passing within it, where there was not water enough, and they all grounded, under every sail, on the rocks between it and the shore.
The sails and rigging of the Northumberland were so much damaged that Captain Hotham was obliged to leave the enemy to the effects of the falling tide, it being only quarter ebb, while he repaired the rigging and shifted the fore-top-sail, which was rendered entirely useless; working to windward during that time under what sail he could set, to prevent falling to leeward; in which interval, at 5 o’clock, the Growler came up, and fired on the enemy occasionally. At 5h 28’, the Northumberland was anchored in six and a half fathoms water, with her broadside bearing on the enemy’s vessels, at point blank range, all of them having fallen over on their sides next the shore as the tide left them; and for an hour and a quarter a deliberate and careful fire was kept up on them, their copper being all the time exposed. At the expiration of that period, it being near low water, and Captain Hotham believing he had fully effected, the object of his endeavours, the French crews having quitted their vessels, all their bottoms being pierced by very many shot so low down as to ensure their filling on the rising tide, and the leading frigate being completely in flames, communicated to the hull from a fire which broke out in her fore-top, he got under sail. Three batteries fired at the Northumberland during the whole time she was at anchor; and although the position[1] was so far well chosen that she was out of the range of two of them, the other (to which the enemy’s vessels were nearest) reached her, and did as much execution in the hull as all the fire she had been exposed to before.
At five minutes before eight, the frigate on fire blew up with an awful explosion, leaving no remains of her visible. At ten, the other frigate appeared to be on fire also; and at half-past eleven, the flames burst forth from her ports and every part with unextinguishable fury; she burnt all night, and exploded at about half-past two on the following morning, as did also the brig in the course of the day.
The enemy’s squadron consisted of l’Arianne and l’Andro-
- ↑ Anchor-bearings, – Point de Pierre Laye, N.W. ½N.; the citadel of Port Louis, E. ¼N,; and the rock named Le Graul, N. ½E. two cables’ length distant.
