“I said I counted five-and-twenty stately ships, all under full canvas, for the weather was very moderate, and the sea smooth. The ships, shortly after sighting each other distinctly, reduced their canvas to single-reefed topsails. The French ships kept signalling, and presently, as they read the signals, they all drew up in line, east and west. On our starboard quarter was the Achille, on the other the Patriote, or the Jeannapes, at this moment I forget which; but as I gazed in breathless anxiety, the breeze rapidly freshened, and then the English ships filled, and stood right for our line, and, as it appeared to me, each ship singling out its antagonist. I do not know the name of the ship, but she was by far the largest in the British fleet——” “That was the Queen Charlotte,” said Captain O’Loughlin, “Lord Howe’s ship of one hundred guns.” “Ah, now I remember, so it was,” said Julian. “She appeared to be bearing down right upon us; but suddenly she broke off from her course, and the Vengeance opened fire upon her, which she did not return; but immediately setting her top-gallant sails, shot past us, and ranged up abreast of the Achille, who at once commenced a fierce fire upon her, and immediately after, the action became general, and to my unpractised eye, a scene of intense confusion. What with the thundering of the cannon, the flapping of the monstrous sails, as the several ships tacked or hove-to, the cheers from some of the British ships, and the thunder of the huge blocks, as the sheets and tacks, cut by the balls, allowed them to dash wildly about, knocking against yards and masts, altogether created an astounding din. Still there was an intense excitement in the scene, that left no thought of danger to intrude itself. Thus the action continued: the Vengeance, most admirably handled, her captain as cool and as calm as at his dinner-table. Two of his officers were struck down by his side, and splinters were knocked about like chips, when I suddenly observed a ship—the first lieutenant told me was the Brunswick—steer directly between us and the Achille. I then heard Captain Renaudin give his orders to close; the Vengeance shot ahead, there no longer remained an opening, and thus the Brunswick ran foul of us, with a great shock. My first idea was to run up the rigging and get into the rigging of the English ship, but I should, at such a moment, no doubt have lost my life.