cannonade, that in less than a quarter of an hour the main and Mizen masts of the Intrépide's, already injured by the Africa's fire, fell over her side. The proximity of the Conqueror, and the approach of the Ajax and Agamemnon, left to the Intrépide's no alternative but to strike her colours. This the French ship did at 5 P.M., having been greatly damaged in hull as well as masts, and incurred a loss, according to the representation of her officers, of nearly 200 in killed and wounded. The second set of figures in the last diagram will show the track of the Orion in her way towards, and during the time she engaged, the Intrépide's.

The Africa had her maintopsail yard shot away, and her bowsprit and three lower masts so badly wounded that none of the latter could afterwards stand. Her remaining masts and yards were also more or less injured ; her rigging and sails cut to pieces ; and her hull, besides its other serious damage, had received several shot between wind and water. Her loss amounted to 12 seamen and six marines killed, one lieutenant (Matthew Hay), one captain of marines (James Tynmore), two master's mates (Henry West and Abraham Turner), three midshipmen (Frederick White, Philip J. Elmhurst, and John P. Bailey), 30 seamen, and seven marines wounded ; a loss which, considering that her complement was only 490 men and boys, and that Captain Digby had voluntarily engaged so superior a force, proves that, although but a 64, the Africa had performed as gallant a part as any ship in the British line. The Orion, who came so opportunely to the aid of the Africa, had her foremast wounded, and her maintopsail yard and main topgallantmast shot away. The loss on board the Orion, however, amounted to only one seaman killed, and two midshipmen (Charles Tause and Charles P. Cable, both slightly), 17 seamen, and four marines wounded.

It was at about 2 h. 30 in. P.M. that the whole of the Franco-Spanish van, except the Santisima-Trinidad, who lay dismasted abreast and to leeward of the Bucentaure, equally a wreck and either a prize or in the act of becoming one, began to put about, some by staying, others by wearing, in obedience to a signal made by the commander-in-chief at 1 h. 50 m. P.M. to the following purport : " The French fleet, engaging to windward or to leeward, orders the ships which, from their present position, are not engaging, to take such a position as will bring them the most quickly into action. " " L'armee navale Française, combattant au vent ou sons le vent, ordre aux vaisseaux qui, par leur position actuelle, ne combattant pas, d'en prendre une quelconque, qui les reporte le plus promptement possible au fen. "* It appears that, five minutes before, Rear-admiral Dumanoir had signalled

* Victoires et Conquetes, tome xvi., p. 173.

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