was a shame to see the _Thetis_ so mauled and render no assistance: this was their report on board his Majesty's ship _Centaur_. At the conclusion of the fight a fortunate double-headed shot from our aftermost gun carried away the enemy's foremast, bowsprit, and maintopgallant-mast; upon which he cut us adrift, when we hauled our wind to the northward, with an intention to gain so far to windward as to get on his weather-side, where all the wreck was lying. On examining my crew, I found two killed and seven wounded, our sails and rigging so much cut that the ship was ungovernable; however, by uncommon exertions, we got her wore on the other tack, but only fetched under the enemy's lee, when we passed almost shaving her, and gave her two broadsides, at the same time receiving one from her which wounded two more men and disabled four guns. Afterwards spoke the _Ceres_, whose commander inquired into the state of our ship and men; he and his passengers drank my health, and he expressed himself more than once (through his trumpet), that he was very sorry it was not in his power to give us any assistance. I then urged a wish to further annoy the enemy, as she would be an easy capture. His answer was, "It is impossible; she has too many men." During this time, for about half an hour, the enemy was lying a complete log, while our consorts had received no damage. However, at length all three of us made sail together for her again, and engaged her at a distance for about an hour. My wounded being in great agony, I shaped a course for Barbadoes, where we all arrived next evening. "When we anchored I was visited by Captain Richardson, of his Majesty's ship _Centaur_, who immediately sent for a surgeon, Mr. Martin, who has my thanks for his particular attention to the wounded. Commodore Hood very handsomely gave me a protection for my crew, and took the wounded into the Royal Hospital. "So little credit was given to the account of the action given by the captains of the _Ceres_ and _Penelope_ at Barbadoes, that they resorted to the means of obtaining the captain of the _Bonaparte's_ signature to a letter, in direct contradiction of his statement to a naval officer who captured him, which was in the fullest manner corroborated by the surgeon who was stopped at Dominica on his way to Guadaloupe. "The action speaks for itself. Neither of the vessels, the _Ceres_ or _Penelope_, was in the smallest degree injured, although one of them reported he expended _six barrels_ of gunpowder. Double that quantity might have been expended with equal effect, as a large proportion of it was set fire to in the barrels. The _Penelope_, I understand, lost a passenger by a chance shot, yet I believe was equally as fortunate as the _Ceres_ in escaping without damage. "The steady behaviour of the _Thetis's_ officers and crew in this action, and their conduct during the voyage, demand my highest esteem, and will be for ever imprinted on my memory."