1814     CREOLE AND ASTREA WITH ETOILE AND SULTANE     263

extinguished, and the action continued for nearly half an hour longer ; making about two hours from its commencement. Having now had every brace and bowline, tack, and sheet shot away, her main stay and several of her shrouds cut through, her three masts, particularly her foremast, badly wounded, the Creole put her helm a-lee, and, steering to the north-west in the direction of the island of St.-Jago, abandoned the contest.

It took the Astrea, when, at 2 h. 15 m., she had quitted the Sultane, until 2 h. 30 m. before she got alongside of the Etoile to leeward. After an exchange of broadsides, the Astrea, having from the great way upon her ranged too far ahead, luffed up and raked the Etoile on her starboard bow. The Astrea, just at this moment losing her wheel, fell round off ; and the Etoile, wearing, passed close astern of her, separating her from the boat she was towing, and poured in a most destructive raking fire ; which cut the Astrea's lower ringing to pieces, shot away both deck-transoms and four quarterdeck beams, burst a carronade, and ripped up the quarterdeck in all directions. Backing round, the Astrea soon got her starboard guns to bear ; and the two frigates, each with a fresh side opposed to the other, recommenced the action, yard-arm and yard-arm. In a few minutes Captain Eveleigh fell, mortally wounded by a pistol-shot just below the heart, and was carried below.

The command now devolved upon Lieutenant John Bulford ; and the engagement between the Astrea and Etoile continued in this close position, with mutual animation, although it was no cheering sight to the Astrea, at about 3 p.m., to observe her consort, on the starboard tack, apparently a beaten ship, and the, Etoile's consort approaching to double the force against herself. At 3 h. .5 m. p.m. the topsail, which lay in the Astrea's mizen top to replace the split one, caught fire, but the flames were soon extinguished. Seeing the near approach of the Sultane, the Astrea would have boarded the Etoile, and endeavoured to decide the contest that way ; but the motion of the ships was too great, and the British frigate could only continue to keep her antagonist, under her guns to leeward. At 3 h. 30 m. the Sultane, as she passed to leeward, raked the Astrea, and did her considerable damage. In five minutes the Sultane wore from the Astrea, and stood before the wind, leaving the latter and the Etoile still in close action.

At 3 h. 45 m. the Etoile also wore round on the starboard tack ; and in five minutes afterwards the Astrea's mizenmast, with the topsail a second time in flames, went by the board, carrying some of the firemen with it. In a short time after she had wore and ceased firing, the Etoile stood towards her consort, who was waiting for her under easy sail ; and the Astrea, having by this time had the whole of her lower and topsail braces shot away, and being otherwise greatly damaged in rigging and sails, was in too unmanageable a state to follow. At 4 h. 15 m. the

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