being able to pass ahead or astern of the Didon, ran right at her to windward.

This bold measure succeeded, and at 9 h. 15 m. P.M. the two frigates, both standing on the larboard tack, brought their broadsides mutually to bear at a pistol-shot distance, each pouring into the other an animated fire of round, grape, and musketry. See the diagram at p. 167. Owing to the press of sail under which the Phœnix had approached, and the nearly motionless state in which the Didon lay, the former ranged considerably ahead : whereupon the Didon, having, as well as her opponent, fallen off from the wind while the broadsides were exchanging, filled, hauled up, and stood on, discharging into the Phœnix, as she diagonally crossed the latter's stem (diagram, No. l*) a few distant and ineffectual shot. Profiting by her new position and the damaged state of her opponent's rigging, the Didon bore up, and, passing athwart the stern of the Phœnix, raked her (No. 2), but, owing to the precaution taken by the British crew in lying down, without any serious effect. The Didon then hauled up again on the larboard tack, and endeavoured to bestow her starboard broadside in a similar manner ; but the Phœnix had by this time repaired her rigging sufficiently to enable her, worked as she was by one of the best disciplined crews in the service, promptly to throw her sails aback, and prevent the Didon from again taking a position so likely to give an unfavourable turn to the combat.

This manoeuvre brought the Didon, with her larboard bow, or stem rather, pressing against the starboard quarter of the Phœnix (No. 3) ; both ships lying nearly in a parallel direction, and one only having a gun that, in the regular way of mounting, would bear upon her antagonist. This gun was a brass 36-pounder carronade upon the forecastle of the Didon ; who might also, but for some of which we are not aware, have brought an 18-pounder long-gun to bear through the maindeck bowport. The instant the two ships came in contact, each prepared to board the other ; but the immense superiority of numbers, that advanced to the assault in the Didon, obliged the Phœnix to defend her own decks with all the strength she could muster. Having repulsed the French boarders, chiefly with her excellent marines, the Phœnix hastened to take advantage of the means which she exclusively possessed of bringing a maindeck gun to bear upon an antagonist in the position of the Didon.

Having, in his zeal for the good of the service, ventured to overstep one of its rules, Captain Baker had caused the timber or sill of the cabin-window on each side next the quarter to be cut down, so as to serve for a port, in case a gun would not bear from the regular stern-port next to the rudder-head.

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