and
instantly sank. The _Superbe_ shared a similar fate alongside of the
_Royal George_. Lord Howe having got clear, bore down and attacked the
_Hero_ so furiously that he soon compelled her to strike. During the
night, which proved very boisterous, she drove on shore and was lost.
The enemy then endeavoured to make their escape; some succeeded, but
several got ashore, as did the _Essex_ and _Resolution_, but their crews
were saved. The French admiral's ship, the _Soleil Royal_, had in the
dark anchored in the midst of the British fleet, on discovering which he
cut his cable, when he drove ashore. On the weather moderating the
boats of the squadron were sent in to destroy the French ships. The
_Soleil Royal_ was set on fire by her own crew, and the _Hero_ by the
British boats. _La Juste_, of 70 guns, was also wrecked, but seven of
the French ships, by throwing overboard their guns and stores, escaped
into the river Yillaine.

The remnant of this fleet, under M. de Thurot, a celebrated privateer
commander, escaped out of Dunkirk for the purpose of making a descent on
the northern coast of England or Ireland. After taking shelter during
the winter on the coast of Norway, he appeared with three frigates
before the town of Carrickfergus, which he attacked and laid under
contribution. Having supplied his ships with such necessaries as they
were in need of, he re-embarked his men and took his departure. At that
time Captain John Elliot, who was lying at Kinsale in the _Aeolus_, with
the _Pallas_ and _Brilliant_ under his command, on hearing that M. de
Thurot was on the coast, put to sea, and fortunately came up with him
off the Isle of Man. A close action was maintained for an hour and
a-half, when the gallant Thurot and a large number of his men being
killed, the three frigates struck their colours. His own ship, the
_Marechal Belleisle_, was so shattered that it was with difficulty she
could be kept afloat. _La Blonde_ and _Terpsichore_ were added to the
British Navy.

The French at this time built a number of vessels on a new construction,
to which they gave the name of prames. They were about a hundred feet
long, quite flat-bottomed, and capable of carrying four or five hundred
men. They were to be employed in transporting troops over for the
invasion of England. Admiral Rodney fell in with and destroyed a number
of them off Havre-de-Grace.

During this year the French took 330 ships from the English, w