The Blenheim sustained no injury in materiel except a few shot-holes in her topsails ; but, unfortunately, a Mr. Cook, a passenger and a fine young man, was killed by a piece of langridge, while standing upon the quarterdeck. The Ganges, also one of the Marengo's acquaintances of the 15th of February, 1804, but now commanded by Captain Thomas Talbot Harrington had one man killed by an 8-pound shot. In the half-hour's action that occurred, no other ship of the convoy appears to have sustained any damage or loss.

The Marengo received a shot through the fish of her mainmast. Another shot struck her fore yard ; a third passed through the poop ; and several perforated her sails. Her loss, according to the French official account, consisted of only eight men slightly wounded. The Belle-Poule had her cross jack yard carried away in the slings, and her foresail so much cut that she was obliged to shift it : the frigate was also twice hulled under the chess-trees, and had two men wounded.

About midnight the French 74 and frigate crossed the hawse of the Blenheim, and at daylight lay to about four miles on the weather bow of the convoy ; the ships of which also lay to, in line of battle, expecting a renewal of the attack. At 7 A.M. the Marengo and frigate filled and bore down to reconnoitre, but, when about two miles off, again hauled to the wind. At 2 P.M. the Blenheim filled and set topgallantsails, and the Indiamen also made more sail, still preserving their line. This steady front probably decided the intention of M. Linois, who at 9 P.M. tacked to the southward ; while the British convoy pursued its course in an opposite direction, and on the 23d of the month arrived in safety at Madras.

On the 2d of August, at 1 h. 30 m. P.M. as the British 38-gun frigate Phaëton, Captain John Wood, and 18-gun brig-sloop Harrier, Captain Edward Ratsey, were entering the Straits of St.-Bernadino, Philippine islands, a strange frigate was discovered lying at an anchor in the road of St.-Jacinta. We left the French 36-gun frigate Sémillante, Captain Leonard-Bernard Motard, on her way to apprize the governor-general of these islands of the war between Spain and England. The frigate arrived in time to frustrate any attempt at surprise on the part of the British ; and, as a further benefit to the settlement, Captain Motard undertook to proceed to Mexico, and bring back a cargo of specie, the want of which was most severely felt at the Philippines, it being two years since the last galleon had arrived. Scarcely had the Sémillante quitted Manilla on her voyage, than intelligence that two British cruisers were then among the islands induced Captain Motard to anchor in the road of St.-Jacinta ; where, he knew, there were batteries to protect him.

Immediately on discovering the British vessels, the Sémillante began warping in-shore, between a battery on the south point of St.-Jacinta and a reef of rocks ; in which operation the French

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