a ribbon. Bumped corners and scuffed edges. Covers coming loose. Frontispiece of Wellington protected by a tissue guard. Foxing. Loose binding. Please note the Image in this listing is a stock photo and may not match the covers of the actual item, 750grams, ISBN:
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $19.72, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2022 by Legare Street Press.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire; : Historic Battle Scenes, to cart. $19.92, good condition, Sold by Books On The Run rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Ocala, FL, UNITED STATES.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $25.16, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2012 by Tredition Classics.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $27.01, good condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publis.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $29.16, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2022 by Legare Street Press.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic Battle Scenes to cart. $31.71, new condition, Sold by Ria Christie Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Uxbridge, MIDDLESEX, UNITED KINGDOM, published 2022 by Legare Street Press.
Add this copy of Deeds That Won the Empire: Historic battle scenes to cart. $32.12, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2017 by Hansebooks.
