h through and through her, and the
mainmast began to totter. Fortunately, I kept way on the
Foudroyant: and was, though with infinite difficulty, able to wear,
and give him as compleat a dose from the larboard as we had done
from the starboard side; and, down came his mainmast. The action
then continued, with great obstinacy. A man, in the heat of the
fire, nailed the French ensign on the stump of the mainmast. By
this time, our fore topmast was over the side, main topsail down,
yard shot away, mizen top-gallant mast and main-sail--indeed, every
sail--in tatters. The enemy's mizen-mast was gone; which enabled
him to wear, and draw ahead of us. His men were on deck, very
active in clearing away the wreck, regardless of the fire; and they
fixed a small French admiral's flag on the stump of the mizen mast,
over another ensign nailed there, which seemed to bid defiance to
us. At half past seven we had separated a little, our head to his
stern. The Lion gave him many broadsides; but he preferred firing
at us, when a gun would bear. I threw out the Penelope's pendants,
who had just raked the enemy, and got her within hail; and begged
that Blackwood would take me in tow, and get me once more close
along-side the William Tell: which he was in the act of
performing--for, when I watched a favourable moment to call the
people from the main-deck guns, and filled the main-sail, and
secured the mizen-mast; and, with a few rugs forward (the
sprit-sail yard, jib-boom, &c. being all shot away) got her before
the wind, and had the happiness to get once more close along-side
of her, the action then began again, with more obstinacy than
before. Our guns were admirably well served, and well directed,
crashing through and through her. At eight, I began to think they
were _determined_ to sink, rather than surrender; as she began to
settle in the water, till her fore-mast went over the side: when,
in a few minutes after, the gallant Decres struck, having four
hundred killed and wounded--so the prisoners report. I felt my
heart expand, when I took this brave man by the hand; happy to
find, he had survived so much honour. When you consider the
superiority of three ships--the Lion, Foudroyant, Penelope, and the
two brigs in company with the Strombolo; though the latter, of