was precisely what might have been expected from the captain of the Latona, in November, 1793 ; and we should have been better pleased with Sir John Warren's letter, imperfect as it is in many respects, had it contained a more particular notice of the (considering the hors-de-combat distance of the Canada and Foudroyant, some have thought all) important services of Captain Thornborough.

Very great credit was also due to Captain Countess, for his zeal and perseverance in keeping sight of the French squadron ; which, had it not been so well watched by the Ethalion and her consorts, would have been on the coast of Ireland nearly a fortnight earlier than it was. In that case M. Bompart would probably have disembarked his troops without molestation, and might, with his squadron have got safe back to a French port. In his official account of the capture of the Bellone, Captain Countess speaks in the highest terms of the first lieutenant of the Ethalion, Mr. George Sayer ; and the latter, upon whom the greater part of the active duty of keeping sight of the French squadron must necessarily have devolved, was, in consequence, made a commander.

We must be permitted to make one more remark before we quit this action. The noble behaviour of the French prisoners on board the Hoche and Coquille (for she, also, was mainly preserved by their exertions) ought to have obtained for them, after they were landed in England, some abatement of the hardships usually imposed upon prisoners of war. This would be holding out encouragement to men so circumstanced ; particularly in cases where their numbers, as in the instances of both the 74 and the frigate, might otherwise be too formidable to be coerced into subjection, upon national considerations, even this ought never to be overlooked.

It still remains to be shown what became of the three uncaptured vessels of Commodore Bompart's squadron. The Romaine having anchored, under English colours, six or seven miles from the spot at which the Immortalité and Résolue had brought up, made preparations for disembarking her troops. A communication with the shore, however, soon cooled the zeal of the latter ; and the soldiers were not so tired of the sea, or so alarmed at the perils both of weather and capture to be encountered in crossing it, but that they preferred even that risk to the certain fate that awaited them if they attempted to land. The Romaine, accordingly, weighed and stood off from the Irish coast, and, overtaking the Biche on the passage, anchored on the 23d of October in the road of Brest. About the same time, also, the Sémillante managed to get into Lorient.

The very day that sealed the fate of the Hoche, saw another expedition quit a port of France for the same destination. Commodore Savary, with the same four frigates with which he had

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