fire from L’Orient fell into the main-royal of the Alexander; the fire occasioned by which was, however, extinguished in about two minutes, by the active exertions of Captain Ball.

“After this awful scene, the firing recommenced with the ships to leeward of the centre, till twenty minutes past ten; when there was a total cessation of firing, for about ten minutes:  after which, it was revived till about three in the morning; when, it again ceased.

“After the victory had been secured in the van, such British ships as were in a condition to move, had gone down on the fresh ships of the enemy.  At five minutes past five in the morning, the two rear ships of the enemy, Le Guillaume Tell and Le Genereux, were the only French ships of the line that had their colours flying.  At fifty-four minutes past five, a French frigate, L’Artemise, fired a broadside, and struck her colours:  but such was the unwarrantable and infamous conduct of the French captain, that after having thus surrendered, he set fire to his ship; and, with part of his crew, made his escape on shore.  Another of the French frigates, La Serieuse, had been sunk by the fire from some of our ships; but, as her poop remained above water, her men were saved on it, and were taken off by our boats in the morning.  The Bellerophon, whose masts and cables had been entirely shot away, could not retain her situation abreast of L’Orient, but had drifted out of the line to the lee side of the bay, a little before that ship blew up.  The Audacious, in the morning, was detached to her assistance.  At eleven o’clock Le Genereux and Guillaume Tell; with the two frigates, La Justice, and La Diane; cut their cables, and stood out to sea:  pursued by the Zealous, Captain Hood, who handsomely endeavoured to prevent their escape.  But, as there was no other ship in a condition to support the Zealous, she was recalled.

“The whole day of the 2d of August was employed in securing the French ships that had struck; and which were now all completely in our possession, Le Tonnant and Timoleon excepted.  As these were both dismasted, and consequently could not escape, they were naturally the last of which it was necessary to think of taking possession.

“On the morning of the 3d, the Timoleon was set fire to; and Le Tonnant had cut her cable, and drifted on shore:  but that active officer, Captain Miller, of the Theseus, soon got her off again, and secured her in the British line.

“The British force engaged, consisted of only twelve ships of seventy-four guns, and the Leander of fifty:  for, from the over anxiety and zeal of Captain Troubridge to get into action, his ship, the Culloden, in standing in for the van of the enemy’s line, had unfortunately grounded on the tail of a shoal, running off from the island on which were the mortar and gun batteries of the enemy; and, notwithstanding all the exertions