the eastward of the mouth of the river Dive, and about three leagues to leeward of the port she wished to make.

In the mean while the Vésuve had run herself on shore near to a small battery off the entrance of the river Dive ; but, floating again at the rising of the tide, the corvette attempted to run down to the mouth of the river Orne, or Caen. The near approach of the Vesuvius and Trial, however, compelled her again to run on shore at a short distance only from the spot on which she had first grounded. Here the bomb-vessel and cutter commenced cannonading the Vésuve ; in which occupation we will leave them, while we attend to the two frigates.

The moment the Confiante struck the sand, the Hydra laid all her sails aback, and kept up, with scarcely any return, an incessant fire, within musket-shot distance, until 9 h. 30 m. a.m. ; when the falling of the tide obliged the British frigate, after having been near enough to read the name upon the stern of the French frigate (whose mizenmast had just fallen), to haul off into deeper water. The Hydra, as she stood to the offing, made the signal for her two consorts to leave off firing and do the same. Sir Francis, soon afterwards, sent the Trial to reconnoitre the French frigate; which at this time bore from the Hydra south by east, and the corvette south-south-west, distant five miles.

On the Trial's approach, the Confiante, whose crew had hauled her further in-shore, fired several shot at her, and a number of troops had assembled on the beach and adjoining heights, ready to protect the grounded frigate from an attack upon her by boats. Under these circumstances, Sir Francis thought it best to defer any attempt to board and destroy the Confiante, until a more favourable opportunity should present itself. In the meanwhile the Hydra continued, during the night, as close to the shore as a regard for her safety would permit.

On the 31st at 10 a.m., finding that a great part of the crew had quitted the Confiante, Sir Francis despatched the boats of the Hydra, under the orders of Lieutenants George Acklom and William J. Simonds, and Lieutenant Blanch of the marines, covered by the Trial, to haul down the colours of and burn the French frigate. At about 45 m. past noon the boats got alongside of and boarded the Confiante, whom the remainder of her crew had now abandoned, leaving her colours flying. These were presently hauled down by the British, and at 1 h. 30 m. p.m. the French frigate was on fire fore and aft ; a service executed in the face of a party of cavalry drawn up on the beach, and of a small though ineffectual fire of musketry from some infantry on the adjoining heights. Having completely destroyed the Confiante, and ascertained that she carried 36 long, guns, 12 and 6 pounders, besides a pair or two of carronades on her quarterdeck, with a crew, according to her rôle d'équipage, of 300 men, Lieutenant Acklom, with the boats, at about 2 h. 30 m. p.m. returned to the Hydra in the offing.

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