the hulls of the two ships prevented their stepping from one to the other, retired within-board.

The repulse of this very gallant assault cost the Victory dearly. Captain Adair and 18 men were killed, and one lieutenant (William Ram, mortally), one midshipman (George Augustus Westphal), and 20 men wounded. Captain Adair met his death by a musket-ball received at the back of the neck, while standing upon the Victory's gangway encouraging his men, and several seamen and marines were also killed by the French musketry ; but the lieutenant and midshipman, and four or five seamen standing near them, were struck by a round shot, or the splinters it occasioned, which shot had come obliquely through the quarterdeck, and must have been fired from one of the Redoutable's maindeck guns pointed upwards in the manner already described.

The account which the French give of the origin of this boarding attempt, and of the cause that led to its failure, is as follows: " In the twinkling of an eye " (alluding to the time when Lord Nelson was carried below), " the quarterdeck of this ship (the Victory) was deserted : the gallant fellows of the Redoutable wanted to rush upon it ; but the rentrée of the two vessels presented an obstacle. In order to obviate this, Captain Lucas directed the main yard of his ship to be lowered, meaning to make of it a bridge whereon to pass on board the Victory. At that moment the three-decker Téméraire ran foul of the Redoutable on the side opposite to that on which the Victory lay, pouring in at the same time the whole of her broadside. The effect of this fire was terrible upon the crew of the Redoutable, the whole of whom were then assembled upon the forecastle, gangway, and quarterdeck. Nearly 200 were placed hors de combat. The brave Captain Lucas, although wounded, remained on deck. The junction of the Téméraire giving fresh courage to the crew of the Victory, the latter recommenced firing, but soon afterwards ceased in order to disengage herself from the French ship.*

Is it likely that a French 74 would attempt to board a British three-decker fast to her on one side, while a second British three-decker was foul of her on the other? We have not a doubt, therefore, that the French account is in this respect correct. In fixing the relative time of these occurrences, we should say that, in about five minutes after Lord Nelson was carried off the deck, or at 1 h. 35 m. P.M., the boarding indication commenced. Admitting the contest when the Téméraire put an end to it, by lashing the Redoutable's bowsprit to the fore part of her main rigging and pouring in her destructive raking fire, to have continued five minutes, that would fix the time of the Téméraire's getting foul, as we have already stated it, at 1 h. 40 m. P.M.;

*  For the original, see Appendix, No. 7.

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