ae 36 800
La Felicite 36 800
La Terreur. 12 144
--- ----
Total 192 5056

Thus it appears that the French were 100 guns, and 3556 pounds in
weight of metal, superior to the English squadron.

This exploit, which has been justly considered by every officer of the
navy a masterpiece of professional skill, as well as of presence of
mind and intrepidity, should be more particularly related than in the
above very modest public letter. The superiority of the enemy being
much too great to be opposed with any chance of success, it became the
imperative duty of Saumarez to effect, if possible, the escape of his
ships, to which the enemy immediately gave chase. Observing that his
own ship and the Druid had the advantage in sailing, and that the
Eurydice, which was not only in bad condition but a bad sailer, would
fall into their hands, he shortened sail, and having ordered the
Eurydice by signal to push for Guernsey, he contrived, by occasionally
showing a disposition to engage, to amuse the enemy, and lead him off
until the Eurydice was safe. He now tacked, and, in order to save the
Druid, closed with the enemy, passing along their line; and the
capture of the Crescent seemed at one time inevitable. The Druid
meanwhile made her escape, with the Eurydice, into Guernsey Roads.

But Sir James Saumarez had for his own preservation a scheme which, in
the first instance, required great courage; in the second, a perfect
knowledge of a most dangerous and intricate channel; and, in the last,
a consummate skill in the management of his ship. He was himself well
acquainted with the coast, and possessed an experienced pilot, John
Breton, a native, whose house was on that extremity of the island. As
soon therefore as the other two ships were secure, he bore up as if to
run his ship on the rocks, to avoid capture. Ordering his pilot to
steer the Crescent through a narrow passage between the rocks, which
had never before been attempted by a ship of her size, and defying the
enemy to follow him, he reached the anchorage in safety,[10] to the no
small surprise and mortification of the French, who, after firing some
time over the rocks at the ship, were obliged, by the shot of the
Crescent and that of the batteries, to give up the contest.

[10] See Engraving and Diagram.

It is worthy of remark tha