Oración Fúnebre que en las Exequias Celebradas el Día 21 de Noviembre del Año de 1805 en la iglesia del convento de Nuestra Señora del Carmen de la Ciudad de Cádiz, por los Excelentísimos Señores Comandantes de la Esquadra Combinada D. Federico Gravina y Mr. Rosselli, de acuerdo y en unión con el de la Provincia, Marqués de la Solana, en sufragio de los que murieron en el combate del 21 de Octubre dl mismo año... (Battle of Trafalgar).

Address given at the funeral mass celebrated in the maritime city in Cadiz for the souls of those fallen in the Battle of Trafalgar by Manuel de Cos, prebend of the cathedral. Although much of the address is given over to questions of catholic theology, and biblical references, it includes various references to concrete details of the battle itself, which had occurred only a few weeks earlier. Cos refers to 'el Almirante Nelson' as 'el más valiente, y el más intrépido General de la Armada Británica...' (the bravest and most intrepid general of the British navy), and talks of his death in the battle: 'his country will weep for the loss of so famous a warrior, and the combined squadron [the Spanish and French navies] will consider one of its greatest feats that it freed the two nations of such a formidable enemy, who threatened them with further harm...' He goes on to talk of Nelson's failed (but highly destructive attack on Cadiz in 1797, and the damage suffered by the British fleet. The notes contain an interesting two page description of the aftermath of the battle: the storm that further damages the French and Spanish fleets, and the provisions for the wounded seamen in the city. Gravina, (1756 - 1806) was commander of the Spanish fleet at Trafalgar; his left arm was shattered during the battle and he died the following year without having recovered from his wounds.

Contemporary Spanish calf.

Stamp on title page ('Biblioteca particular - Private library'), otherwise an atttractive copy of this unusual contemporary text, published only a few weeks after the Battle of Trafalgar. Rare. Only 9 copies in CCPB and WorldCat. Palau 63520.