50     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

At 4 h. 22 m. p.m., having repaired her principal damages, the Northumberland tacked, and began working up, against a fresh west-north-west wind, to engage the enemy again, and avoid falling to leeward of the Graul. At 4 h. 48 m. the Mamelouck cut away her mainmast by the board ; and just then the Growler was seen rounding the south-east end of Groix under a press of sail. At 5 p.m. the Growler joined, and opened an occasional fire upon the grounded vessels, all of which had by this time fallen over upon the larboard side, or that nearest the shore. At 5 h. 23 m. p.m. the mainmast of the Arienne went by the board. At 5 h. 28 m. p.m. the Northumberland anchored in six and a half fathoms' water, Pointe de Pierre-Laye bearing north-west half-north, the citadel of Port-Louis north-west three quarters north, and the Graul rock north half-east 400 yards distant ; having, by means of a spring, brought her broadside to bear, at point-blank range, upon the two French frigates and brig, lying in the position already described, with their copper exposed to view.

At 5 h. 34 m. p.m. the Northumberland opened her starboard broadside, receiving in return a fire from three or four guns of the Andromaque, and a heavy fire from three batteries on the main ; but of which batteries one only, in the judicious station Captain Hotham had chosen, was able to reach the ship. At 5 h. 55 m. the Andromaque caught fire in the fore top. At 6 p.m. the flames were spreading fast : her fore topmast then fell, and several boats began pulling from the ship to the shore. At 6 h. 45 m. the main and mizen masts of the Andromaque went by the board. Having kept up a deliberate and careful fire until 6 h. 49 m. p.m., which was near the time of low water, and observing the visible effects of it to be, that the crews had quitted their vessels, that the bottoms of the latter were pierced through with shot so low down as to ensure their filling on the rising tide, and that the hull of the Andromaque was already in flames, the Northumberland got under way, and stood out of gun-shot of the nearest battery.

The fire from this single battery had done the Northumberland as much injury in the hull, as all the fire to which, in running along the coast engaging the ships and batteries, she had previously been exposed. Her loss, in consequence, amounted to four seamen and one marine killed, one lieutenant (William Fletcher), three petty officers, 19 seamen, and five marines wounded ; of whom four were wounded dangerously and 10 severely. The Growler, who, when the Northumberland ceased firing, had stood in and opened her fire upon the Arienne and Mamelouck, to prevent their crews from returning on board suffered neither damage nor loss.

At about 8 p.m. the Andromaque blew up, with an awful explosion, leaving no remains of her visible. At 8 h. 10 m. p.m. the Northumberland anchored out of reach of the batteries on

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