when slipping in the blood and brains of a poor fellow, who laid dead beside his gun, an insensible brat, who was boasting and rejoicing at his own escape, cried out-" Have a care, "Miss, how you tread. Look at this fellow "I stood close by him when he got this "knock: the shot went clear over me, and "this damn'd fool put his head in the way of "it. Was'nt that a droll affair ?—” The shifting the prisoners was a task of danger, as the sea ran very high and they were beastly drunk. In this our people were employed all night: when they had refitted the rigging shot away in the action, and hoisted in the boats, we made sail with the prize in company. The carpenters were employed in repairing the boats, which were stove in shifting the prisoners, of which we took on board 155 French and Americans: Lat. 49° 6'. Long. 1° 45'. Our surgeon and his assistants being exhausted with their duty on board both ships, my anxiety kept me sleepless through a turbulent night, and I went about the ship to the ' wounded men, one of whom (James Eaton by name) a quarter-master and one of the finest fellows I ever saw, expired as I stood by him without any external hurt, having been struck in the side by a splinter. I read the burial service over him the next morning, whilst Abbe Hussey performed that office for the other two, who were Irish and of his communion. On the 11th we took the prize in tow; we had fresh breezes with dark cloudy weather, and at midnight we wore ship, and in veering having broken the hawser we shortened sail for the prize, but soon after made signal for her to stand about and go into port, which she safely effected. In the course of this day I wrote a song for my amusement descriptive of our action, and adapted it to the tune of— Whilst here at Deal we're lying, boys, With the noble Commodore— Our crew were very musically inclined, and we had some passably good singers amongst them, which suggested to me the idea of writing this sea song; we frequently sung it at Lisbon in lusty chorus, but their delicacy would not allow them to let it be once heard till their prisoners were removed; and this was the answer made to me by a common seaman, when I asked why they would not sing it du ring the voyage; an objection, which had escaped me, but which I felt the full force of, when stated to me by him. The song was as follows, and the circumstances, under which it was hastily written, must be my apology for inserting it "Twas up the wind three leagues or more "We spied a lofty sail; "Set your top-gallant sails, my boys, "And closely hug the gale. "Nine knots the nimble Milford ran, "Thus, thus, the master cried; "And soon were side by side. "Dowse your Dutch ensign, up Saint George; "To quarters now all hands; "Each British hero stands. "Give fire, our gallant captain cries, "'Tis done, the cannons roar; "Stand clear, Mounseers, digest these pills, "Our chain-shot whistles in the wind, "Our grape descends like hail— "Rak'd fore and aft her shatter'd hull "Her decks are carnaged with the slain, "Her French jack shivers in the wind, "Its lilies all look pale ; "Down it must come, it must come down, "For Britons will prevail. "And see! 'tis done: she strikes, she yields; "There, there triumphantly it flies, "It conquers and it saves"So gaily toss the can about, "For Britons rule the waves." During the 12th, 13th and 14th, we had fresh gales and squally, till on the night of the latter, being then in Lat. 44° 2′. Long. 3° 16. we had light airs and fair weather, when descrying a frigate under English colours to the southward, standing to the northward, we cleared ship for action, but soon after lost sight of her. The next day, viz. the 15th, we saw a fleet of the enemy to the southward standing to the westward, forty-five in number, of which were eight sail of the line and three or four frigates. They proved to be the French squadron under the command of Tournay, and having brought to on the starboard tack dispatched a line of battle ship in chace of us; coming down in a slanting course she appeared at first to gain upon us, till at half past eight in the evening, (our rate being then better than at twelve knots) she left off chace, having given us her lower guns, whilst the prisoners, expecting us to be captured, became so unruly, that our men were obliged to drive them down with the hand-spikes. On the 16th we brought to and took a Portuguese pilot on board, passed the Burlings, and the next day at six in the evening anchored with the best bower in eight fathom water, Belem Castle N. E. Abbe Hussey and I with the second lieutenant landed at the castle, and at eight at night we obtained pratique. We found riding here his majesty's ship Romney, Captain Home, with the Cormorant sloop, Captain John Payne, under the command of Commodore Johnstone. One of my first employments was to purchase a large stock of oranges for the refreshment of the ship's company, especially the wounded, and of these my friend the serjeant condescended to partake, though he had been |