ve, the tiller-ropes being shot away, Mr.
ATKINSON, the Master, was ordered below to get the helm put to port;
which being done, the Victory was soon run on board the Redoutable of
seventy-four guns. On coming alongside and nearly on board of her, that
ship fired her broadside into the Victory, and immediately let down her
lower-deck ports; which, as has been since learnt, was done to prevent
her from being boarded through them by the Victory's crew. She never
fired a great gun after this single broadside. A few minutes after this,
the Temeraire fell likewise on board of the Redoutable, on the side
opposite to the Victory; having also an Enemy's ship, said to be La
Fougueux, on board of _her_ on her other side: so that the extraordinary
and unprecedented circumstance occurred here, of _four_ ships of the
line being _on board of each other_ in the heat of battle; forming as
compact a tier as if they had been moored together, their heads lying
all the same way. The Temeraire, as was just before mentioned, was
between the Redoutable and La Fougueux. The Redoutable commenced a heavy
fire of musketry from the tops, which was continued for a considerable
time with destructive effect to the Victory's crew: her great guns
however being silent, it was supposed at different times that she had
surrendered; and in consequence of this opinion, the Victory twice
ceased firing upon her, by orders transmitted from the quarter-deck.

At this period, scarcely a person in the Victory escaped unhurt who was
exposed to the Enemy's musketry; but there were frequent huzzas and
cheers heard from between the decks, in token of the surrender of
different of the Enemy's ships. An incessant fire was kept up from both
sides of the Victory; her larboard guns played upon the Santissima
Trinidada and the Bucentaur; and the starboard guns of the middle and
lower decks were depressed, and fired with a diminished charge of
powder, and three shot each, into the Redoutable. This mode of firing
was adopted by Lieutenants WILLIAMS, KING, YULE, and BROWN, to obviate
the danger of the Temeraire's suffering from the Victory's shot passing
through the Redoutable; which must have been the case if the usual
quantity of powder, and the common elevation, had been given to the
guns.--A circumstance occurred in this situation, which shewed in a most
striking manner the cool intrepidity of the Officers and men stationed
on the lower deck of the Victory. When the guns, o