The situation of the Néréide was now, as may be supposed a very critical one ; but the situation of her boats, with, a great proportion of her crew on board, besides a party of solders and artillerymen, was still more critical. These were now pulling up the narrow channel, down which the Minerve and Ceylon were sailing, and their capture appeared inevitable. At this moment it was observed that the Bellone, instead of following the other ships through the channel, had hauled off on the larboard tack, as if intending, in company with the Windham, to seek another port. Although in a 12-pounder frigate, with a great part of her crew absent, Captain Willoughby thought himself a match for the Minerve, Victor, and prize Indiaman, especially if he took on board the troops from the island. At 2 h. 30 m. p.m., just as the soldiers were about to remove into the Néréide, and the latter had loosed her sails, and was preparing to slip, the Bellone, having left the Windham steering under a crowd of sail to the westward, bore up for the passage.

The plan of attacking the Minerve was now of course abandoned, and the Néréide began preparing to receive the Bellone, Just at this moment, to the surprise of all on board the Néréide, the boats were seen approaching, after having been passed, successively, by the Minerve, Ceylon, and Victor. It appears that the boats were so near to the Minerve, as to be obliged to lay in their oars, and that the French officers and men were assembled on the gangway, looking down upon them: nay one boat actually struck against the frigate. But not a word was spoken by the frigate to the boats ; nor, as may be supposed, by the boats to the frigate : an enigma in the former case, not to be explained, especially when it is considered how promptly and collectedly Captain Bouvet had just before hailed the Victor, and desired her to follow him. Had he given the same orders to the boats, they must have obeyed ; otherwise, with the velocity with which they were sailing, the Ceylon and Victor could with ease have run them down. He did not do so ; and the boats, and the 160 or 170 officers and men they contained, reached the Néréide in safety.

At about 2 h. 40 m. p.m. the Bellone let fall her topgallantsails ; and, having exchanged a fire with the battery, hauled up a little for the Néréide apparently to run her on board, but, as we conjecture, to be well to windward, in her passage down the channel, of a projecting part of the shoal. At all events the soldiers in the Néréide were drawn up in readiness upon her starboard gangway and forecastle, to repel any such attempt to board. But none was made ; for Commodore Duperré, just as he was advancing upon the Néréide starboard bow, kept more away. At 2 h. 45 m., when so close to each other that their yards almost touched, the Bellone and Néréide exchanged broadsides. By this fire the Néréide had her driver-boom shot away close to the jaws, her fore and mizen topgallant yards and

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