still, upon one who has read the preceding accounts in the work, and who may not be otherwise informed as to the merits of this particular action, it is calculated to produce very erroneous impressions: "La Forte, a French frigate of the largest class, was captured on the 28th of February, by his majesty's ship La Sibylle, of forty-four guns, commanded by Captain Edward Cooke." *

Now, nearly all the French 18-pounder frigates, whose capture is noticed in the same work, are represented as frigates "of the largest class," or "of the first class," which amounts to the same ; while the two captured French 24-pounder frigates, the Pomone and Immortalite, have the calibers of their guns carefully expressed. Hence, why may not the reader infer that the Forte was an 18-pounder frigate, similar, for instance, to the Virginie, "one of the finest frigates in the French navy." � On the other hand, as all British frigates, agreeing in their real force with the Sibylle, are described as "of thirty-eight guns," who but would imagine, that the Sibylle, declared to be "of forty-four guns," was a frigate of a higher class, and consequently of a greater force, than they were ?

Captain Cooke's principal wound was not merely a mortal, but a most painful one. It was occasioned by a large-sized grape-shot, which, after passing through the flesh on the inside of the arm, had entered the side and came out near the spine. His other arm and his breast were also wounded. After lingering at Calcutta until the 25th of the ensuing May, this active and enterprising officer (see his proceedings at Toulon and Manilla) died, how generally lamented it would be superfluous to add. He was buried with the highest military honours, and a monument was erected to his memory by the honourable court of East India directors. After Captain Cooke's death, Captain Hardyman continued in command of the Forte, and was made post on the 27th of January, 1800.

On the 18th of March, at daylight, the Isle of Bas, bearing south-east distant nine leagues, the British hired the armed brig Telegraph, of 14 carronades, 18-pounders, and two long sixes, with sixty men and boys, commanded by Lieutenant James Andrew Worth, discovered about two miles on her lee bow, the French privateer-brig Hirondelle, of 16 guns (8 and 6 pounders) and 72 men on board, out of a complement of 89. The Hirondelle immediately tacked, and stood towards the Telegraph. At 7 h. 30 m. a.m., the two brigs, having got close alongside each other, commenced a spirited cannonade. During the progress of the action, each vessel vainly tried, several times, to board the other. At length, after the struggle had continued three hours and a half ; and when, having had all her rigging shot away, she was in an unmanageable state, the Hirondelle struck her colours.

* Brenton, vol. ii., p. 175.
� Ibid., vol. i., p. 397.

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