by John Marshall

“ The ship was now with her three lower masts reduced to a tottering state, her hull pierced in all directions, her quarter-deck nearly cleared of officers and men, and her main-deck so thinned that only six guns could be properly manned. Being in this disabled state; seeing also, from the calm slate of the weather, no chance of relief from the Boadicea, whom the opening day-light discovered about four or five miles off, and having no hope of escape, nor means of further resistance, the Africaine, at a few minutes before 5 a.m., hauled down her colours. ”

“ The command of the Africaine now devolved upon Lieutenant Joseph Crew Tullidge, who was ordered by Captain Corbett, as he was removing below, to bring the enemy to close action. At 2-30 a.m., having had her jib-boom and the weather-clue of her fore-topsail shot away, and fearing that her bowsprit had suffered, the Astrée ranged a-head clear of her opponent’s guns. On this the men at the Africaine’s foremost main-deck guns began hurraing, and the remainder of the ship’s company caught and repeated the cheer. ”

“ Proceeding thus under easy sail, in order to allow the Boadicea time to get up, the Africainc, as soon as it grew dark, begun firing rockets and burning blue-lights, to point out her situation. At 9 p.m. the Boadicca saw a flush in the S.E., and at 9-30 observed the enemy and the Africaine burn blue-lights. At 1-50 a.m. on the 13tb, in the midst of a fresh squall, the French frigates bore up; and immediately the Africaine, fearing their intention might be to run or wear, bore up also, and manned her starboard guns. At 2-10, the Astrée and Iphigénie again hauled to the wind on the same tack ”