1812	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	66

she had one lieutenant of marines (Thomas H. Griffiths), and 25 seamen and marines killed, her captain (slightly), one lieutenant of marines (Robert S. Ashbridge, mortally), two master's mates, (William H. Gibbons and George Henry Ayton), two midshipmen (Henry Bolton and Joseph Ray), and 93 seamen and marines wounded ; total, 27 killed and 99 wounded. The Weasel had the good fortune not to have a man hurt, either in her forty minutes' engagement with the Mercure, or her very spirited, and in all probability, not ineffective cannonade of the Rivoli.

According to the letter of Captain Talbot, the Rivoli had on board 862 men ; but the French officers have deposed to only 810, including 59 men late belonging to the French frigate Flore wrecked near Venice. Out of her (taking the smallest amount) 810 in crew and supernumeraries, the Rivoli lost 400 men killed and wounded, including her second captain and the greater part of her officers. Not only had her mizenmast been shot away, but her fore and main masts were so badly wounded that they fell over her side in a few days after the action. In her hull the Rivoli was dreadfully shattered ; as, indeed, the severity of her loss would indicate.

The Victorious was a 74 of the 18-pounder class, and was consequently armed on her first and second decks in the manner represented at N or O in the first Annual Abstract. On her quarterdeck and forecastle, the Victorious appears to have mounted 18 carronades, 32-pounders, and two long 18-pounders, and on her poop six 18-pounder carronades ; total 82 guns. The Rivoli, on her first and second decks, was armed exactly the same as the French 74 in the little table at p..54 of the first volume, and appears to have mounted on her quarterdeck and forecastle 12 long 8-pounders and eight iron carronades, 36-pounders ; total 80 guns, all of French caliber.

This may be considered as at least an equal match ; for the slight overplus that appears in the right-hand set of figures is amply compensated by the ineffective state of the Rivoli's crew. These had but just quitted port for the first time since they had assembled ; and yet they fought their ship most bravely, as the length of the action, coupled with their severe loss, testifies, and far from unskillfully, as the loss sustained by their antagonist clearly demonstrates. The Rivoli's commander had the good fortune to be captured by an officer, who could fully appreciate merit in an enemy ; and accordingly Captain Talbot, in his