mutual support; a signal which Captain Hamilton instantly answered, and strove his utmost to execute ; but the French admiral, seeing the British ship's intentions, hauled more to the starboard, and, with the aid of his second, who now began firing at intervals, compelled the Canada to resume her course.

The Alexander continued firing her stern-chase guns until nearly 11 a.m. ; when the advanced ship of the three in chase of her (believed to have been the Jean-Bart) ran up and brought the British ship to close action. So well-directed a fire in return was opened by the Alexander, that, in half an hour, the French 74 was compelled to sheer off and call a frigate to her assistance. The French commodore, in the Tigre, next advanced, but would not come fairly alongside : notwithstanding which, the Alexander, in about half an hour, shot away the head of the Tigre's main topmast, her main yard in the slings, and her mizen topmast. A third ship now took the latter's place, and used her endeavours to compel the Alexander to surrender.

This unequal conflict the British 74 sustained until some minutes past 1 p.m. ; by which time she had her main yard, spanker-boom, and three topgallant yards shot away, her three lower masts shot through in many places, all the other masts and yards more or less wounded, nearly the whole of the standing and running rigging cut to pieces, her sails torn into ribands, her hull shattered, and on fire in several places, and her hold nearly filled with water. The other ships, also, which had quitted her consort, were rapidly advancing, and the French admiral already threw his shot over her. Captain Bligh, therefore, justly deemed any further efforts as a needless waste of lives, and ordered the colours of the Alexander to be hauled down.

As far as could be ascertained, the Alexander's loss amounted to about 40 men in killed and wounded ; including, among the latter, one lieutenant of marines, the boatswain, and pilot. The Canada, owing to the high firing of the French, sustained very little damage and no loss, and reached a home-port in safety. According to the French papers, the Alexander's two principal opponents were very much disabled, and sustained between them a loss in killed and wounded amounting to 450 officers and men.

Escorted by the squadron of M. Nielly, the Alexander proceeded to Brest, and, as a proof that her damages were of the most serious kind, was with difficulty floated into the harbour. Captain, or rather Rear-admiral Bligh (for he had been promoted during his absence), in his letter to the admiralty, of date November 23, states that he was treated by his captors with great kindness and humanity ; but it would otherwise appear, that the acts of the French authorities at Brest toward the Alexander's late officers and crew were quite of an opposite