1808	Comet and Sylphe	77

to persevere in their resistance. After the action was over, he gave up both his cabins to the wounded ; and, following their captains example, the officers gave up their cots for the same humane purpose. Had the daylight and calm continued two hours longer, the Africa must either have sunk or surrendered. As it was, her disabled state sent the ship back to Carlscrona to refit.

One salutary effect of the restriction imposed by Great Britain on neutral commerce was, that it obliged France to carry on, in the best manner she could, her own trade with her colonies. Hence the frigates and corvettes, of the latter power, instead of, when they got to sea, roaming about the ocean to capture or destroy the merchant vessels of the former, ran straight for Guadaloupe or Martinique, deeply laden with troops, ordnance stores, and provision, and, in consequence, were less likely to escape from a chasing force.

On the 11th of August, at 8 h. 30 m. a.m., latitude 45� 58', north, longitude 5� 4' west, the British 18-gun ship-sloop Comet, Captain Cuthbert Featherstone Daly, observed three strangers in the north-north-east. These were a small French squadron, which had sailed from Lorient on the 9th, bound to Martinique with a supply of flour for the colony, and consisted of the 18-gun ship-corvette Diligente, Captain Jean-François Lemaresquier, and 16-gun brig-corvettes Espiégle and Sylphe, Captains Joseph François-Léon Maujouen and Louis-Marie Clément, all armed, we believe, with French 24-pounder carronades, and long sixes for bow-chasers.

At 9 A.M. the Comet, having approached nearer to the strangers, made them out to be three enemy's corvettes ; and, considering it likely that if he altered his course they would chase and overpower him by their united superiority, Captain Daly boldly stood on. Whether alarmed by the frigate-built appearance of the Comet, or that he considered himself bound by his orders to hasten to his destination, the French commodore tacked from the Comet, and, with his two consorts, made all sail to the north-north-east. At noon the Diligente, having much outsailed the two brigs, tacked again and stood to the southward.

Feeling no hesitation about attacking the two brigs, Captain Daly made all sail in chase of them. At 3 h. 30 m. p.m. the Espiégle which was the headmost brig, tacked, and passed to windward of the Comet at the distance of about two gunshots. At 5 P.M. the Sylphe, in pursuit of which the Comet continued, hoisted French colours and commenced firing her stern-chasers. At 5 h. 20 m. p.m., having got within pistol-shot of her, the Comet opened her fire ; and at the expiration of 20 minutes, being much disabled, and having, out of her crew of 98 men and boys, lost one midshipman and five men killed, and two midshipmen and three men wounded, the Sylphe hauled down her colours.

In this very gallant affair on the part of Captain Daly, the

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