The Thames could steer but one course, and that was right before the wind. Judging that the Uranie would certainly renew the contest, as soon as she was in a state to bear down, Captain Cotes commenced refitting the Thames, in order to receive her. The British crew had been so busied in their various duties, that they had scarcely bestowed a glance beyond their own ship; and at 4 p.m., when inquiries were made after the Uranie, not a person, either on deck or in the tops, could see any thing of her : and yet it did not appear possible that, under every advantage of sailing, she could have gained a distance to be completely out of sight.

Soon afterwards four sail made their appearance, and came up fast, under English colours. The wind had by this time freshened from the south-west; and the Thames, being without any after-sail, and having her runners all carried forward and crossed, to serve both as stays and shrouds, was not able to haul upon a wind. On this, one of the frigates ranged up under her stern, and gave her a broadside. The Thames then brought to, hailed that she was in a defenceless state from a previous action, and struck her colours to the French 40-gun frigate Carmagnole, Captain Zacharie-Jacques-Théodore Allemand, having in her company the 36-gun frigates Résolue and Sémillante, and 16 gun brig-corvette Espiègle. M. Allemand ordered Captain Cotes to send his boat on board the Carmagnole; but, the Thames not having any boat fit to take the water, nor even the means of hoisting one out, the Carmagnole had to send one of her boats to take possession of the prize.

The French commodore inquired particularly the description of the Thames's late opponent: it was given to him as minutely as possible. He then said that she was the Uranie, a frigate of his squadron, which, two days before, had gone in chase of a yellow-sided brig. He was informed that such a vessel, apparently either a Spanish packet or small brig of war, had been seen in her company: whereupon he expressed himself highly indignant at the captain of the Uranie ; declaring, that the latter ought to have annihilated the Thames in half the time.

The Thames, being taken in tow by the Carmagnole, was conducted to Brest, where she arrived on the following day. Her surgeon had been removed from her on the preceding evening, and the wounded of her crew remained unattended for three days; at the end of which time they were transported to the hospital. The British officers and men were completely pillaged by the French crew, over whom the French officers had little or no control : it is, however, but fair to state, that the latter did all in their power to mitigate the sufferings of their prisoners.

Several of the officers late belonging to the Thames resided two years at Brest, and, naturally enough, made the most diligent inquiries after the frigate that had engaged them, but never could hear the least tidings of her. Coupling this circumstance with the Uranie's sudden abandonment of the action, and