TYRREL. 609 was not backward in returning the salute, so that a furious conflict ensued. Captain Tyrrel being wounded in the face, and having three fingers of his right hand shot away, was obliged to entrust the defence of his ship to Mr. Marshal, his first lieutenant, who continued the battle with great gallantry, but was killed in the act of encouraging the men; thus he died an honour to his country, and to the service. The second lieutenant then came on deck, and fought the ship bravely, yard-arm and yard-arm, sustaining a desperate fight against the three ships of the enemy. The officers and crew of the Buckingham exerted themselves with a calm determined valour; and Captain Troy, who commanded a detachment of marines on the poop, plied his small arms so effectually, as to drive the enemy from their quarters. At length, when the French were no longer able to withstand the skill and bravery of their assailants, terror, uproar, and confusion prevailed among them. The firing from the Florissant ceased, and about twilight her colours were hauled down. The Buckingham was too much damaged in her rigging to take immediate possession of her well-earned prize; which the French captain perceiving, set a l l his sails, and, under favour o f the night, escaped with the two frigates. This circumstance alone prevented a British ship o f sixty-five guns, five o f them having been disabled some months before,) with only four hundred and seventy two men, from taking a French ship o f the line, mounted with seventy-four pieces o f cannon, provided with seven hundred men, and assisted b y two large frigates; one o f thirty-eight guns, and three hundred and fifty men; the other o f twenty-eight guns, and two hundred and fifty men. The loss o f the Buckingham i n this signal action, was only nine men killed, and thirty-one wounded. On board the Florissant, one hundred and eighty men were said t o have been killed, and three hundred wounded. She was s o disabled i n her hull that she could b e hardly kept afloat till she reached Martinico
and the largest frigate, besides the loss o f forty men, received such damage, WOL. I . I . R R
