previously hailed by the Agamemnon, as the latter stood on, in obedience to Sir John's signal, to assist in overpowering the three-decker and her second astern.

At about 11 A.M. the Atlas, who, after quitting the Jupiter, had followed the Canopus, in fulfilment of the admiral's orders, to aid him in subduing the French admiral and his two seconds, poured two broadsides into the Impérial, and then, bearing up under the latter's stern, raked her. At this instant the tiller of the Atlas, by the breaking of the braces, got jammed upon the transom ; and at the same critical moment the ship received into her starboard quarter a heavy fire from the Diomède. Her whole attention being thus taken up, the Atlas failed to observe the Canopus, who was close ahead, time enough to shift her helm with effect, and which, in its crippled state, could make only one turn a-port. The consequence was, that the Atlas fell on board the Canopus, and, without doing any essential damage to the latter, carried away her own bowsprit. The Atlas quickly hove her after-sails aback, and, on clearing the Canopus, dropped alongside of the Diomède; whom she continued to engage with her starboard guns for about 12 minutes, when the Spencer came up and joined in the action. What now ensued will best appear after the fate of the French three-decker has been brought to a close.

With such a multitude of foes gathering round her, the latter ship, powerful as she was, had enough upon her hands. The chief antagonist of the Impérial had been the Northumberland, whose shattered state gave decided proofs of the heavy broadsides and well-directed fire to which her gallantry had exposed her. The fire of this ship, aided by that of the Superb, and subsequently of the Canopus, had also produced its effect upon the French three-decker ; who, at 11 h. 30 m. A.M., with the loss of her main and mizen masts, hauled towards the land, then not more than a mile distant. Having had her masts badly wounded and rigging cut to pieces, the Northumberland could only send after the Impérial a few distant shot ; and the Superb, deeming it unsafe, apparently, to be in less than 17 fathoms' water, hauled off to the southward. The Canopus, however, continued to fire at the three-decker, until the latter, at 11 h. 40 m. A.M., struck the ground, and by the shock lost her only remaining stick, the foremast. The Impérial shortly afterwards fired a gun to leeward, and her people flocked to the upper part of the ship in the utmost apparent distress : whereupon the firing at her ceased, and the nearest British ships hastened to join the Superb. About this time the mainmast of the Northumberland came down by the board, and, falling forward on the booms, broke to pieces all the boats, and carried away three or four skid-beams, besides doing other material damage.

After having bore up from engaging the Alexandre, the Spencer had passed, and, not seeing any colours, had fired at,

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