their relative means of further annoyance, as displayed by the vigorous fire of the one, and the slackened and still slackening fire of the other, cannot leave a doubt that, at the time the Arethusa made her appearance, the combat between the Amethyst and Niemen was virtually, if not formally, decided.

On the day succeeding that of the capture, the foremast of the Niemen, as a proof of the damage it had received in the action, fell over the side, and the Arethusa took the prize in tow. Being only nine months old, and a remarkably fine frigate, the Niemen became a great acquisition to the British navy; in which, under her French name, she classed the same as the Amethyst's former prize, the Thétis, Captain Seymour, soon after his return to port, was made a baronet of the United Kingdom ; and the first lieutenant of the Amethyst, Mr. William Hill, who, from the absence of two lieutenants, had a double share of duty to perform, was as deservedly promoted to the rank of commander.

That, as Captain Seymour in his official letter is careful to state, " the French captain defended his ship with great ability and resolution, " the length of the action, the execution done to the Amethyst, and the circumstances under which the surrender took place, sufficiently testify. And yet the Moniteur of July 13, 1809, contains a letter purporting to be from M. Dupotet, which, if genuine (and there we have our doubts, does not speak much for the French captain's veracity. As may be conjectured, the effect produced by the fall of the Amethyst's main and mizen masts is taken due advantage of. " L'ennemi prit chasse vent arrière, ayant à la traîne ses deux mâts," says M. Dupotet ; and he gravely adds : " Au bout de quinze minutes mon premier lieutenant Valin me fit prévenir que l'ennemi était rendu, et qu'on criait de son bord de ne plus tirer. Je designai l'enseigne Kerangoué pour aller l'amariner ; mais bientôt on vit venir une frégate qui venait au secours de celle-ci."

Knowing that Frenchmen, in many of their actions with the British at sea, have mistaken the cheers of triumph for the screams of despair, we pass over the statement that the people of the Amethyst called upon those of the Niemen to cease firing ; but the assertion, that the mainmast of the Niemen fell after the Arethusa had opened her fire, is a deliberate falsehood, which can admit of no palliation. Fortunately for the cause of truth, it is disproved in an instant ; for thus says the log of the Arethusa : " At half past 3, observed both ships going before the wind with only their foremasts standing. At 3 h. 45 m. commenced firing on the enemy. " The assertion, that the foremast of the Amethyst was in a shattered and unsupported state is equally false, although that may have arisen from misinformation. The fact is, that the foremast was only struck by one grape-shot, and was not even fished after the action.

We designated the movement, forced upon the Amethyst by the fall of her masts and sails in the water, an unfortunate one.

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