"DEAR SAM,--Here we are--thank God! safe--after a glorious action with _La Cleopatre_, the crack ship of France; 40 guns, 28 on her main-deck, and 12 on her quarter-deck, some of 36 pounds, and 320 men. We dished her up in fifty minutes, boarded, and struck her colours. We have suffered much, but I was long determined to make a short affair of it. We conversed before we fired a shot, and then, God knows, hot enough it was, as you will see by the enclosed.[3] I might have wrote for a month, had I entered on the description of every gallant action, but we were all in it, heart and soul. I owe much to Israel, who undertook with the after-gun to cut off her rudder and wheel. The tiller was shot away, and four men were killed at her wheel, which I verily believe was owing to him. I will write again in a day or two, and do all I can for everybody. We must go into harbour. _Cleopatra_ is fifteen feet longer, and three feet wider than _Nymphe_--much larger, Poor dear Pearse is numbered with the slain[4]--Plane and Norway slightly wounded--old Nicholls safe. God be praised for his mercy to myself, and Israel, and all of us! "Yours, ever, E.P." "Be kind to Susan--go over, and comfort her; I cannot write to poor Pearse's mother for my life--do send her a note; I really cannot. I loved him, poor fellow, and he deserved it. "_June 20, 1793._" FOOTNOTES: [3] A list of the killed and wounded. [4] After the action, Mr. Norway requested permission to keep the body of Mr. Pearse for interment by his friends. Captain Pellew for answer desired Mr. N. to read the contents of a paper which he drew from his pocket. It was a direction that if he, Capt. P., should foil, his body should at once be thrown overboard. Of course Mr. N. immediately withdrew his request. CHAPTER IV. THE WESTERN SQUADRONS. The capture of the first frigate in a war is always an object of much interest; and the circumstances of the late action, the merit of which was enhanced by the skill and gallantry of the enemy, gave additional importance to Captain Pellew's success. "I never doubted," said Lord Howe, "that you would take a French frigate; but the manner in which you have done it, will establish an example for the war."