Thanks to the fact that nowadays more and more books are digitized we are able to read books that are some times for decades no longer available for the public for several reasons. That’s quite a pity while these books contains useful information while the archives are destroyed, incomplete or nor accessible.
In a letter written on board of the Miranda in the harbour of Malaga 30 May 1856. he gave some details about Spanish gunboats.”
p. 42: “The King of Portugal, or ex-King, the cousin of Prince Albert, is here at Malaga, and our next-door neighbour in the harbour (we as being of the R.Y. Squadron of Great Britain lie on the best side of the harbour among the men-of-war, and on the opposite side to that occupied by merchantmen); he is going incog, to Granada on a visit. On Tuesday evening, from 10 P.M. till past midnight, the harbour round us was most gay; one of the Spanish gunboats lying on the other side of us illuminated from stem to stern with coloured lamps, and then took on board a garrison band, and swept round us and came between us and the Portuguese man-of-war to serenade the King; so we had the benefit of the whole of it, as if we had been ourselves serenaded.
These Spanish gunboats lead no idle life: they are small and draw but very little water, but have one heavy gun amidships, and are crammed with men; they can spread an enormous amount of canvass, are lugger-rigged, and as able to make the most of cat's-paws of wind as any vessels afloat; and besides their sails they can use oars; several on either side, each worked by three or four men, can sweep the little craft along in the stillest weather. The object of all this motive power is the capture of smugglers, who abound on this shore : every evening about sunset on one or other of the gunboats we can see signs of animated life; sails are spread or oars are got out, and the pretty little vessel gracefully leaves our side on its night-duty of watching the shores.
Source
Reverend Hamlet Clark. Letters home from Spain, Algeria, and Brazil, during past entomological rambles. London, 1868.
In a letter written on board of the Miranda in the harbour of Malaga 30 May 1856. he gave some details about Spanish gunboats.”
p. 42: “The King of Portugal, or ex-King, the cousin of Prince Albert, is here at Malaga, and our next-door neighbour in the harbour (we as being of the R.Y. Squadron of Great Britain lie on the best side of the harbour among the men-of-war, and on the opposite side to that occupied by merchantmen); he is going incog, to Granada on a visit. On Tuesday evening, from 10 P.M. till past midnight, the harbour round us was most gay; one of the Spanish gunboats lying on the other side of us illuminated from stem to stern with coloured lamps, and then took on board a garrison band, and swept round us and came between us and the Portuguese man-of-war to serenade the King; so we had the benefit of the whole of it, as if we had been ourselves serenaded.
These Spanish gunboats lead no idle life: they are small and draw but very little water, but have one heavy gun amidships, and are crammed with men; they can spread an enormous amount of canvass, are lugger-rigged, and as able to make the most of cat's-paws of wind as any vessels afloat; and besides their sails they can use oars; several on either side, each worked by three or four men, can sweep the little craft along in the stillest weather. The object of all this motive power is the capture of smugglers, who abound on this shore : every evening about sunset on one or other of the gunboats we can see signs of animated life; sails are spread or oars are got out, and the pretty little vessel gracefully leaves our side on its night-duty of watching the shores.
Source
Reverend Hamlet Clark. Letters home from Spain, Algeria, and Brazil, during past entomological rambles. London, 1868.
