1809	British and French Fleets	120

tide then falling, the Beagle and her consorts weighed and worked back to their former anchorage, exposed, during a part of the time, to a heavy fire from the batteries on Isle d'Aix ; but which, nevertheless, appears not to have injured any one of the British vessels.

Among the damages sustained by the Oc�an in this attack, was a 32-pound shot (one of the Beagle's) right through the Mizenmast to the spindle, spankerboom cut in two, six main and two mizen shrouds cut through, maintopsail yard badly wounded, and two chain plates and all three topgallant yards shot away. The hull had also been struck by several shot and pieces of shell, and even the decks in many places ripped up. But, notwithstanding this heavy damage, the Oc�an had only one killed, a young midshipman, while standing near the admiral at the commencement of the action. M. Allemand immediately ordered all the hands, not wanted at the stern-chase guns, to go below. Owing to this wise precaution, no other life was lost, and only a few men slightly wounded. The R�gulus was at too great a distance to be much annoyed by shot, especially when discharged from carronades. Three shells, however, fell on board of her ; and one of them went through all her decks, and burst in the hold. Her loss we are unable to state. The Indienne had only three men wounded ; one with his thigh shot off. Several shot, however, are represented to have struck the frigate's masts. The Cassard, Jemmappes, and Tourville, appear likewise to have had a slight share in this engagement, but were too distant to suffer from it.

While this action was going on, the Imp�rieuse and Pallas lay at the anchorage, unable, from the strength and direction of the wind and the velocity of the tide, to advance with safety to the attack of the grounded ships. At noon the Dotterel, Foxhound, and Redpole, and two more rocket-vessels, from Basque roads, joined Lord Cochrane, and anchored near the two frigates. By these vessels Lord Cochrane received both a public and a private letter from Lord Gambier. The public one directs Lord Cochrane to make an attempt upon the Oc�an, with the bomb and rocket vessels, but expresses a strong doubt about the success of the attack. Lord Cochrane is then ordered to come to Basque roads as soon as the tide turns. The private letter states thus : " You have done your part so admirably, that I will not suffer you to tarnish it by attempting impossibilities, which I think, as well as those captains who have come from you, any further efforts to destroy those ships would be. You must therefore join as soon as you can with the bomb, &c., as I wish for some information which you allude to, before I close my despatches." To the first or public letter, Lord Cochrane replied " I have just had the honour to receive your lordship's letter. We can destroy the ships which are on shore, which I hope your lordship will approve of. " Either a few minutes before or after

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