10 m. a.m. the Marengo and Sémillante opened their fire, which the Centurion returned. After the action had continued about a quarter of an hour, the Centurion's colours were shot away, as also were those of the Marengo ; but both ensigns were promptly replaced. At 10 h. 45 m. a.m. the 74, whose rigging appeared much damaged, hauled her wind and stood out, followed by the frigates. A battery of three guns at the town, under the command of Colonel Campbell of the 74th regiment, had co-operated with the Centurion in resisting the unequal attack.

Abandoned for the present, the Centurion continued to stand in-shore, and, in passing, hailed the Princess-Charlotte, and desired her to cut her cable, but without effect. About this time Captain Lind joined his ship ; and, finding her rigging and sails too much cut to admit of her being worked to advantage, anchored at the back of the surf, about a mile and a half to the north-east of the town, in six fathoms' water. Here the Centurion, now too distant to be supported by the battery at the town, prepared herself for renewing an engagement, which she had no means of avoiding, without resorting to an alternative not yet in contemplation.

At 11 h. 15 m. a.m. the Marengo and frigates put about and again stood in ; and in another quarter of an hour the 74, after having repeatedly tried the range of her guns, dropped anchor abreast of, and about a mile distant from, the Centurion. Having clewed up her topsails and furled her courses, the Marengo recommenced the cannonade, supported occasionally by the Atalante, who kept under sail on the Centurion's larboard quarter, and lay nearer than the Marengo, and in a much more annoying position. The Sémillante, meanwhile, was taking possession of the Princess-Charlotte. Unambitious of sharing glory with the Centurion, the latter had struck her colours without firing' a shot, although she mounted 24 long 12-pounders, with a crew of 71 men, and was a very formidable looking ship of 610 tons burden. Colonel Campbell had sent to her assistance about 50 seapoys ; but the boats saw the shameful occurrence in time to save themselves by pulling back to the shore.

The distance at which the Marengo, doubtless from ignorance of the bay and dread of grounding, had anchored, was far more favourable to her than to the Centurion, the latter having, except a 6-pounder or two, no other long guns than the 24s on her first or lower deck. In consequence, the Centurion's hull, masts, yards, and rigging, were severely cut by the fire of her two assailants : several shot struck her between wind and water, and one went through the gunner's store-room. At length, at about 7 h. 15 m. P.M., a shot from the Marengo cut the cable of the Centurion ; and, about the same time, the 74 cut or slipped her cable, hoisted her jib, and, accompanied by the two frigates and prize, stood away to sea. The Centurion also made some sail ; but, on getting a little further offshore, brought up again with

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