their near approach to a treacherous shore had been entirely overlooked. Both ships, in fact, were close to windward of the shoals that lie between Cape Trafalgar and Cadiz. The Vestale, in particular, to whom Captain Bowen, in the reduced state of his crew, and the critical situation of the Terpsichore's masts, yards, and rigging, had been able to send only his master, one midshipman, and seven seamen, had drifted into four fathoms' water, and was without an anchor clear for letting go. The Vestale's surviving crew, too, or the greater part of them, lay drunk about the decks, and were incapable, even if they were willing, to assist in saving the lives of those on board : of whom, in all probability, the whole would have perished, had the ship gone on shore. By great exertions on the part of Mr. James Elder and his handful of men, the prize was brought up in little less than three fathoms' water. The Terpsichore, with great difficulty, weathered the rocks of St.-Sebastian, and gained an offing.

On the following morning, the 13th, the Terpsichore stood back in search of her prize, and at 10 a.m. cast anchor in 20 fathoms' water, about four miles south-west of the island of San-Pedro. Hitherto no opportunity had offered for removing any more of the prisoners than the Vestale's second lieutenant ; and the shattered state of the boats belonging to both frigates, added to the loss of the Terpsichore's cutter by swamping alongside the prize in the troubled state of the sea, rendered even the passing of a tow-rope to the Vestale a hazardous and tedious operation. At length a stream-cable was got on board the latter ; and, at about 4 p.m., a favourable slant of wind enabled the two ships to cut the cables by which they rode, and make sail. But, while the Terpsichore's people were heaving in the bend of the stream-cable, to which a hawser had been made fast, the cable got foul of a rock, and the Terpsichore was compelled to cut herself free. The Vestale, meantime, rode by the stream-cable as it clung to the rock, and, owing to the master's provident care, had a second anchor ready to let go. Darkness coming on, the Terpsichore again stood off for the night ; and, it falling calm about midnight, was drifted by the current into the Straits. Towards daylight on the 14th the wind changed to the south-east; and Captain Bowen, having chased and spoken a Swedish ship that had hove in sight, again steered towards the spot on which he had left his prize ; but he and his officers and crew had the mortification to see the Vestale, with some spars erected and sails set, and with French colours flying, towing, within the shoals, straight towards Cadiz. The Terpsichore gave chase, but, in her crippled state, was quite unable to overtake the Vestale ; who, in a few minutes more, was safe moored in port.

The fact is, that, as soon as the Terpsichore had sailed out of sight on the preceding evening, the French crew, recovering from