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we are unable to specify its amount. Much damage was likewise done to the Timoléon. and Victoire, to the latter in particular ; and the credit of inflicting it, as well as what the Tonnant and Duquesne may have suffered, belonged almost exclusively to the Illustrious and Courageux. This not being an action of a very decisive or important nature, it will be unnecessary to enter minutely into the force on either side. A general view, however, may be desirable, and that we can readily present. None of the British ships appearing to have been ordered any carronades, their long-gun force, as specified in the first annual abstract, will suffice. With respect to the Neapolitan 74 Tancredi, we shall consider her to have been armed with the same nominal calibers, as the French 74, No. 4, in the table at p. 54 ; and, in reducing the weight into English pounds, shall apply the rule (see p. 43) laid down for Spanish guns. Hence, the Tancredi's broadside weight of shot will be 849 pounds English : her number of tons we shall consider to be 1800. The Britannia mounted 42-pounders on her lower deck : her broadside weight of metal consequently amounts to 280 lbs. more than what stands as the force of her class at E in the first annual abstract. The French Toulon ships do not appear to have mounted, as yet, any carronades. Their force is therefore readily obtained, by a reference to the establishment of each class, as shown in the small table to which we have before referred. The French fleet, in this instance, had troops on board, in number, according to the British official account, 4220. As, however, the principal officers of the Ca-Ira and Censeur swore, on their examination in the prize-court, that the total number of persons on board their respective ships, at the commencement of the action, amounted, instead of, as in the official account, 1300 for each ship of 80, and 1000 for each ship of 74 guns, in the Ca-Ira to 1060, and in the Censeur to 921, the probability is, that the troops did not much exceed 3400 ; and there can be no doubt that the French naval officers, on going into action, wished the troops and their baggage out of the ships. It will be to the advantage of the British, not to notice the troops at all ; but to consider the French ships as having had on board their full complements of men, and no more. These complements appear also to be overrated in the British admiral's letter : the establishment of a French 120 is, in round numbers, 1100 men, of an 80, 840 men, and of a 74, 700 men; and not 1200, 950, and 730. The tonnages of the French ships may be stated, at 2600 for the 120, an estimate that makes her 147 tons less than her reputed sister-ship, the Commerce-de-Marseille ; at 2210 tons, as the actual measurement of one, and a moderate average for another 80 ; at 2281, as the actual measurement of the third 80 ; and at 19,711 tons, for the eleven 74s, part of them by actual ^ back to top ^ |