month preceding her capture boasted, that she had sent into Brest and the neighbouring ports upwards of 20 prizes, many of them valuable. The recapture of the Tamise, therefore, was a fortunate occurrence. She was reinstated, under her English name, as a 12-pounder 32 in the British navy.

Seeing. the fate of her companion, the Tribune crowded sail to effect her escape. The parity of sailing in the British and French frigates, aided by the judgment of Commodore Moulston. (represented as a native of the United States of America), kept the two ships in a running fight for ten hours ; during which the Unicorn suffered greatly in her sails and rigging, and was at one time deprived of the use of her main topsail. But the wind falling soon after dark, the British frigate was enabled to use her light sails, and by that means gradually approached so near to the Tribune's weather quarter as to take the wind out of her sails ; when, at 10 h. 30 m. p.m., after having run in the pursuit 210 miles, the Unicorn ranged up alongside of her antagonist.

The British crew instantly gave three cheers, and a close action commenced, which continued, each ship being in the same position, with great spirit, for 35 minutes ; when, on the smoke's clearing away, the Tribune was observed to have dropped in the rear, and to be attempting, close hauled, to cross the Unicorn's stern and gain the wind of her. To frustrate this man�uvre, the sails of the Unicorn, in the most masterly manner, were thrown aback : she then dropped astern, passed the Tribune's weather bow, regained her station, and renewed the attack. A few well-directed broadsides brought down the fore and main masts and mizen topmast of the Tribune, and not only put an end to all further man�uvring on the part of the French frigate, but silenced her fire and compelled her to surrender. The corvette, which was the Légère of 18 long 6-pounders, had long since disappeared.

The Unicorn, besides her 32 long 18 and 6 pounders, mounted six 32-pounder carronades, or 38 guns in all. Although the Unicorn's established complement was 251 men and boys, Captain Williams mentions that his third lieutenant, two master's mates, and some of his best seamen, had, on the evening previous to the action, been put on board a prize. The absentees could not well have been fewer than 11 ; making the crew of the Unicorn, when she commenced the action, amount to 240. Of this number the Unicorn, like the Révolutionnaire and Indefatigable, had not a man hurt. The Tribune mounted, in all, 44 guns (six more 6-pounders than the Tamise, and two brass 36-pounder carronades), and is represented to have lost, out of a complement of 339 men and boys, 37 men killed, and her commander and 14 men wounded.