cut her
cables, to avoid the fire of L'Orient. The English ship that was on
L'Orient's larboard quarter, as soon as she had done firing at her,
brought her broadside on Le Tonnant's bow, and kept up a very heavy
raking fire. L'Heureux, and Le Mercure, conceived that they ought
likewise to cut their cables. The manoeuvre created so much
confusion amongst the rear ships, that they fired into each other,
and did considerable damage. Le Tonnant anchored ahead of the
Guillaume Tell; Le Genereux and Timoleon, the other two ships, got
on shore. The ship that engaged Le Tonnant on her bow cut her
cables; all her rigging and sails were cut to pieces; and she drove
down, and anchored astern of the English ship, that had been
engaging L'Heureux and Le Mercure before they changed their
position. Those of the etat-major and ship's company of L'Orient,
who had escaped death, convinced of the impossibility of
extinguishing the fire, which had got down on the middle gun-deck,
endeavoured to save themselves. Rear-Admiral Ganteaume saved
himself in a boat, and went on board of Le Salamine; and, from
thence, to Aboukir and Alexandria. The Adjutant-General Motard,
though badly wounded, swam to the ship nearest L'Orient, which
proved to be English. Commodore Casabianca, and his son, who was
only ten years old, and who gave, during the action, proofs of
bravery and intelligence far above his age, were not so fortunate.
They were in the water, on the wreck of L'Orient's masts, not being
able to swim, seeking each other, till three quarters past ten,
when the ship blew up, and put an end to their hopes and fears. The
explosion was dreadful, and spread the fire all around to a
considerable distance. Le Franklin's decks were covered with
red-hot seams, pieces of timber, and rope, on fire. She was on
fire, but luckily got it under. Immediately after the tremendous
explosion, the action ceased every where, and was succeeded by the
most profound silence. The sky was darkened by clouds of black
smoke, which seemed to threaten the destruction of the two fleets.
It was a quarter of an hour before the ships crews recovered from
the kind of stupor into which they had been thrown. Towards eleven
o'clock, Le Franklin, anxious to preserve the trust confided to
her, recommenced th