. This the French little expected,
and many hadn't even their guns loaded on that side.

"Oh! it was a magnificent sight, as on we sailed, receiving a hot fire
from the shore batteries, but not answering a shot, while silently we
furled our sails, and got ready for anchoring. I believe that silence
made the hearts of the Frenchmen quake more than our loudest hurrahs
would have done. It was evening; the sun was just sinking into the
ocean as we entered the bay. The `Goliath' led the way, followed by the
`Zealous,' and then came the `Orion,' all anchoring inside the enemy's
line. The `Vanguard' (our ship) was the first which anchored outside,
within half pistol-shot of the `Spartiate.' We had six colours flying,
just as a sign to the Frenchmen that come what might we were not likely
to strike to them; and now there was very little to be seen but the
flashes and thick smoke from the guns. Other ships followed us outside
the French line, but the greater number were inside. No sooner were our
anchors dropped than we opened fire, our example being followed by the
other ships as they brought up. We blazed away in right earnest; there
was no flinching from our guns. What the Frenchmen were about I cannot
tell, but we seemed to fire two shots to their one; but then their guns
carried heavier metal than ours, and they had many more of them. It was
so dark that we had to get our fighting-lanterns hung up along the
decks. Just fancy us then stripped to the waist, with handkerchiefs
bound round our heads, and straining every nerve as we ran in and out,
and cleaned and loaded our heavy guns, and blazed away as fast as we
could. We were covered, too, with smoke and powder, and before long
most of us were sprinkled pretty thickly with our own or our shipmates'
blood. Such was the sight you would have seen between decks on board
every ship in the action.

"I must tell you what happened in other parts. There was a shoal we had
to pass on our starboard hand. The `Culloden,' the ship of the brave
Captain Troubridge, struck on it when standing in, for by that time the
darkness of night had come on. He instantly made signals which
prevented the other ships, the `Alexander,' `Swiftsure,' and `Leander,'
following, and getting on shore. They did their best to help off the
`Culloden,' but could not get her off so stood on into the battle.
Before even they opened their fire, five of the enemy's ships had
struck. On standing on