abled ship, but received so many shot that she was obliged to leave
her. Soon afterwards a French frigate took the CA IRA in tow; and
the SANS-CULOTTES, one hundred and twenty, and the JEAN BARRAS,
seventy-four, kept about gunshot distance on her weather bow. The
AGAMEMNON stood towards her, having no ship of the line to support her
within several miles. As she drew near, the CA IRA fired her stern guns
so truly, that not a shot missed some part of the ship; and latterly,
the masts were struck by every shot. It had been Nelson's intention not
to fire before he touched her stern; but seeing how impossible it was
that he should be supported, and how certainly the AGAMEMNON must
be severely cut up if her masts were disabled, he altered his plan
according to the occasion. As soon, therefore, as he was within a
hundred yards of her stern, he ordered the helm to be put a-starboard,
and the driver and after-sails to be brailed up and shivered; and, as
the ship fell off, gave the enemy her whole broadside. They instantly
braced up the after-yards, put the helm a-port, and stood after her
again. This manoeuvre he practised for two hours and a quarter, never
allowing the CA IRA to get a single gun from either side to bear on him;
and when the French fired their after-guns now, it was no longer with
coolness and precision, for every shot went far ahead. By this time her
sails were hanging in tatters, her mizen-top-mast, mizen-top-sail, and
cross-jack-yards shot away. But the frigate which had her in tow hove in
stays, and got her round. Both these French ships now brought their
guns to bear, and opened their fire. The AGAMEMNON passed them within
half-pistol shot; almost every shot passed over her, for the French had
elevated their guns for the rigging, and for distant firing, and did not
think of altering the elevation. As soon as the AGAMEMNON's after-guns
ceased to bear, she hove in stays, keeping a constant fire as she came
round; and being worked, said Nelson, with as much exactness as if
she had been turning into Spithead. On getting round, he saw that the
Sans-Culottes, which had wore, with many of the enemy's ships, was under
his lee bow, and standing to leeward. The admiral, at the same time,
made the signal for the van ships to join him. Upon this Nelson bore
away, and prepared to set all sail; and the enemy, having saved their
ship, hauled close to the wind, and opened upon him a distant and
ineffectual fire. Only seven o