ion. He is now Captain Alcibiades Ajax
Boggs, and all through me. We were cruising off the coast of France,
close in to Ushant, where we perceived a fleet of small vessels, called
chasse-marees (coasting luggers), laden with wine, coming round; and as
we did not know of any batteries thereabouts, we ran in to attempt a
capture. We cut off three of them, but just as we had compelled them,
by firing broadsides into them, to lower their sails, a battery, which
our commander did not know anything of, opened fire upon us, and before
we could get out of range, which we did as soon as we could, one shot
came in on deck, and cut the top-sail halyard's fall, at the very time
that the men were hoisting the sail (for we had been shaking another
reef out), and the rope being divided, as the men were hauling upon it,
of course they all tumbled on the deck, one over another. The other
shot struck our foremast, and chipped off a large slice, besides cutting
away one of the shrouds, and the signal halyards. Now, you do not know
enough about ships to understand that there was very little harm done,
or that the coasting vessels were very small, with only three or four
men on board of each of them; it therefore required some little
management to make a flaming despatch. But I did it--only listen, now--
I have begun in the true Nelson style:--

"`TO THE SECRETARY OF THE ADMIRALTY.

"`Sir,--It has pleased the Great Disposer to grant a decided victory
to his Majesty's arms, through the efforts of the vessel which I have
the honour to command. On the 23rd day of August last, Ushant then
bearing South West three quarters West, wind West, distant from three
to four leagues, perceived an enemy's fleet, of three-masted vessels,
rounding the point, with the hopes, I presume, of gaining the port of
Cherbourg. Convinced that I should have every support from the
gallant officers and true British tars under my command, I immediately
bore down to the attack; the movements of the enemy fully proved that
they were astounded at the boldness of the manoeuvre, and instead of
keeping their line, they soon separated, and sheered off in different
directions, so as to receive the support of their batteries.'

"You see, Joey, I have said three-masted vessels, which implies ships,
although as in this case, they were only small coasting luggers.

"`In half an hour we were sufficiently close to the main body to open
our fire