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In Feb. 1805, Commander Layman, then a prisoner-of-war at Puerto-Santa-Maria, near Cadiz, made the following report to Lord Nelson:–

“It is my painful duty to narrate to your lordship an event as grievous as unexpected; for having quitted England on the 21st instant, in command of H.M. sloop Raven, charged with despatches for Sir John Orde and your lordship, with directions to put myself under your orders, I arrived at the rendezvous of Sir John Orde’s squadron, from two to ten leagues off Cadiz, on the 28th, with a fresh breeze from the westward, when not seeing any thing of the squadron, I reduced the sail from whole to treble-reefed topsail, and hove-to at 9 ; a few minutes before 10 o’clock, I went upon deck to look round, and desired the lead to be hove; and on the officer of the watch reporting there was not any soundings with 80 fathoms of line, I delivered the following order in writing:–

‘''Memorandum. – January 28th,'' 1805.

‘With the wind westerly lye-to with head to the southward till 4 and then to the northward; keeping the lead going every half hour, and acquaint me if there are soundings, or any alterations.

(Signed)‘.’

“I then retired to my cot, and about 12 o’clock was called by the officer of the watch, and acquainted that he saw the lights of the squadron; but before I could get on my things, the officer came down the ladder, and said they were the lights at Cadiz; at this time he appeared to me flurried. I instantly went on deck, veered ship, and hove the lead; had ten fathoms the first cast, but only five before the vessel was round, and we veered on each tack as the water shoaled; for the night being dark, with heavy rain, and the alarm frequently given of rocks and shoals, it was impossible to anchor, or see our way out till day-light; when I must beg of our lordship to judge of my feelings, in finding we were within the enemy’s ships of war at anchor off Cadiz on one side, as well as the batteries and Fort Santa Catalina on the other, with the wind then blowing strong from the westward, and a very heavy swell; but I was determined the Raven should not be tamely surrendered, and by a press of sail not only cleared the