Foudroyant, Magnanime, Ethalion, Anson, Melampus, and Amelia.

Relieved at length from the plagues that had stuck to him so, closely, Commodore Bompart proceeded to fulfil his instructions, which were to land the troops in the harbour of Lough-Swilly. The first intention had been to effect the disembarkation in the bay of Killala ; and the plan was only changed because the delay in the departure of the expedition rendered it probable that General Humbert, for whom of course the reinforcement was meant, would be found further to the northward. On the 10th, in the evening, the French squadron discovered the loom of the land. With the hope now of getting quite clear of the British frigates, M. Bompart bore away in the direction of Killala bay, and then, at midnight, hauled sharp up to the northward, with the wind, as already mentioned, at north-northwest, blowing strong. On the 11th, at daybreak, the French commodore, thinking all was safe, bore up for Tory island, but soon found cause to regret that he had not kept his wind a few hours longer ; for, at noon, the Immortalité, the leading frigate, signalled the appearance of the British squadron. The French ships, by signal, now hauled close to the wind ; but, owing greatly to an accident which we shall relate presently, that man�uvre proved of no avail.

At about the same time that the Immortalité signalled the enemy to her commodore, the Amelia did the same to hers, and pointed out the bearing to be north by west, which was about half a point before her weather beam. At this time the Robust and Magnanime were on the Amelia's weather quarter, standing on the same tack as herself, and the Canada and the rest of the squadron were on the opposite or starboard tack, at a considerable distance on her lee beam. Sir John Warren immediately made the signal for a general chase, and for the ships to "form in succession as they arrived up with the enemy." At about 2 h. 30 m. p.m. the Canada and ships near her wore on the larboard tack, and made all sail to the east-north-east, which was as high as they could lie. At 6 p.m. the body of the French squadron bore from the Canada north-east, distant 10 or 12 miles. As night approached, the weather became very boisterous, attended with a hollow sea ; and at 9 h. 30 m. p.m. the Anson carried away her mizenmast, main yard, and maintopsail yard.

Some hours previous, owing to the violence of the same gale, a much greater misfortune than this was to Commodore Sir John Warren, had befallen Commodore Bompart. The Hoche carried "way her main topmast, the latter, in its fall, bringing down the fore and mizen topgallantmasts, and tearing the mainsail nearly to pieces. This accident, of course, retarded considerably the progress of the French squadron ; and at a few minutes before 8 p.m. the Résolue signalled that she had sprung a leak which

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