1814	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	280

conjectured, an American squadron, but the two French 40-gun frigates Atalante and Terpsichore, from Lorient on the 8th of January, and their prizes, a large richly-laden Spanish ship, captured the day previous, named the San-Juan-de-Baptista, carrying 20 guns and 50 men, and an unarmed merchant brig. At 7 h. 30 m. the four vessels stood towards the Majestic. Having again made the private signal without effect, Captain Hayes, at 8 h. 30 m. a.m., gave up the chase of the Wasp, and hauled to the wind on the larboard tack, with a light breeze from the north-north-east, more distinctly to make out the character of the strangers in the south.

At 9 a.m. the Majestic tacked to the westward. At 9 h. 15 m., just as she had got upon the beam of the weathermost ship, which was the Terpsichore, the latter made to her consort the signal for an enemy. Captain Hayes being determined to force these ships, now clearly seen to be large frigates, to show their colours, the Majestic, at 10 a.m., tacked, hoisted her colours, and bore up. for the Terpsichore. In five minutes the latter shortened sail, for the Atalante, who was some distance astern, to close ; and on the Majestic's evincing an increased eagerness to get alongside of her, the Terpsichore wore and stood towards her tardy companion, with the signal flying, " The enemy is inferior to us." The French commodore answered this with, make more sail." Thinking his signal had been misunderstood, Captain Breton repeated it, but merely obtained a repetition of the answer to his first signal.

As soon as the Terpsichore had joined the Atalante, which was at about 11 h. 30 m. a.m., the two frigates, formed in line ahead, with the Lima ship and merchant brig on the weather bow, seemed resolved to withstand an attack. But the Majestic by her bold approach, extinguished the last remnant of resolution in the poor commodore; and at 11 h. 45 m., the Atalante crowded sail nearly before the wind to the south-south-east. In a minute or two the Terpsichore hoisting French colours followed her consort. Both French ships carried their larboard studding sails ; and the Atalante, ludicrously enough, still kept the signal flying, " Make more sail." The armed ship and merchant brig, meanwhile, had hauled up to the eastward, also under a press of canvas.

Towards noon the wind freshened and the Majestic gained upon the Terpsichore. At 2 h. 15 m. p.m. the latter opened a fire from her stern chase-guns. At 3 p.m., being in a good position, going at the rate of 10 knots an hour, the Majestic commenced firing her bow guns with considerable effect, almost every shot striking. After a running fight, which lasted until 4 h. 49 m. p.m., the Terpsichore fired a few of her aftermost guns at the Majestic, who was then within musket-shot distance, and struck her colours, but did not shorten sail. The Majestic, in consequence, fired another shot or two ; when, at 4 h. 56 m., the

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