-opened our fire, and the engagement became general;
at 9h. 15m. passed the Venerable, and came to with the
sheet-anchor in nine fathoms,--the sheet-cable became
_taut_,--let go the best bower to steady the ship,--Spencer and
Hannibal passed under our lee,--hailed them to get the boats
ahead, and tow into action,--light airs; at 9h. 35m. the Spencer
opened her fire; at 9h. 40m. the Hannibal, do.--our spanker-boom
shot away; at 10h. 20m. sent boats to the Pompee and Hannibal;
at 10h. 26m. made the Hannibal's signal to tack,--saw the Pompee
had broke her sheer, apparently by a flaw of wind, and was raked
by the French Admiral; at 10h. 30m. made the Pompee's signal to
cut or slip; at 10h. 35m., a breeze springing up from the N.W.,
cut our cable, wore, and made sail, engaging the enemy's ships
while passing them; at 10h. 50m. the Hannibal opened her fire on
the French Admiral; at 10h. 52m. made the signal for the
squadron to come to,--the wind on the starboard tack; at 11h.
5m. made the signal for the boats to tow the Pompee,--Caesar
engaging the southernmost ships,--Audacious, ditto,--Caesar
opened her fire on the island battery,--Audacious and Caesar
becalmed near the island reef,--boats employed towing the ship's
head round; afternoon,--light winds and variable
weather,--engaging the enemy; at 12h. 33m. made the signal for
the Hannibal being aground,--employed engaging the southernmost
ship; at 1h. 17m. Audacious wore,--made the signal for
armed-boats to proceed as denoted; at 1h. 35m. the action
ceased,--found the main-mast shot through in five places, (and
other damage which need not be mentioned,) nine men killed,
twenty-five wounded, and seven missing; at 5h. came-to at
Gibraltar, with the small bower employed warping alongside of
the sheer hulk.

The Venerable's log, which we have examined at the depot at Deptford,
and which is signed by Captain Hood, fully corroborates the above,
with the addition,--"At 12h. 40m. sent the first lieutenant in the
pinnace to assist the Hannibal;" and this officer (Lieutenant Collis)
in his own journal mentions the same fact. When he arrived at the
Hannibal, she was in possession of the enemy; and he was taken
prisoner, with his boat's crew, by persisting to go on board after he
was warned by Lieutenant (now Colonel) Connolly, of the Marines. He
says it was in consequence of the ensign being rever