ly dropped his anchor athwart hause of
Le Franklin, raking her with great success; the shot, from the
Leander's broadside, which passed that ship, all striking L'Orient,
the flag-ship of the French commander in chief.

"The action commenced at sun-set, which was at thirty-one minutes
past six, with an ardour and vigour which it is impossible to
describe. In a few minutes, every man stationed at the first six
guns in the fore part of the Vanguard's deck, was down, killed or
wounded, and one gun in particular was repeatedly cleared: one of
the midshipmen was just remarking the escapes he had experienced,
when a shot came, and cut him in two. At about seven o'clock, total
darkness had come on; but the whole hemisphere was, at intervals,
illuminated by the fire of the hostile fleets. Our ships, as
darkness came on, had all hoisted their distinguishing lights, by a
signal from the admiral.

"The van ship of the enemy, Le Guerrier, was dismasted in less than
twelve minutes; and, in ten minutes after, the second ship, Le
Conquerant, and the third, Le Spartiate, very nearly at the same
moment, experienced a similar fate. L'Aquilon, and Le Souverain
Peuple, the fourth and fifth ships of the enemy's line, were taken
possession of by the British at half past eight in the evening.
Captain Berry, at that hour, sent Lieutenant Galway, of the
Vanguard, with a party of marines, to take possession of Le
Spartiate: and that officer returned, by the boat, the French
captain's sword, which Captain Berry immediately delivered to the
admiral; who was then below, in consequence of the severe wound
which he had received in the head during the heat of the attack."

This wound seems to have been inflicted by langridge shot, or a piece of
iron; which, cutting his forehead at right angles, the skin hung over
his face, Captain Berry, fortunately happening to be sufficiently near,
caught the admiral in his arms, and prevented him from falling. It was,
at first, the universal opinion, that their beloved commander had been
shot through the head; and, indeed, the appearance was rendered
dreadfully alarming, by the hanging skin and the copious effusion of
blood. Not a man on board was now solicitous for his own life; every
brave fellow was alone anxious for that of the worthy admiral. This,
however, far from repressing thei