ing changed towards the south about daylight, and the French
frigate being unable to fetch back to Cherbourg, broke off with her
head to the eastward, while the Crescent, by coming up on the opposite
tack, was enabled to weather and get in shore of the enemy.

Shortly after day-break Captain Saumarez saw two sail standing on the
starboard tack towards the Crescent, and it appears that they had
approached her within two miles before they discovered themselves to
be under the lee of an English frigate: they then tacked and made all
sail, either for the purpose of trying to escape, or to approach
nearer to Cherbourg, that they might have the assistance of their
consort then in the harbour with her sails hoisted up. It was soon
evident that the Crescent, now "clean out of dock," had the advantage
in sailing; and, by half-past ten, Captain Saumarez, by edging down,
took his position on the enemy's larboard quarter within pistol-shot,
when the action began.

Captain John Tancock, who was then a midshipman stationed on the
main-deck, says that the men had directions to fire at the rudder of
their opponent, which was very soon disabled, while the
main-topsail-yard and fore-yard were both shot away. The enemy fired
so high that scarcely any shot struck the hull of the Crescent; but,
consequently, her fore-topsail-yard, and soon afterwards her
fore-top-mast, fell over the starboard gangway. Hitherto the ship had
been kept in her first position by backing and filling the
mizen-topsail, but now she came to, and eventually _came round_: but
Captain Saumarez, whose presence of mind never forsook him, brailed up
the mizen, and, by keeping all the square-sails aback, gave the ship a
_stern-board_; at the same time, by keeping the _helm up_, she wore
round on her heel, obtaining a position under the stern and on the
starboard quarter, while the enemy was lying with his yards square and
totally unmanageable. This manoeuvre is shown in the diagram, to
which an explanation is added.

Illustration:

C. The Crescent. R. The Reunion. 1. Commencement of the
action. 2. The Crescent's track in wearing on her heel. 3. The
position when the Reunion struck.

In passing under the enemy's stern, it was observed that his colours
had been shot away, and, supposing he had struck, the firing ceased;
but, on coming round on the starboard quarter, the enemy again opened
his fire. The Crescent, having now got her larboard guns to bear,
returned his b