ment, and the larger ships were to proceed in afterwards, should
their assistance be found necessary. It was arranged that the troops
should at the same time land and attack the forts on either side of the
harbour. Vice-Admiral Hopson was ordered to lead the van, followed by
Vice-Admiral Vandergoes, Sir George Rooke commanded the centre division,
and Rear-Admiral Graydon brought up the rear. Sir George Rooke spent
the greater part of the night going from ship to ship in his own boat to
ascertain that each captain understood clearly the plan of the attack
and the part he was to take in it.

The following morning, the 12th of October, the squadron got under weigh
and stood in for the harbour. Great was the disappointment of all on
board, when just as the van division had almost reached within gunshot
of the batteries the wind died away, and it was necessary to anchor. A
strong breeze, however, shortly afterwards sprang up, when Vice-Admiral
Hopson, in the "Torbay," cutting his cable, crowded every sail his ship
could carry and bore down upon the boom. The velocity gained by the
ship gave her such power that the boom was snapped in two, and the
"Torbay" was instantly placed between the two French line-of-battle
ships, the "Bourbon" and "Esperance." These two ships immediately
opened a desperate fire upon the "Torbay," which gallantly replied to
them, though most of her men were falling, killed and wounded from the
fierce fire to which she was exposed. Scarcely had the breeze carried
her into this post of danger, than it again fell, and the other ships of
the squadron had considerable difficulty in following her. While they
were endeavouring to get up the harbour, a fire-ship was seen descending
directly for the "Torbay." On it came. The destruction of the "Torbay"
seemed inevitable. Now the flames burst out on either side from the
fire-ship. The brave crew of the "Torbay" instantly lowered their boats
for the purpose of towing her off, but two of the boats were struck and
swamped, and many of those in them were drowned before help could be
rendered by those on board. Just as the flames seemed about to catch
the "Torbay" they suddenly decreased, and were deadened. It seemed
almost like a miracle; but when the men afterwards examined the
fire-ship, she was found to be loaded with snuff, which immediately the
fire reached it completely deadened the flames.

While this event was taking place, Vice-Admiral Vander