1811	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	352

the attack in two divisions ; the starboard or weather one consisting of the Favorite, Flore, Bellona, and Mercure, and the larboard or lee one, of the Danae, Corona, Carolina, and small craft.

The British ships immediately formed in line ahead, with, besides the customary red ensign at their respective peaks, union-jacks jacks and ensigns, blue and red, at their foremast heads and at their different stays. Thus nobly decorated, the four ships continued working to windward to close the enemy. Just before the two squadrons got within gun-shot, aware of what would be the talismanic effect, at such a moment, of the name and example of his late friend and patron, Captain Hoste telegraphed, " REMEMBER NELSON! " The loud " hurrahs ! " of the four ships' companies quickly responded to a signal, so admirably calculated to inspire the hearts of both officers and men with all the zeal, all the valour, and all the confidence, necessary to withstand a force of such apparently overwhelming superiority as that which, in the full expectation of achieving an easy victory, was now rapidly approaching.

At 9 a.m. the Amphion, then under top and topgallant sails, on the starboard tack, with the Active, Volage, and Cerberus, in close order astern, so close indeed, that the ships almost touched each other, opened her fire upon the Favourite ; who was rather ahead of the Danaé, the leading ship of the larboard division. The Amphion and Active kept up so well-directed a fire upon the Favorite, and the line they formed was so close and compact, that M. Dubourdieu was completely frustrated in his gallant attempt to pass between those ships. The Favorite now evinced a disposition to board the Amphion upon the quarter, and the French crew seemed all ready on the forecastle to carry the plan into effect ; when, just as the Favorite had approached within a few yards, a brass 5½ inch howitzer upon the Amphion's quarterdeck, loaded with 750 musket-ball, was discharged at her larboard bow, and, sweeping the French ship's forecastle, committed dreadful havoc among the crowd of boarders there assembled. Amidst them was observed, ready to lead on his men to the assault, the French Commodore himself; and he, it appears, was among those who fell on the occasion.

As the British ships were moving at the rate of about three knots an hour, the course of each of the Franco-Venetian columns became more and more oblique, until the Danaé, Corona, and Carolina, especially the two former, brought their larboard guns to bear upon the Volage and Cerberus ; which ships, although unable to cope with three such opponents, returned their fire with spirit. In the mean time, foiled in her endeavours either to board the Amphion, or to cut the line astern of her, and deterred by the Active's apparent superiority of force from wearing and coming to close action with her, the Favorite stood on engaging the Amphion, with the evident intention of rounding

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