within gun-shot, received a fire from the stern-chasers and quarter-guns of the Embuscade and Coquille. At 7 h. 23 a.m., the Rosses then bearing from the Canada south-south-west distant five leagues, the Robust returned the fire of the two French frigates, and at 7 h. 45 m., hauling up her mainsail and taking in her spanker, bore down to leeward of them, for the purpose of closing with the Hoche. This object Captain Thornborough accomplished at 8 h. 50 m., after having engaged the two French frigates in passing, and thus commenced a furious action, side by side, between the two 74s.

In a very few minutes after the Robust had closed with the Hoche, the Magnanime, following close upon her leader, opened her starboard broadside; and the Embuscade and Coquille, particularly the latter, very soon felt its effects. About this time, owing to the Robust checking her way to keep alongside of the Hoche, the Magnanime put her helm hard a-starboard, to avoid running foul of the former, and, ranging past the Robust to leeward, became exposed with the latter to a raking fire from the Loire, Immortalité, and Bellone, which ships had bore up out of the line for that purpose. After a few well-directed broadsides from the Magnanime and a few distant shots from the Foudroyant, the three French frigates ceased their annoyance and made sail to the south-west ; while the Magnanime, putting her helm hard a-port, obtained a raking position ahead of the Hoche. About this time, or soon afterwards, the latter was assailed on her stern and larboard quarter by the Amelia ; who, as well as the Ethalion, had been prevented from getting earlier into action, by having to shorten sail in compliance with Sir John Warren's signal to form the line. Not minding, or perhaps "not seeing" this signal, the Melampus, although far to leeward when the action commenced, got near enough to fire in passing, as declared by Commodore Bompart himself, a few very destructive shot at the Hoche, just as the headmost French frigates were making sail to escape. The Canada, too, having, on tacking to the northeast been favoured by a shift of wind to nearly west, was enabled to fire a few distant shot from her bow-guns at the larboard quarter of the Hoche, already a mere wreck from the close and well-directed fire of the Robust. In this state, with her standing and running rigging all cut to pieces, her masts left tottering, her hull riddled with shot, five feet water in the hold, 25 of her guns dismounted, and a great portion of her crew killed and wounded, the Hoche, at 10 h. 50 m. a.m., struck her colours, and was taken possession of by the boats of the Robust and Magnanime ; the first lieutenant of which latter ship, Mr. Charles Dashwood, had the honour of receiving Commodore Bompart's sword.

At about 11 h. 30 m. a.m. the Embuscade, after having, in addition to the injuries she had sustained by the fire of the Magnanime, received a fire from the bow-guns of the Foudroyant, as that ship was working up, surrendered also ; and, dropping

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