wenty-nine shillings.

The frigate now came out of dock and warped alongside the hulk, and in
five days she was ready for sea. On the seventh day we sailed to cruise
off Cherbourg, and to join a squadron of frigates under Captain Saumerez.
The enemy had three large class frigates fitting out at Havre de Grace and
two others at Cherbourg. Our squadron consisted of five frigates and a
lugger.

At this period, 1794, Cherbourg, although a strong place, was nearly an
open roadstead, and we frequently stood in so close as to oblige the outer
vessels at anchor to run farther in.

Having cruised along the French coast for five weeks watching the progress
of the enemy's frigates, which appeared very slow, we, in carrying sail
after a small vessel, sprung our fore and mizzen top-masts, and were
ordered to Guernsey, where we shortly after anchored in Castle Cornet
roads. Whilst we remained here some of the mids and myself had permission
to go on shore. After rambling about the town without meeting with any
object worth attention, we crossed over to some small, rocky islands, and
having two fowling-pieces with us we shot four large rabbits; their hair
was very soft and long. The inhabitants, who are neither English nor
French, but speak both languages in a corrupt manner, fabricate gloves and
socks from the fur of these animals. I bought two pairs of the former, but
they did not last long; the hair constantly came out on my clothes, and
when once they are wet they become useless.

On the fifth day after quitting the squadron we rejoined them in Cancale
Bay. At daylight next morning our signal was made to chase an enemy's
lugger in shore. We were gaining rapidly on her when she ran in between
some rocks; we then prepared the boats to attack and bring her out, but as
we stood in for that purpose we found the water suddenly shoal, and a
battery we had not perceived opened its fire on us. We were obliged to
haul off, but not before we had fired several shot at both lugger and
battery. The latter again fired and knocked away our mizzen top-gallant
mast. We bore up and gave it a broadside, and could see pieces of rock
near it fly in all directions. The signal was made to recall us, and soon
after we rejoined the squadron. For more than two months had we been
tantalized by cruising in this monotonous manner, with little hope of the
sailing of the frigates we were blockading, when the commodore ordered
another frigate, ourselves, and th