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168  a French squadron, consisting of six sail of the line, two frigates, and two smaller vessels, which circumstance he immediately communicated to Earl Howe, with whom he was then cruizing. Chace was instantly given; but the enemy being considerably to windward, and the weather thick and squally, they ultimately effected their escape. At noon, the Latona was so far a-head as to engage the frigates; and at four P.M. would have cut one of them off, had not two of the French line-of-battle ships, bore down and prevented her. They passed so near to the British frigate as to discharge their broadsides at her, but without causing any injury. Captain Thornbrough most gallantly luffed up, and returned their fire with great effect; and, according to the account given by the prisoners taken on board a recaptured vessel soon afterwards, killed and wounded a number of their people. The Bellerophon, Latona, and Phoenix, lost sight of the British fleet in the night, and found themselves on the next morning near four ships of the enemy’s line; but being unsupported, they were reluctantly obliged to discontinue the chace.

To shew the high opinion the Admiralty had of the spirited conduct of Captain Thornbrough upon this occasion, on the arrival of the fleet at Spithead, Earl Howe received the following letter from the Board, which was ordered to be communicated to all the ships’ companies:

“Admiralty Office, Dec. 11th, 1793.

“My Lord. In return to that part of your Lordship’s letter of the 30th ult., stating the spirited conduct of Captain Thornbrough, in the transactions on the 18th of the same month, and of the opportunity you had of observing the equal ardour shewn by the other Commanders and Captains of the fleet, on the same occasion; I am commanded by my Lords to signify their desire, that you should assure Captain Thornbrough, and the other Commanders and Captains of the fleet, of their Lordships’ satisfaction in that testimony of their commendable exertions.

(Signed)“.

“To Admiral Earl Howe.”

A few days subsequent to the above event, the Latona, in company with the Phaeton, captured la Blonde, a national vessel of 28 guns, off Ushant. In the following year, when