top-gallant sails, gib, and maintopmast staysails. At one, heard
guns to the eastward, saw false fires; then, some rockets. Put the
helm up; brought those rockets, and false fires, to bear two points
on the weather-bow; could then carry royal and top-gallant
stay-sails, and reefed fore top-mast studding-sail. Got her to go
ten and a half and eleven knots occasionally. Every now and then,
saw the flashes of guns; kept steering a steady course, east
north-east; set the lower studding-sail occasionally: frequently
obliged to take in the royal and top-gallant stay-sails. We gained
rapidly on the firing and rockets. Were convinced, at three
o'clock, there was a running fight, of some sort. Thought it never
would be day-light. Praying, earnestly, for you to fly on board. At
last, day-light came. Saw a ship, firing into a ship with the main
and mizen-topmast gone; and a ship going athwart her, firing. She
wore, and the Lion was to leeward. At this time, her running
rigging much cut, and appeared very ungovernable; firing,
occasionally, at the William Tell; which I was surprised to see was
not returned by the enemy, as they were within gun-shot. But it was
not long, ere I had good reason to know that a most tremendous
broadside was reserved for me. Began to shorten sail, hauled the
main-sail up, and had every gun loaded with three round shot. She
was on the larboard, I on the starboard, tack; I, therefore,
steered as if meaning to go to windward of her: but, determined to
go close to leeward, kept the weather leeches of the main and mizen
topsail lifting; and, at six, backed the main topsail, running as
close as possible, to avoid touching. I went on the gangway, and
desired the French admiral, who I distinctly saw, to strike; which
he answered, by brandishing his sword, and firing a musket at me;
and fired a most tremendous broadside in, of round, grape,
musketry, and langridge. The good effects of being so close, was
manifest. It was only our sails and rigging that suffered
considerably, as not one running rope was left. But, if what we
received was tremendous, our return was furious; and not to be
stood against, but by determined veterans. The obvious effects,
silenced his musketry; but not the great guns: though we could
distinctly hear the shot cras