The following is an extract from the Rear-admiral's despatch: "Having observed that six of the enemy's ships had struck, and it being very dark, and our own ships dispersed, I thought it best to bring to that night, and seeing a great firing a long way astern of me, I was in hopes of seeing more of the enemy's ships taken in the morning; but, instead of that, I received the melancholy account of Captain Saumarez being killed, and that the Tonnant had escaped in the night, with the assistance of the Intrepide, who, by having the wind of our ships, had received no damage that I could perceive."[18] [18] Ships taken:--Le Terrible; Le Monarque, 74; Le Neptune, 70; Le Trident; Le Fougueux, 64; Le Severn, 50. The last will of Captain Philip Saumarez is an interesting document, inasmuch as it portrays his true character as an officer and a Christian, impressed with the uncertainty of human life, and almost anticipating the glorious fate which ultimately befel him; and as it is also replete with piety, morality, gratitude, and the other virtues which adorn the life of a hero, we shall conclude this memoir with some extracts taken from the original, which begins thus: "I, Philip Saumarez, commander of H.M.S. Nottingham, from a reflection of the uncertainty of human life in general, particularly when engaged in a military profession: in order therefore to face death cheerfully, whenever duty or nature shall call upon me, I hereby dispose of whatever Providence has blessed me with, in the following manner: "To my honoured mother, I bequeath the sum of 1500_l._ to be paid after my father's death, and until then to remain at interest; if she dies before him, to be divided equally among my eldest brother John's children. "To my sister Anne, 300_l._ To my sister Elizabeth, 300_l._ "To my brother John, 1000_l._ all my silver plate, and a diamond ring, formerly belonging to Lady Carteret. "To my niece and godchild, Carteret Saumarez, my brother John's daughter, I bequeath 1000_l._ "My brother Matthew Saumarez, 1500_l._ and all my books; and to his daughter, 500_l._ "My brother Thomas Saumarez, 1000_l._ with all my linen, liquors, furniture, and apparel. "My brother-in-law, Philip Durell and his wife, I bequeath 50_l._ each, their fortunes being sufficient: his wife to buy mourning. "To my aunt Durell, at Westminster, 100_l._ "My aunt Sauvaine, 10_l._ to buy mourning. "Mr. Solomon Durell, 40_l._ "To my worthy friend James Wallace, commissioner of the victualling office, 100_l._ "To my steward, 30_l._ besides a suit of mourning; and to my other servants, 5_l._ each.