of thirty-six guns and three
hundred and forty men, who, after exchanging a few shot without doing us
any mischief, struck her colours. She was from St. Domingo, with General
F. on board, bound to Brest. Her second captain appeared a very delicate
young person, and during the four days he was on board he never slept in
the cot provided for him in the captain's cabin, but always threw himself
down on the sofa in his clothes. We all conjectured that, as a son of Erin
might say, he was a woman, which idea after the prisoners left us, was
confirmed by the captain's steward, who had been bribed to secrecy during
the passage to Plymouth. The lady was the daughter of the captain of the
captured frigate in disguise.

Having seen our prize into Hamoaze, and taken our officers and men out of
her, we left her in charge of the prize agent, and repaired to our station
off Ushant. We joined the fleet, consisting of thirteen sail of the line
and two frigates. We looked into Brest roads, and could discover only
eight sail of the enemy's line of battle ships, with their top-gallant
yards crossed; nine others were coming forward. Four more sail of the line
having joined our fleet, we were directed to part company and cruise off
Vigo Bay. Soon after we fell in with the _Venerable_. Having the watch on
deck, the captain desired the signalman to hoist the dog-a-tory pendant
over the dinner signal. The man scratched his head and made wide eyes at
one of the midshipmen, requesting him to tell him what the captain meant.
"By Jove!" said the mid, "if you do not bear a hand and get the signal
ready, he will make you a dog-of-a-wig instead of a Tory." Seeing the man
at a pause, I asked him if he had the signal ready. "Yes, sir," replied
he; "I have the telegraph dinner flags ready, but I do not know what the
dog-a-tory pennant is; it must be in the boatswain's store-room, for I
have never had charge of it." I could not forbear laughing at the man's
explanation. "What's the signalman about?" inquired the captain; "why does
he not hoist the signal?" "He did not know where to find the pendant you
mentioned," replied I. "I have told him you meant the interrogatory
pendant." "To be sure; I said so as plain as I could speak. The fellow
must be stupid not to understand me," continued our deeply-read skipper. A
worthier, better or braver seaman than our noble commander never had the
honour of commanding a King's ship. His zeal and loyalty were
unimpeachab