a topsail yard. On this the chasing ships shortened sail ; as did also the three British frigates. Finding it in vain to hope to shake off the latter, who appeared as if they would really follow him to the Antilles, Commodore Bompart determined to steer for his destination. The French ships accordingly wore on the larboard tack, with their heads to the north-west, and were quickly followed in the manœuvre by Captain Countess's squadron. In the forenoon's chase the Anson had sprung her main topmast ; and in the evening the Hoche was seen to lower hers down either to shift or fish it : at daylight on the 30th, however, the topmast of the French ship, to the credit of her officers and crew, was again in its place. At noon this day the ships were in latitude 44° north, longitude 14° 23' west, On the 1st of October the French began steering a more northerly course, and rather increased their distance from the British. On the 4th, in the evening, the weather continuing thick and coming on to blow very hard from the south-south-east, the Ethalion and her consorts hauled up and soon lost sight of M. Bompart's squadron. On the 7th, in the evening, the Amelia parted company. On the 8th, and a part of the 9th, it was calm ; during which the Anson rolled away her main topmast and mizen topgallantmast.

On the 11th, at daylight, the Ethalion and Anson, standing on the larboard tack, with the wind at north-north-west, saw and chased two sail on the lee bow; one of which proved to be the Amelia, and the other a ship (either the Robust or Magnanime) belonging to the squadron of Commodore Sir John Borlase Warren ; who, with the 74-gun ship Canada, 80-gun ship Foudroyant, Captain Sir Thomas Byard, 74-gun ship Robust, Captain Edward Thornborough, and 44-gun frigate Magnanime, Captain the Hon. Michael De Courcy, had been despatched from Cawsand bay since the evening of the 23d of September, which was about as soon as intelligence arrived of the escape of the French squadron from Brest. The commodore then proceeded straight to Achil head, and on the 10th, the high land of Donegal being distant about 12 leagues, was joined by the 36-gun frigates Melampus, Captain Graham Moore, and Doris, Captain Lord Ranelagh ; which frigates had sailed from Lough-Swilly a few days before, in consequence of the intelligence brought to the north-west coast by the Sylph brig detached by Captain Countess. Shortly after the junction of the Melampus and Doris, Sir John detached the latter to cruise off Tory island and the Rosses, and the former to give the alarm along the Irish coast. A gale of wind from the north-west rendering it unsafe to approach the land without a pilot, the Melampus kept company with the squadron ; which was joined the same evening by the Amelia. So that, on the following day, the 11th, when, at about 10 h. 30 m. a.m., Captain Countess joined company, Sir John Warren had under his command the Canada, Robust,

^ back to top ^