the 30th, in latitude 72°. From the 2d to the 8th of June the frigates tried in vain to penetrate the ice in the direction of Spitzbergen. On the 12th they came in sight of the island, but, with all their endeavours, could not get beyond 76° 10'. About this time the Guerrière parted company in a fog.

It was on the 9th of July that the admiralty received intelligence of the havoc which these three French frigates had been committing upon the fisheries. Immediately the 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Phoebe, Captain James Oswald, and 12-pounder 32-gun frigate Thames, Captain Brydges Watkinson Taylor, lying in Leith roads, were directed to proceed off the Shetland isles ; and the 38-gun frigate Blanche, Captain Thomas Lavie, then at anchor in the Downs, was ordered, by telegraph, to hasten to Yarmouth roads. When here, Captain Lavie received orders to follow and take under his command the Phoebe and Thames, and with them endeavour to discover and capture M. Leduc and his squadron.

On the 10th, in the afternoon, the Blanche sailed from Yarmouth roads, and, on the 13th, was at the rendezvous ; but the Phoebe and Thames, having ascertained that one of the frigates had parted from her two consorts, had since proceeded in search of the latter. After remaining three days off the Shetland isles, the Blanche received intelligence that the Guerrière had been seen alone off the Faro isles, where she had captured and burnt several English ships. The Blanche immediately made sail towards the spot, and on the 18th, at 10 h. 30 m. A.M., saw from her mast-head, in the east-north-east quarter, the object of her search, standing upon a wind in a direction towards herself. The Guerrière had intended to go into Drontheim in Norway, to land her prisoners and procure a supply of water ; but, when off the port, a pilot-boat communicated some intelligence that induced her to put about and steer for the island of North-Faro, of which she was within a few hours' sail when fallen in with by the Blanche. The mounted force of the two frigates may here be introduced. The quarter deck and forecastle guns of the Blanche were 16 carronades, 32-pounders, fitted upon the non-recoil principle, and two long 12-pounders ; making her total of guns 46. The Guerrière, in addition to the maindeck force of her class, mounted two brass 36-pounder carronades in the bridle ports, and two others, and eight iron ones of the same caliber, with 10 long 8-pounders, on her quarterdeck and forecastle; total 50 guns.

At noon the Blanche bore up under all sail, with a light breeze from the south-west ; but the Guerrière, as if mistaking the Blanche for one of her consorts, continued to stand on until 3 P.M., when she also bore up, spreading all her canvass. The superior sailing of the Blanche enabled her to gain rapidly in the chase, and at about 15 minutes past midnight, the British

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