guns exactly opposite the wheel, wounding three men stationed at it : it then wounded Captain Berkeley, a young midshipman, and several men. The Montagne, as indeed did all the other French ships, fired an immense quantity of langridge.

The command now devolved upon Lieutenant John Monkton, who evinced the utmost skill and bravery in defending the ship. At length the Marlborough, made a signal for assistance, and was taken in tow by the Aquilon. Meanwhile the Mucius, being without an opponent, effected her escape; as would have done, also, the Impétueux, but that she was in too crippled a state to make sail. The latter was afterwards taken possession of by the Russel, whose people, as already stated, had quitted the America by the orders of Admiral Graves. The Impétueux was found to have sustained a loss of about 100 killed, and 75 badly wounded.

The Marlborough's loss, as might be expected, was extremely severe: she had one midshipman (Abraham Nelson), 23 seamen, and five marines or soldiers killed, her captain, second and fifth lieutenants (Alexander Rudduch and Michael Seymour, the latter with the loss of his left arm), one master's mate (Mr. Pardoe), four midshipmen (Messrs. Fitzgerald, Shortland, Linthorne, and Clarges), 63 seamen, and 14 marines or soldiers wounded.

The Defence, in bearing down, being rather in advance of her own line, had the good fortune to be the first in cutting through that of the enemy : she passed between the Mucius and Tourville, and, owing to some of the French ships astern not being properly attacked, was presently in the thickest of the fire. Her exposed situation soon caused the loss of her main and mizen masts. The Mucius, after awhile, quitted the Defence, and stretched on to windward of the Marlborough ; and the Tourville, also, taking advantage of the crippled state of her opponent, hauled up and made sail from her. The near approach of other French ships, and, among them, of the Républicain three-decker, with only her foremast standing, compelled the Defence, after the additional loss of her foremast, by engaging them, to make a signal for assistance. The Républicain soon afterwards set her foresail and ran to leeward ; and at about 1 p.m. the Phaëton, by directions from the admiral, took the Defence in tow. The latter lost her master (William Webster), boatswain (John Fitzpatrick), 11 seamen, and four marines or soldiers killed, one master's mate (J. Elliot), one ensign of foot, 25 seamen, and nine marines or soldiers wounded.

On her way from her station in the rear, to speak the admiral as she had been ordered, the Phaëton passed, at about noon, four French 74s, standing on the starboard tack. These were, probably, the Trajan, Eole, Téméraire, and Tourville ; but one of them must have subsequently separated and bore up, as three ships only were seen to windward in the afternoon. The Phaëton

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