vivacity by the few who engaged. The
Real being quite disabled, and lying like a wreck upon the water, Mr.
Matthews sent a fire-ship to destroy her; but the expedient did not take
effect. The ship ordered to cover this machine did not obey the signal;
so that the captain of the fire-ship was exposed to the whole fire
of the enemy. Nevertheless he continued to advance until he found the
vessel sinking; and being within a few yards of the Real, he set fire to
the fusees. The ship was immediately in flames, in the midst of which
he and his lieutenant, with twelve men, perished. This was likewise the
fate of the Spanish launch, which had been manned with fifty sailors to
prevent the fire-ship from running on board the Real. One ship of the
line belonging to the Spanish squadron, struck to captain Hawke, who
sent a lieutenant to take possession of her; she was afterwards retaken
by the French squadron; but was found so disabled that they left her
deserted, and she was next day burned by order of admiral Matthews.
At night the action ceased; and the admiral found his own ship so much
damaged, that he moved his flag into another. Captain Cornwall fell in
the engagement, after having exhibited a remarkable proof of courage and
intrepidity; but the loss of men was very inconsiderable. Next day the
enemy appeared to leeward, and the admiral gave chase till night, when
he brought to, that he might be joined by the ships astern. They were
perceived again on the thirteenth at a considerable distance, and
pursued till the evening. In the morning of the fourteenth, twenty sail
of them were seen distinctly, and Lestock with his division had gained
ground of them considerably by noon; but admiral Matthews displayed the
signal for leaving off chase, and bore away for Port Mahon, to repair
the damage he had sustained. Meanwhile the combined squadrons continued
their course towards the coast of Spain. M. de Court, with his division,
anchored in the road of Alicant; and Don Navarro sailed into the harbour
of Carthagena. Admiral Matthews, on his arrival at Minorca, accused
Lestock of having misbehaved on the day of action; suspended him from
his office, and sent him prisoner to England, where, in his turn, he
accused his accuser. Long before the engagement, these two officers had
expressed the most virulent resentment against each other. Matthews was
brave, open, and undisguised; but proud, imperious, and precipitate.
Lestock had signalized h