and compelled her to
strike. The French vessels, and our batteries, have likewise
received a good deal of damage; but they are already in a course
of repair; and the most active dispositions are making in order
to cause the enemy to repent, should he have any intention of
renewing the action with troops so animated and well-conducted
as ours and the French have proved themselves in the engagement
of the 6th.

The French account of this action, as we have already noticed, was
still more exaggerated than the Spanish; and, unfortunately for the
friends and relatives of the Admiral, officers, and men of the
squadron, it made its way to England some time previously to the
_true_ accounts,--causing much uneasiness. The _Moniteur_ announced
that

On the 5th July, at eight o'clock in the morning, the cannonade
commenced against six English ships, which lost no time in
coming within musket-shot of the French vessels. The action then
became very warm. These two squadrons seemed equally animated
with a determination to conquer. If the French squadron had any
advantage in point of situation, the English had double their
force, and several of their vessels had ninety guns each:
already had the English ship, Hannibal, of seventy-four guns,
contrived to place herself between the French squadron and the
shore. It was now eleven o'clock A.M., and this proved the
decisive moment. For two hours the Formidable, the French
Admiral's ship, successfully opposed three English ships.

One of the British squadron, which was singly engaged with a
French vessel, struck her colours at three-quarters past eleven.
Immediately after, the Hannibal, exposed to the fire of three
French ships, which fired from two decks, also struck her
colours: about half-past twelve, the English squadron cut their
cables, and sailed away. The Hannibal was boarded by the
Formidable. Of six hundred men, who composed her crew, three
hundred were killed. The first ship that struck her colours was
retaken by a great number of gun-boats, and other vessels, sent
out from Gibraltar. This action covers the French arms with
glory, and shows what they are capable of accomplishing.
Rear-admiral Linois _proceeded to Cadiz with the Hannibal, in
order to repair her damage_.[37] We wait with impatience the
returns of the loss sustained by each ship.

[37] This was a gratuitous