by John Marshall

“ About 1 P.M. after having, during’ten minutes or so, in her efforts to close, received the fire of two or three enemy’s ships, the Colossus ran past the starboard side of the French Swiftsure, who had just before bore up, as well to avoid being raked by the Colossus, as to bring her larboard guns to bear upon the Bellerophon. The density of the smoke on the starboard side, hid from view all the enemy’s ships in that direction, until, having run a short distance to leeward, the Colossus found herself close alongside of the Argonaute, whose larboard yard arms locked into her starboard ones. ”

“ As soon as she had cleared her yards, the Argonaute paid off, and went away, receiving into her stern the parting fire of the Colossus. The latter, in the mean while, was warmly engaged, on her larboard quarter, with the French Swiftsure, and also with the Bahama, who lay close on that ship’s larboard bow, and fired at the Colossus across the Swiftsure’s fore-foot. ”

“ The Colossus was now enabled to devote her sole attention to the Bahama, who, on her mainmast falling, as it presently did, over her engaged side, shewed an English jack from the hen-coops on her poop, to denote that she had struck. Meanwhile the French Swiftsure endeavoured to bear up under the stern of the Colossus; but the latter, wearing more quickly, received a few only of the former’s larboard guns, before she poured in her starboard broadside. ”