The comparatively heavy metal of the three British rasés; Anson, Indefatigable, and Magnanime, invested them with such powers of ubiquity, that every British single-decked ship larger than a sloop, seen or encountered along the French coast, was pronounced "un vaisseau rasé." As the difference in size between the Amelia and San-Fiorenzo (two French frigates originally, one the Proserpine, the other the Minerve) was only 27 tons, we are at a loss to conceive to which of the two the Moniteur meant to apply the wonder-working designation. At all events, whatever may be thought of the conduct of the French commodore, there can be but one opinion, among those acquainted with the facts, as to the gallant behaviour, and the (let the French themselves speak to that) well-directed fire, of Captains Neale and Herbert, and their respective officers and ships' companies.

On the 13th of April, the east end of Jamaica bearing, south-south-west distant 25 leagues, the British 14-gun brig-sloop Amaranthe (12 carronades, 24-pounders, and two light long guns), Captain Francis Vesey, after a long chase came up with and engaged, nearly within pistol-shot, the French schooner letter-of-marque Vengeur, of six 4-pounders ; and the latter, notwithstanding her great inferiority of force, fought for one hour and eight minutes.

The Amaranthe, out of a crew of 86 men and boys, had one quartermaster killed, and three seamen slightly wounded ; and the Vengeur, out of a crew of 36, including passengers, 14 men killed and five wounded, one of them mortally. The schooner was from San-Jago de Cuba bound to Jérémie, with a cargo of flour. The noble defence, made by her officers, crew, and passengers, was worthy of every praise, and to the credit of Captain Vesey, did not pass unnoticed by him.

On the 4th of May the British 10-gun polacre Fortune, commanded by Lieutenant Lewis Davis, in company with the Dame-de-Grace, a prize gun-boat, sailed from the bay of Acre, having been ordered by Sir Sidney Smith, of the Tigre, to cruise for three weeks on the coast of Syria, in order to cut off any supplies that might arrive from Alexandria, for the use of the French army before Acre. On the 8th, at 3 a.m., when about four miles from the shore near Jaffa, the Fortune and gun-boat fell in with Rear-admiral Perrée's squadron, of three frigates and two brigs. At daybreak one of the latter, the Salamine, displaying a British red ensign, ran alongside of the Fortune. Lieutenant Davis hailed her, and was answered with a broadside and a volley of musketry ; after which the Salamine hauled down the British, and hoisted French colours. The Fortune promptly returned the salute, and a smart conflict ensued.

At 6 a.m. all the cartridges, and the greater part of the shots, of the Fortune were expended, three of her guns dismounted, and her masts, yards; and rigging cut to pieces. While she was in this utterly defenceless state the Salamine came close upon

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