batants; and it undoubtedly, was a well-fought battle. Had the second French ship, (for, although the French commander's letter mentions no strange vessel, yet the fact, being noted in the log-book of the Venus, does not admit a doubt,) and which ship was subsequently ascertained to have been the 36-gun frigate Cléopâtre, Captain Jean Mullon, delayed her appearance for about half an hour, the probability is, that the Sémillante, having suffered most in the action, would have become the prize of the Venus. The Cléopâtre crowded sail after the latter; but the Venus being far to windward, and having a smooth sea and a commanding breeze, got clear off; rejoining, at 3 a.m. on the 29th, her consort, the 36-gun frigate Nymphe, from whom, two days previous to the action, she had parted company in chase.

The following account of the meeting between the Hyæna and Concorde is extracted from Captain Schomberg's naval work: " In May, the Hyæna, of 24 guns, and 160 men, commanded by Captain William Hargood, being on a cruise off Hispaniola, fell in with La Concorde, French frigate, of 40 guns and 320 men. After a severe and spirited conflict, in which the Hyæna was dreadfully shattered, her first lieutenant, and many of her crew, killed and wounded, Captain Hargood was obliged to surrender." *

The Hyæna being a ship of no more than 522 tons, mounting twenty-two long 9-pounders on her main deck, and two long 6-pounders, and six or eight ill-constructed useless carronades, 12-pounders, on her quarterdeck and forecastle, with a complement (she being on the peace establishment) of only 120 men and boys, while the Concorde was a regular French 40-gun frigate, mounting, like No. 5 in the table at p. 54, 44 guns in all, an obstinate resistance, on the part of the former, would have reflected the highest honour on the officers and crew of the British vessel; but, unfortunately, Captain Schomberg's account is erroneous in all the more important particulars. The circumstances of the case were these. On the 27th of May, early in the morning, when about two miles off Cape Tiburon, the Hyæna was discovered and chased by the Concorde, the advanced frigate of a French squadron, composed of the Eole and American 74s, and three or four frigates, some of which then, or very soon afterwards, were in sight from the Hyæna's masthead. As soon as she discovered the character of her pursuers, the Hyæna put before a light air of wind, but, being unable to make way against a heavy head sea, was rapidly gained upon. As the Concorde approached her on the quarter, the Hyæna fired a few of her maindeck guns, and then, without waiting, it would appear, to receive any fire in return, hauled down her colours to the French frigate.

On the 11th of October, 1793, on board the Cambridge guardship, in Hamoaze, Captain Hargood and his officers were