RITISH. FRENCH.
A--Audacious. 1--Guerrier.
B--Bellerophon. 2--Conquerant.
C--Culloden (aground). 3--Spartiate.
D--Defence. 4--Aquilon.
E--Majestic. 5--Peuple Souverain.
F--Alexander. 6--Franklin.
G--Goliath. 7--L'Orient.
L--Leander. 8--Tonnant.
M--Minotaur. 9--Heureux.
O--Orion. 10--Mercure.
S--Swiftsure. 11--Guillaume Tell.
T--Theseus. 12--Genereux.
V--Vanguard. 13--Timoleon.
Z--Zealous. 14--Serieuse.
+*--Serieuse, dismasted by 15--Artemise.
the Orion, and sunk at 14. 16--Justice.
I--Island of Aboukir. 17--Diane.
Y--Shallow water.
At seven o'clock the headmost ships were dismasted; a fire-raft was
observed dropping down from them on the Orion. Her stern-boat having
been shot through, and the others being on the booms, it was
impossible to have recourse to the usual method of towing it clear:
booms were then prepared to keep it off. As it approached, however,
the current carried it about twenty-five yards clear of the ship.
About half-past eight, just as the Peuple Souverain, which had been
the Orion's opponent, had dropped to leeward, a suspicious ship was
seen approaching the Orion in the vacant space which the vanquished
one had occupied. Many on board were convinced of her being a
fire-ship of the enemy, and Sir James was urged to allow the guns to
be turned upon her. Happily he himself had stronger doubts of her
being such than those who pressed the reverse. He ordered a vigilant
watch to be kept on her movements; and when the darkness dispersed,
she was discovered to be the Leander. Distinguishing lights were
hoisted, and the Orion continued to engage Le Franklin from fifty
minutes past six o'clock to a quarter before ten. The action was
general, and kept up on both sides with perseverance and vigour, when
the enemy's fire began to slacken, and the three-decker was discovered
to be on fire. At ten the firing ceased; the ship opposed to the Orion
having surrendered, as also all the van of the enemy.
Preparations were now made to secure the ships from the effects of the
expected explosion.--The
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