It may be conceived with what anxiety the movements of the “Duke of Montrose” were watched from shore. The flotilla of French ships was full in sight, perilously near the harbour. The “Attentive” was lying at some distance, evidently unable in the light wind which prevailed to manœuvre with any effect. Captain Dyneley’s Packet, a vessel of not more than one hundred and ninety tons, was no larger than the smallest of the three sloops in the track of which she was thrown, and to the spectators on the quay it seemed that the three, acting in concert, must quickly send the “Duke of Montrose” to the bottom. The first encouraging fact noticed by the merchants was that the Packet sailed incomparably better than any one of her enemies, and could choose her position as she pleased. She was, moreover, very skilfully handled, availing herself of every puff of the wind, which was now growing so light as to give some uneasiness. Whether by accident or design, the French vessels had become scattered, and Captain Dyneley seized the opportunity of dealing with them separately. By far the most formidable of them was “L’Imperial,” and he therefore singled her out, and bore down on her as fast as the weather permitted. Unfortunately, the wind now failed altogether, and the spectators on the quay saw with dismay that the “Duke of Montrose” was ceasing to cut the water, and lay with canvas hanging loose out of gunshot of “L’Imperial.” As quickly as this was perceived, however, hasty movements were seen on board, the boats dropped over the side, a dozen men leapt into them, and with a cheer which came faintly over the water to the ears of the merchants, and put some heart into them, the Falmouth men towed their ship towards the enemy. A short range was what Captain Dyneley wanted, his eight guns consisting chiefly of 12–pounder carronades, and he placed the “Duke of Montrose” within pistol shot of “L’Imperial.” A very hot action then began. From the shore nothing could be distinguished but a cloud of smoke in which the two vessels were obscured. The “Attentive” was unable to attain a position which would enable her to give the Packet any assistance; and irksome as it must have been to her officers to see their convoy doing the work, she seems to have contributed nothing to the result, unless, indeed, it was her presence on the scene which restrained the other French vessels from interfering in the fight. If so, she rendered invaluable service, for Captain Dyneley had his hands full, and a very little would have inclined the scale against him. During three-quarters of an hour the fighting was desperate; but at last the English gained the upper hand; the smoke began to clear away, and the people watching on shore saw the tricoloured ensign drop from the mast and the Union Jack hoisted in its place.