82     LIGHT SQUADRONS AND SINGLE SHIPS     1812

chasers. At 4 h. 30 m. p.m. one of the President's 24-pounders burst : by which accident 16 persons were killed and wounded, including among the latter the commodore himself severely in the leg ; and the main and forecastle decks near the gun were so much shattered, as to prevent the use, for a considerable time, of a chase-gun on that side.

After having, owing to the accident, suspended firing for 10 minutes, the President put her helm a-starboard and discharged her starboard maindeck guns ; the shot from which (all single) did considerable injury to the rigging and sails of the Belvidera, but scarcely touched her hull. The most serious accident, which now befel the Belvidera, was the frequent breaking of the long- bolts, breeching-hooks and breechings, of the long guns and carronades ; by a blow from one of which latter, Captain Byron received a severe contusion in the inside of his thigh, a little above the knee. Nothing, however, could exceed the alacrity of the crew, as well in refixing and securing the guns, as in splicing and knotting the damaged rigging. In the mean while the captain and his senior lieutenant, John Sykes, personally superintended the pointing of the quarterdeck chase-carronades ; while the 18-pounders in the cabin were equally well served under the direction of Lieutenants Bruce and the Honourable George Pryce Campbell. This was a duty of some importance, as it was upon the nicety of the aim that their hopes of escape in a great degree rested.

At 5 p.m., being much annoyed by the steady stern-fire of the British frigate, the President again put her helm a-starboard, and fired her maindeck guns, at the distance, now, of rather less than 400 yards : she then renewed her course in the Belvidera's wake, receiving, as before, an animated fire from the latter's stern-chasers. Notwithstanding that the Belvidera had by this time had several of her backstays, main shrouds, and studding-sail halliards shot away, and her cross jack yard badly wounded, the crew, under the direction of Mr. James Kerr, the master, repaired the one and fished the other ; so that the ship had lost very little of her advantage in the chase.

At 2 h. 20 m. p.m. the President again endeavoured to free herself from the galling stern-fire of her persevering opponent (who, from her two cabin 18-pounders, fired upwards of 300 round shot), by luffing up athwart the Belvidera's stern and discharging two broadsides ; neither of which, however, produced much effect. About this time the Belvidera gave a brad yaw to starboard, with the intention of firing her broadside; but, the President quickly answering her helm, no guns would bear with effect, and none were discharged. Yet Commodore Rodgers, in his journal declares, that the Belvidera's " four aftermost guns were fired, without bearing within 25 or 30 degrees of the President."

Finding that the President was now getting so near, that she

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