There were upon the Packet many persons who had an interest in avoiding an engagement; there was not one who had the slightest motive for forcing one. Several passengers were on board; two of them were accompanied by their wives. If these gentlemen had heard English voices hailing them, can it be supposed that they would not have interfered, and done all in their power to stop the fight? So far, however, from showing the least dissatisfaction with Captain Bull’s conduct, even when they learned with what vessel he had been contending, they united in an address of gratitude to him, in which they used the following terms: “No words which we can make use of can sufficiently convey to you an idea of our admiration of your conduct and that of your gallant crew....” They marked this admiration by presenting the captain with a sword of honour. These were the persons chiefly injured by negligence on the part of Captain Bull, if any such charge could be sustained; and this is how they estimated his conduct, being in the best possible position for judging of it. As for the fourth point, the ensign and pendant were produced at the Court of Inquiry at Falmouth. The pendant was thirty feet long; the ensign was nine feet four inches by four feet six inches, and was larger than was usual in the Packet Service. [Illustration: To face p. 282. HINCHINBROOKE AND AMERICAN PRIVATEER.] James remarks with some complacency that “the damages received by the ‘Marlborough,’ as admitted by Captain Bull and his officers, were of a very serious nature.” No admission from anybody is needed to show that when a vessel carrying sixteen 32–pounders and three other guns (James does not count the 12–pounder at the forecastle) engages one armed with twelve 6 and 9–pounders, the latter must suffer very heavily. It is astonishing, and by no means creditable to the “Primrose,” that her heavier metal did not end the action at a very early stage. James admits that “owing to the manœuvres of the ‘Duke of Marlborough,’ the ‘Primrose’ found a difficulty in firing with any effect.” Very probably she did: Captain Bull was an excellent seaman, and could not be expected to heave to in order to present an easier mark to the gunners of the “Primrose.” The fair judgment upon his proceedings on this occasion is that he acted like a good sailor and a brave commander. This was certainly the opinion of Mr. Freeling, and few people were more competent to judge.