marines (Cornelius James Stevenson), one purser (Thomas Titterton), and 48 men wounded ; the Courageux, one man killed, her first lieutenant (Robert Clephane), one master's mate (Thomas Daws), one midshipman (John Gibbs Bird), her gunner (John Austin), and nine men wounded ; the Namur, four men killed, one captain of marines (William Clements), one lieutenant (Thomas Osborne), one midshipman (Frederick Beasley), and five men wounded ; the Santa-Margarita, her boatswain (Thomas Edwards), killed, and one man wounded ; the Rêvolutionnaire. two men killed and six wounded ; the Phoenix, two killed and four wounded; and the �olus, three wounded : making a total of 24 killed and 111 wounded. None of the British ships had any spars shot away, except the Cæsar her main topgallantmast, the Hero her foretopsail yard, and the Namur her main yard ; but the Cæsar and Hero had received considerable damage in their masts generally, as well as in their rigging and sails.

The loss sustained by the French ships was extremely severe. The Formidable had 200 killed and wounded, including among, the latter Rear-admiral Dumanoir in two places ; the Scipion, the same number, including among the wounded her captain ; the Mont-Blanc 180, and the Duguay-Trouin, 150, including among the latter's killed her captain : making a total of 730 in killed and wounded. * All four French ships had been so struck in their masts, that, soon after the action ended, the foremasts of the Formidable and Mont-Blanc were the only sticks left standing. This, coupled with the heavy loss just enumerated, affords a decisive proof that the French ships did not surrender until they were compelled to do so : it proves, also, that the British ships fired their guns, which is not invariably the case, with both quickness and precision.

The force of the four French ships has already appeared (see p. 94) ; but it must in justice be stated, that in this action the Formidable mounted 65 guns only, three having been dismounted in the Battle of Trafalgar (see p. 107), and 12 of her quarterdeck 12-pounders having been thrown overboard during the chase of the squadron by Sir Richard Strachan. This fact is stated on oath in the written depositions of the Formidable's late officers, lodged in the admiralty prize-court, and is confirmed by the official return of the prize broker, it there appearing that no more than 68 guns were found on board the ship.

In the Battle of Trafalgar, neither the French nor the British frigates fired a shot : in this battle all four British frigates, three of them especially, contributed their full share towards achieving the victory. It is true that the official letter, the extraordinary brevity of which has been so admired by some and blamed by others states that when the French ships tacked " the frigates were to leeward of the enemy. But Sir Richard surely never

*  Victoires et Conquetes, tome xvi., p. 195

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