order to follow the motions of the Sirène, along whose gangways were now seen, planted three deep, a numerous body of troops.

Although the wind was fresh and the sea, high, the Sirène, a ship: of about 920 tons, appeared by her stability and steadiness to feel little of its effects ; while the Aimable, a ship of 782 tons, and very deep with stores and provisions, kept rolling her maindeck guns in the water. Under these circumstances, and perceiving no chance of separating the two ships, the Aimable remained within gun-shot on the frigate's weather-quarter, in the hope that the Glenmore, a ship of 926 tons, and as carrying a tier of 18-pounders, a match for the Sirène and Bergère together, would come to her assistance. At one time, indeed, a ship was seen to windward ; but, having no studding-sails set, she did not promise a speedy reinforcement. Nor was this ship the Glenmore, but one of the armed vessels of the convoy, the Bellona, who had followed the Aimable in her chase, in order, as the master of her, with a feeling that, had he been otherwise circumstanced, might have prompted him to do more, said, " to look on." Had the Bellona gone yet further beyond the strict line of her duty, and set her studding sails, the Sirène, in all probability, would have mistaken the bold merchant ship for a vessel of war, and, abandoning the Bergère to the Aimable, have sought her own safety in flight.

Having maintained his station within gun-shot of the French frigate and corvette until dark, and being, by the ship's reckon 15 miles at least from the convoy intrusted to his joint-charge, and at an equal distance, as then appeared and really was the case, from those alone to whom he could look for support, Captain Raper considered that he was not justified in a further pursuit of the Serène and Bergère, now especially that they had bore up. The Aimable accordingly, after making signals with rockets and blue-lights, none of which were answered, stood away to the north-west in search of her consort and convoy. On the 18th, at 1 h. 30 m. a.m., the Aimable rejoined them, fortunately without any loss of men, and with only a slight damage to her rigging and sails.

This affair excites a mixed feeling of regret, that Captain Duff should first have mistaken a merchant ship for a rasé, and then have felt himself bound to keep in the midst of his convoy, even after his consort, by his permission, had gone in chase of a superior force ; and of the highest admiration at the gallantry of Captain Raper, who had fortune placed him in the command of an 18, instead of 12 pounder frigate, would, most likely, unless flight saved them, have captured both the Sirène and Bergère.

According to the brief notice of this affair in the Moniteur, no damage or loss worth mentioning was sustained by either French ship, or rather by the Sirène, for no other French ship is allowed

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