14
spective stations opposed to the enemy's line. All our ships anchored by the stern, by which means the British line became inverted from van to rear.
Capt. Thompson of the Leander, of 50 guns, with a degree of judgment highly honourable to his professional character, advanced towards the enemy's line on the outside, and most judiciously dropped his anchor athwart hause of Le Franklin, raking her with great success, the shot from the Leander's broadside which passed that ship all striking L'Orient, the flag ship of the French commander in chief.
The action commenced at sun-set, which was at 31 min. past six P. M. with an ardour and vigour which it is impossible to describe.
At about seven o'clock total darkness had come on; but the whole hemisphere was, with intervals, illuminated by the fire of the hostile fleets. Our ships, when darkness came on, had all hoisted their distinguishing lights, by a signal from the Admiral.
The van ship of the enemy, Le Guerrier, was dismasted in less than twelve minutes; and, in ten minutes after, the second ship, Le Conquerant, and the third, Le Spartiate, very nearly at the same moment were also dismasted. L'Aquilon and Le Souverain Peuple, the fourth and fifth ships of the enemy's line, were taken possession of by the British at half past eight in the evening.
Capt. Berry, at that hour, sent Lieut. Galway, of the Vanguard, with a party of Marines, to take possession of Le Spartiate, and that officer returned by the boat, the French Captain's sword, which Captain Berry immediately delivered to the Admiral, who was then below in consequence of the severe wound which he had received in the head during the heat of the attack.
At this time it appeared that victory had already declared itself in our favour, for although L'Orient, L'Heureux, and Tonnant were not taken possession of, they were considered as completely in our power, whichpleasing
