The Virginia Gazette

ANECDOTE. Captain Fagg, who commanded a privateer mounting twenty guns, twelve pounders, soon after Sir George Rodney had defeated the Spanish fleet, being in want of water, steered his course for Gibraltar; before he arrived there, at some small distance, he saw two chebecks making towards him, one of which he avoided, but had a smart engagement with the other, which he made sheer off; he retired a little himself, till resolved to succeed in his intent, if possible. A 54 gun ship endeavoured to prevent him, but by his knowledge in sailing he took the advantage of the wind, and passed the Spaniard. A second of equal force he served in the same manner. This so enraged the Admiral, that out he sailed in a gore, determined to destroy the insolent Englishman if possible. This attempt was also unsuccessful, for Capt. Fagg, after diverting the Spaniard some time by a variety of manoeuvres, ran alongside the Admiral, poured a whole broadside into him, then sailed off for the bay, and kept firing some of his guns, which he had brought to bear on the astonished Don, till he got under the guns of some of the English forts. As soon as he landed, he was carried by the whole garrison, who had been spectators of the transaction. On being asked how he dared fire into the Spanish Admiral, he replied, it was not his intention, but the sailors being furnished with lighted matches, and standing to their guns ready for action, it was impossible to prevent them from giving one salute.