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 their ardour, served only to animate their fury, and prompt them, if possible, to still greater exertions.  On being carried into the cockpit, where several of his gallant crew were stretched with their shattered limbs, and lacerated wounds, the surgeon, with the most respectful anxiety, quitted the poor fellow then under his hands, that he might instantly attend on the admiral.

     “No,” replied the heroic commander, with the utmost composure,
     though he had then no hope of surviving, “I will take my turn with
     my brave fellows.”

“The agony of his wound, in the mean time, greatly increasing, he became satisfied that the idea which he had long indulged of dying in battle was now about to be accomplished.  He desired to see his chaplain, the Reverend Mr. Comyn, and begged he would bear his remembrances to Lady Nelson; and, as the last beneficial office that he conceived he should be able to perform, he appointed Captain Hardy, of La Mutine, to be Captain of the Vanguard.  Having expressed a wish to see Captain Louis, of the Minotaur, Captain Berry had hailed that ship, and the commander came on board.  The admiral was desirous of personally thanking him for the assistance which he had, in the height of danger, been enabled to render