“In this state our yards and rigging were entangled. We bore along through the water, the men of the Vengeance keeping up an incessant fire of musketry, and from her thirty-six pounders, loaded with old nails, and jagged pieces of iron, a terrible fire was poured into the Brunswick. I had just mounted upon a large case near the flag-staff, and from thence I could see on the deck of the Brunswick where the shot told with terrible effect. It made my heart throb painfully. The next instant I saw the Achille bearing down also to the Brunswick, but the Achille had only her fore and mizen-mast standing, and a terrible and well-directed broadside from the Brunswick totally dismasted her. Strange to say, all this time we were locked together. “The crew of the Brunswick taking advantage of the rolling of the Vengeance, depressed the muzzles of their guns, and fired into us most destructive broadsides, ripping and tearing our sides terribly; but the Vengeance kept up so incessant a fire from the tops, and from our decks, that it was utterly impossible for me to get on board the Brunswick. A violent squall striking both ships, they tore asunder, snapping ropes, rigging, and yards, like packthread. For nearly two hours those two great ships had been locked together, the whole time keeping up a terrible fire. It was now that we received what I may call the mortal wound that caused the Vengeance to founder. Attacked by the Brunswick, and another seventy-four-gun ship at the same time, our gallant commander exerted all his skill, assisted by the courage of his crew, to contend against these odds, but the British ships were also worked with consummate skill; a shot struck our rudder, another shot knocked a huge hole under our counter, through which the water rushed in with great violence. As I was gazing intently on the scene, a ball struck the case on which I stood, breaking it to atoms, and throwing me violently against the starboard bulwarks, but I was quite sensible, and very little hurt. The state of the Vengeance was now terrible, numbers of her crew were now lying dead and dying, from the fire of three ships. I caught a glimpse of Captain Renaudin standing on a carronade vehemently cheering on his crew. Just then, as I was getting on my feet, young Alfred Renaudin rushed out of the cabin, and seeing me just rising, rushed with a cry to my side, saying— “‘Oh! Julian, where is _mon cher_ papa? Are you wounded?’ “‘No, not wounded, only a little stunned; but you must not stay here,’ seeing his gaze fixed upon the body of a man lying dead within a yard or two of us. ‘Come below.’ “‘No, no,’ cried the child, ‘I’m no coward, but I am too little to fight.’ As I was leading him to the cabin, Captain Renaudin and his first lieutenant came up, followed by two of the crew; they unfurled a flag as a signal that the Vengeance surrendered. Captain Renaudin looked serious, if not distressed.