This dashing service was performed without injury to a single man on board of, or belonging to, any one of the three British vessels ; and the only damage which the latter sustained was a slight wound by shot in the Hydra's mainmast, and some injury to her rigging. "From the number of slain left on board and the state of her decks," the Confiante appeared to have sustained a severe loss ; but, as the wounded were carried off, and the killed are not enumerated in either the English or French accounts, we are unable to state its amount.

As soon as, on the ebbing of the tide on the morning Of the 30th, the Vesuvius and Trial had hauled off from the Vésuve, the French crew began shoring up the corvette, to prevent her falling over : they next got down her yards and topmasts, and laid out an anchor in the north-west, ready to heave her afloat on the rising of the tide. This was effected while the Hydra's boats were boarding the Confiante ; and, in the course of the afternoon, the Vésuve got safe into the river Dive. Here, at the little port of Sallenelle, was lying Captain Muskein's division of gun-boats on its return to Hâvre.

In order to protect the corvette from a second attack, Captain Muskein landed a portion of his guns, and erected batteries at Cabourg and other suitable spots at the entrance of the river. These batteries were worked by the seamen from the gun-boats, assisted by the 200 troops of the Boulogne battalion that had embarked in them. This prompt measure saved the Vésuve from sharing the fate of the Confiante ; and, even when on the 1st of June the 38-gun frigate Diamond, Captain Sir Richard John Strachan, joined the little squadron before Hâvre, the British were obliged to retire without effecting any thing further. As soon as their departure was ascertained, and the Vésuve had rigged herself afresh, the corvette and gun-boats got under way, and reached Hâvre in safety.

A French writer complains, that Lieutenant Lecolier did very little to support his commodore; and it certainly would appear, as well that Captain Pevrieux, when he permitted the Vésuve, instead of running on shore, or making off as the cutter had just done, to follow the Confiante in tacking from the coast, did expect to derive some benefit from the co-operation of his consort, as that the latter bore up out of gun-shot the instant she felt the effects of the Hydra's heavy broadside. Nor, considering the disparity of force between the Hydra and Vésuve, and the apparent neglect of the Confiante, who was to windward, to close for his support, could Lieutenant Lecolier be blamed for the step he took.

As the Vesuvius and Trial had gone in pursuit of the corvette then was the time for Captain Pevrieux to have emulated the conduct of many other French officers of his rank, and, instead of running from, to have at least "shown fight" with, the Hydra. Having, however, previously declined to engage

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