through in several places. The Anson had also received considerable injury in her fore and main masts. Thus were the two ships about equally balanced in point of disabilities : if there was a difference in this respect, it was in favour of the Anson ; but there was a third party present, who, although apparently very insignificant, was not to be overlooked or despised. On the preceding night the Anson had fallen in with the Kangaroo, and Captain Durham, thinking the latter's services might be useful in the Anson's disabled state, ordered Captain Brace to keep company. The Kangaroo, since her disaster of the morning of the 16th, had, with creditable alacrity, refitted herself with a new fore topmast ; and at 8 h. 30 m. a.m. on this day, which was as soon as the strange sail was discovered by her, then far to windward of the Anson, got up her topgallantmasts, and made sail in chase.

The Anson, from her leeward position, in reference to the Kangaroo, was of course first up with the Loire ; and at about 10 h. 30 m. a.m. the cannonading commenced between the two ships. At 11 h. 45 m. a.m. while the Loire and Anson lay mutually disabled, the latter with her head in a line with the former's stern, the Kangaroo bore down, and received a shot from the Loire, accompanied by several volleys of musketry. To this the brig immediately replied by a broadside. Shortly afterwards the Loire's mizenmast came down, and with it her colours. These the French ship, having six feet water in the hold, and being reduced to an utterly defenceless state by the Mermaid and Anson's shot, did not attempt to rehoist. As soon, therefore, as she was hailed for that purpose, the Loire surrendered, and was taken possession of by a boat from the Kangaroo.

Out of her complement of 327 men and boys, the Anson had one quartermaster and one seaman killed, her first lieutenant of marines (William Abell), two midshipmen (William Robilliard and Francis R. Payler), eight seamen, and two marines wounded ; total, two killed and 13 wounded. The Kangaroo, whose complement was 120 men and boys, escaped without any loss. The Loire's loss, according to the French account, amounted to 46 men killed and 71 wounded. Her total number of sailors and soldiers, at the commencement of the action, is stated in Captain Durham's letter at 664 ; but her officers, when examined in the prize-court, deposed to 624. A great part of the difference is probably to be accounted for by the Loire's loss in her two previous actions. If so, as only five men are admitted to have been killed on board the Loire in her first action, a great many more must have been killed in her action with the Mermaid.

The Anson and Loire, in point of relative force, had they each met in a perfect state, would have been similarly matched

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