battery on an adjacent hill, and of one or two field-pieces and a few troops stationed on the beach.

The Sheldrake, outsailing the Strenuous, led into the bay on the starboard tack, and the Constance whose greater draught of water would have obliged her to be cautious in her advance, even could she, with so little wind, have headed her consorts, followed the Strenuous. At about 1 h. 45 m. P.M. the Sheldrake opened her fire on the Salamandre ; as did the Strenuous and Constance, in succession, as they advanced. At a few minutes past 2 P.M., when the Constance, by sweeping, had arrived within pistol-shot on the enemy's beam, the signal was made to anchor ; and, as soon as all three British vessels had done so, a spirited cannonade was maintained between them, the Salamandre, and the shore. At about the height of the action Captain Burrowes was killed by a grape-shot, and at 3 P,M. the Salamandre, having hauled down her colours, was taken possession of by the master of the Constance. Soon afterwards the wind, which blew right on the shore, began to freshen ; and at 5 P.M. the Constance, having had her cables cut by the fire of the battery, took the ground. In this helpless state the Constance remained exposed to a heavy fire of round-shot, grape, and musketry.

The surviving officers and crew of the Constance had now no alternative but to endeavour to save themselves. Accordingly, at 5 h. 30 in. P.M., all that were able quitted the ship in the boats, leaving the wounded to the care of the enemy. These amounted to her first lieutenant (George Spencer Richards, slightly), her boatswain (Daniel M'Cawley, badly), and 14 seamen and marines, including four of the latter wounded mortally ; the killed, to eight besides the captain. The Sheldrake had one seaman killed and two wounded, and the Strenuous, who had her fore topmast shot away, one midshipman (Robert Bond) and four seamen and marines wounded ; making the total of the British loss 10 killed and 23 wounded, exclusive of 38 officers and men that were made prisoners in an unsuccessful attempt to save the Constance, on her again floating at the rising of the tide.

The Salamandre, mounting, as already stated, 26 guns with a crew, as admitted, of 80 men, * lost her captain, M. Salomon, and it was supposed about 29 men killed. Of her loss in wounded, all that can be stated is that nine, of whom two afterwards died, were received on board the Sheldrake: The Salamandre went on shore almost immediately after she had surrendered ; and the British not being able to get her off, set fire to and destroyed her.

Between the above account, and that given by Captain Thicknesse in his letter to the admiralty, there are some, as respects

*  The British official account says 150 men.

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