154     BRITISH AND FRENCH FLEETS     1813

On the 5th, at 9 h. 30 m. A.M., Vice-admiral Comte Emeriau, in the Imperial, with, according to the French accounts, 12, and according to Sir Edward Pellew's letter, 14 sail of the line, six frigates, and the Victoire schooner, got under way with a strong east-north-east wind, and stood to the usual spot for exercise. Captain Heathcote's squadron was off Cape Sicie ; and the main body of the British fleet, consisting, as already shown, of nine sail of the line, had just hove in sight front the southward, standing under close-reefed topsails, to reconnoitre the port. At 11 h. 30 m. A, M., just as the French advanced squadron, of five sail of the line and four frigates, under Rear-admiral the Baron Cosmao, had got a little to the south-east of Cape Sepet, the wind suddenly shifted to north-west. This unexpected occurrence, while it set the French ships to trimming sails to get back into port, afforded to the leading British ships a prospect of cutting off some of the leewardmost of the former, the names of which were as follows:

The British in-shore squadron immediately stood for the French rear ; and at 34 minutes past noon the leading British ship, the Scipion, opened a fire from her larboard guns upon the nearest French ships, which were then standing on the opposite or starboard tack ; as did also, in succession the Mulgrave, Pembroke, Armada, and Pompée (who had just joined), as they followed the Scipion in line astern. At 40 minutes past noon, having passed over, the Scipion wore, to bring her starboard broadside to bear ; and in two minutes afterwards the first French shot that took effect carried away part of the Pembroke's