_Dreadnought_ 60 guns Capt. Suckling 375 men _Augusta_ 60 ” Capt. Forrest 390 ” _Edinburgh_ 64 ” Capt. Langdon 467 ” --- ---- 184 guns. 1232 men. === ==== FRENCH LINE OF BATTLE. _La Sauvage_ 30 guns 206 men _L’Intrépide_ (Commodore) 74 ” 900 ” _L’Opiniâtre_ 64 ” 640 ” _Le Greenwich_ (formerly British) 50 ” 400 ” _La Licorne_ 30 ” 200 ” _Le Sceptre_ 74 ” 750 ” _L’Outarde_ 44 ” 350 ” --- ---- 366 guns. 3446 men. === ==== Directly the French came in sight the senior officer, Captain Forrest of the _Augusta_, signalled to the other two captains to come on board for a council of war. They came, and, the story goes, arrived alongside the _Augusta_ together and mounted the ship’s side together. As they stepped on to the _Augusta’s_ gangway, Captain Forrest, it is related, addressed the two officers in these terms: “Gentlemen, you see the enemy are out; shall we engage them?” “By all means,” said Captain Suckling. “It would be a pity to disappoint them,” said Captain Langdon. “Very well, then,” replied Forrest; “will you gentlemen go back to your ships and clear for action?” The two captains bowed, and turned and withdrew without having, as it was said, actually set foot on the senior officer’s quarter-deck. Within three-quarters of an hour they were in action, the _Dreadnought_ leading in and attacking the French headmost ship as the squadrons closed. Captain Suckling opened the fight by throwing the _Dreadnought_ right across the bows of the _Intrépide_, a 74, and much the bigger ship, forcing her to sheer off to port to avoid being raked.