f the Channel fleet, which we joined off
the Island of Ushant, consisting of thirty-six sail of the line and seven
frigates.

At daylight on the 6th of October, 1794, our signal was made to chase
three suspicious vessels in the S.W. On nearing them we made the private
signal, which they did not answer. We beat to quarters, and as they were
under the same sail as when we first saw them, we neared them fast, and
when within gunshot the nearest yawed and gave us a broadside, running up
a French ensign, as did the other two. The shot fell short of us; we
opened our main-deck guns and brought down her mizzen top-mast. The other
two fired from time to time at us with little effect. They did not support
their companion as they ought to have done. In a short time we were nearly
alongside the one we had engaged, and gave her another broadside which she
returned, and struck her colours. She proved the _Gentille_, of forty-four
guns and three hundred and eighty men. The other two, also French frigates
of the same size, made all sail to the southwards. The enemy had eight men
killed and fifteen wounded; we had four men wounded. We soon exchanged the
prisoners; put the second lieutenant, a master's mate, three midshipmen
and fifty men on board her, and sent her to Portsmouth. We immediately
made sail in chase of the others, but as they had gained a considerable
distance from us during the time we were exchanging the prisoners, there
was little chance, without a change of wind, of overtaking them. In the
middle watch we lost sight of them, and the day after rejoined the fleet.
In five days afterwards we were again in chase of a ship, and after a
severe tug of fourteen hours we captured her. She proved a French
twenty-four-gun ship, with one hundred and sixty-five men. We also sent
her into Portsmouth. After having cruised off and on near Ushant for about
eight weeks, we were ordered to Portsmouth, where we arrived shortly
afterwards and completed our stores for six months. Before sailing we
received some prize-money, which produced, from stem to stern, little
wisdom, much fun, and more folly. We were again ready for sea, and
received orders to repair off Plymouth and join part of the Channel fleet
and a convoy consisting of more than two hundred sail, bound to different
parts of the world. In a few days we joined the rest of the fleet off Cape
Finisterre, where some of the convoy parted company. The day following a
most tremendous gal