niards suffer a heavy loss, but the naval power of France was
considerably crippled by it, nor indeed did she during the war recover
from its effects. Jack remained with the fleet under Sir Cloudesley
Shovel. All hands were busily employed in fitting out the captured
ships and preparing them for sea. At length, in a week, all those fit
for sea were got ready, when the rest, amounting to a considerable
number, were set on fire, and the squadron, as the flames bursting
fiercely forth sent them to the bottom, sailed away down the harbour.

On the 25th of October Sir Cloudesley got clear of Vigo, but it proving
calm, he anchored in the channel in the port of Bayonne, where, with a
flag of truce, he sent several prisoners on shore, receiving some
English who had been captured by the Spaniards. The next day he got
under sail again, with the intention of going through the north channel,
but the wind taking him short, he was obliged to drop anchor. Here a
galleon, a prize to the "Monmouth," struck upon a sunken rock.
Immediately the water rushed into her, and before it could be pumped out
she foundered. Fortunately several frigates were on each side of her,
and their boats putting off, all her crew were saved, with the exception
of two who were below. The same day the fleet was joined by the
"Dragon," a fifty-gun ship lately commanded by Captain Holyman. One of
the officers came on board and gave an account of an engagement she had
just had with a French man-of-war of seventy guns. In spite of the vast
superiority of the enemy, Captain Holyman defended his ship with the
greatest resolution. His crew worked their guns in a way British seamen
have ever known how to do when alongside an enemy. At length the
captain was killed, when his First Lieutenant, Fotherby, continued the
defence, urging his men not to strike as long as they had a cartridge
remaining and a shot in the locker. At length, although themselves
greatly crippled, they had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy brace up
her yards and stand away. Loud cheers burst from their throats, though
they at first believed she had merely hauled off to repair damages.
However she continued standing away, and ultimately her topsails
disappeared below the horizon. Besides her brave captain, the "Dragon"
lost twenty-five of her crew killed, and many more wounded. The fleet
on their passage home encountered very bad weather. One of the ships,
the "Nassau," had, in spit