situation ; perilous, indeed, for the lugger was at an anchor nearly two miles higher up the river than the town of Havre.

Every preparation was now made for an obstinate resistance, as far as the scanty means possessed by the vessel would allow. There was not a round of grape-shot on board, and the match was so bad that it would with difficulty fire the powder. Almost the first step taken by Sir Sidney on his return to the lugger, was to discharge his prisoners, by sending them upon their parole to Honfleur, on the southern bank of the river. The launch that carried them, and another boat, it is believed, then pulled towards and reached the Diamond, still at anchor in the outer road of Havre, and anxiously awaiting the return of her commander.

While the prisoners were embarking in the boats, several shot from the shore reached the Vengeur ; and shortly afterwards a large armed lugger advanced to attack her. To receive the latter to the best advantage, the Vengeur got under way, and eventually beat her off, but not without sustaining a loss of several men wounded, including a young midshipman, Charles Beecroft. A variety of small-craft, filled with troops, now surrounded the Vengeur ; and a furious action commenced chiefly with musketry. No breeze springing up, and the force opposed to him every moment increasing, Sir Sidney was compelled to surrender, with a loss of four of his party killed and seven wounded.

The prisoners thus made, consisting, in consequence of the return of some of the boats, of not more than 20 or 30 officers and men, were landed at Havre, and marched thence to Rouen ; where they were imprisoned. On the 21st Sir Sidney Smith and midshipman John Westley Wright quitted Rouen under an escort, and arrived the next day at Paris. Here, upon a principle that would equally apply to any zealous and enterprising officer belonging to the navy of any belligerent nation, Sir Sidney Smith and Mr. Wright were considered not as prisoners of war, but as prisoners of state. Under the scandalous régime secret, they, on the 3d of July, were removed to the tower of the temple at Paris, and there confined in separate cells. At the end of two years, however, Sir Sidney and his young friend effected their escape (by the connivance, as is thought, of the French government), and arrived in London in the month of May, 1798.

On the 20th of April, in the morning, as Sir Edward Pellew, having despatched home the Révolutionnaire and her prize, was lying to, while the latter weathered the Lizard, a suspicious sail appeared coming in from the seaward. Her not answering the private signal, when she tacked from the squadron, marked her out as an enemy ; and Sir Edward, having ordered the Argo to Plymouth, made all sail in chase, accompanied by the frigates Amazon and Concorde.

After a chase of 15 hours, and a run of 168 miles, the