The British frigate _Shannon_ (38) was commanded by Captain Broke, who was famous not merely for the attention he paid to gun practice, but for the care he had bestowed on the laying of his ship's ordnance. Ever since the beginning of April the frigates _Shannon_ and _Tenedos_ (38) had been lying off Boston, where they hoped to intercept any American frigate that dared to leave the harbour. Two succeeded in eluding them. The _Chesapeake_ frigate (36) commanded by Lawrence, lay in the harbour; and Broke, having detached the _Tenedos_ in order to tempt her out, sent a challenge to Lawrence on the morning of June 1, but before it could be delivered the _Chesapeake_ had sailed. She steered for the _Shannon_, who waited for her. The fight began at 5.50 P.M. about six leagues out from Boston; it was brief and bloody. After ten minutes' firing the _Chesapeake_ fell on board the _Shannon_, and was immediately boarded. In four minutes more every man on board had surrendered. In this short fight the _Shannon_ had lost out of a crew of 352 twenty-four killed and fifty-nine wounded, two of the latter mortally, while the _Chesapeake_, according to American official figures, had lost out of 386 forty-seven killed and ninety-nine wounded (fourteen of the latter mortally). No fewer than thirty-two British deserters were found on board the _Chesapeake_. The victory made the best possible impression. The two ships had been of approximately equal strength, the American having a slight superiority of force, and the _Chesapeake_ had been captured in the way in which most turns on individual courage, by boarding. Both captains had distinguished themselves in the fight, and both were severely wounded, Lawrence, as the event proved, fatally. [Pageheading: _CAMPAIGN IN FRANCE._]