ure to attack us.
I, in common with many of the younger men, was very much disappointed at
not having captured the frigate; but Peter and others who had fought in
the last war, told us that we were very fortunate in not having
ourselves been obliged to strike, as our opponent could not have mounted
less than six-and-thirty, if not forty guns--more than twice as many as
we carried. Notwithstanding this, we only hoped to see her again in the
morning; and as soon as daylight appeared several eager pairs of eyes
were aloft looking out for her. There, hull down to the northward,
appeared a sail, which was most probably our opponent; but she was
running directly before the wind.

At first we supposed that our captain would follow her; but though as
brave a man as need be, as he had proved himself, he saw that the
probability of capturing the frigate was too small to justify him in
making the attempt--in doing which he was much more likely to lose his
own ship. Shattered, indeed, did we look when the sun shone down on our
blood-stained decks; and still more sad were the scenes which the
wounded and dying presented below. I will not, however, now dwell on
them. Several shot had gone through the ship's sides, some between wind
and water; but the holes had been quickly plugged by the carpenter's
crew. Altogether, so shattered was the sloop, that, unwilling as our
captain was to give up the cruise, he had no resource but to make the
best of his way to Plymouth. We arrived there ten days after the
engagement; but the pumps had to be kept going all the time, and the
ship was ordered into dock to undergo a thorough repair.

It is impossible for me to describe all the scenes of which I was
witness during that interesting period of England's naval history; but
there was one I must not omit, as it shows what presence of mind and
courage can do, in rescuing people even from the greatest difficulties.

At that time the French revolutionary party, so well named Red
Republicans, were inflicting, with unsparing barbarity, the most
dreadful atrocities on any of their unhappy countrymen who were even
suspected of entertaining monarchical principles. The inhabitants of
Toulon, as well as of several other places, were known to be favourable
to the cause of their sovereign; and to afford them support, Lord Hood--
then commander-in-chief in the Mediterranean--landed a body of English
and Spanish troops, and took possession of the town an