the Vanguard.  “My dear Louis,” said the admiral, “farewel!  I shall never, should I survive, forget the obligation I am under to you.  Whatever may become of me, my mind is at peace.”  He, then, with the most pious composure, seemed resigning himself to death.  As soon as the surgeon had, according to the express injunctions of the admiral, paid all necessary attention to every person previously wounded, he came forward to examine the wound of their commander.  An awful silence prevailed; but it was of short duration, for the surgeon almost immediately pronounced it to be merely superficial, and of no dangerous consequence.  The pleasing intelligence speedily circulated through the ship, and the excess of sorrow was instantaneously converted into the excess of joy:  nor did the hero feel less delighted at hearing the grateful expressions of gladness from his generous crew, than at the unexpected announcement of his life’s being considered, by the surgeon, as in no sort of danger.  This circumstance, indeed, greatly tended to alleviate his sufferings during the painful operation of dressing his wounded forehead.

“At this time, it appeared that victory had already declared itself in our favour; for, though L’Orient, L’Heureux, and Le Tonnant, were not taken possession of, they were considered as completely in our power:  which pleasing intelligence Captain Berry had likewise the satisfaction of communicating in person to the admiral.

“At ten minutes after nine, a fire was observed on board L’Orient, the French admiral’s ship, which seemed to proceed from the after part of the cabin; and which increased with great rapidity, presently involving the whole of the after part of the ship in flames.  This circumstance Captain Berry immediately communicated to the admiral; who, though suffering severely from his wound, came immediately on deck:  where, the first consideration that struck his benevolent mind was, concern for the danger of so many lives; to save as many as possible of whom, he ordered Captain Berry to make every practicable exertion.  A boat, the only one that could swim, was instantly dispatched from the Vanguard; and other ships, that were in a condition to do so, immediately followed the example:  by which means, from the best possible information, the lives of about seventy Frenchmen were saved.  The light thrown by the fire of L’Orient on the surrounding objects, enabled the commanders to perceive, with more certainty, the situation of the two fleets, the colours of both being clearly distinguishable.  The cannonading was partially kept up to leeward of the centre till about ten o’clock, when L’Orient blew up with a most tremendous explosion.

“An awful pause, and death-like silence, for about three minutes, ensued; when the wreck of the masts, yards, &c. which had been carried to a vast height, fell down into the water, and on board the surrounding ships.  A port