Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/426

396 nearing each other until half past ten, keeping up a constant and heavy fire. At this time the enemy availed himself of the disabled condition of the Leander to lay her on board on the larboard bow; but a most spirited and well-directed fire from the small party of marines on the poop, and from the quarter-deck, supported by a furious cannonade, prevented the enemy from taking advantage of his situation, and he was repulsed with much slaughter. A light breeze giving the ships way, enabled Captain Thompson to steer clear of the enemy; and soon afterwards he had the satisfaction to luff under his stern, and passing him within ten yards, distinctly discharged every gun from the Leander into him.

The action was now continued without intermission, within pistol-shot, until 3$h$ 30’ P.M., when the enemy, with a light breeze, for it had hitherto been almost calm, and the sea as smooth as glass, passed the Leander’s bows and brought himself on her starboard side, where the guns had been nearly all disabled from the wreck of the spars which had fallen on that side. This producing a cessation of fire on her part, the enemy hailed to know if she had surrendered. The Leander was now totally ungovernable, being a complete wreck, not having a stick standing, but the shattered remains of the fore and main-masts, and the bowsprit, her hull cut to pieces, the decks full of killed and wounded, and perceiving the enemy, who had only lost his mizen-top-mast, approaching to place himself athwart her stem, Captain Thompson in this defenceless situation, without the most distant hope of success, and himself badly wounded, asked Captain Berry if he thought he could do more? who coinciding with him that further resistance was vain and impracticable, an answer was given in the affirmative, and the Leander was soon after taken possession of by le Généreux, of 78 guns, commanded by M. Lejoille, chef de division, who had escaped from the action of the 1st Aug., having on board 900 men, 100 of whom were killed and 188 wounded in the contest with the Leander, whose loss was also considerable, she having 35 killed and 57 wounded; a full third of her gallant crew.

No sooner did Captain Thompson and his officers arrive on board le Généreux, than they were plundered of every article belonging to them, save the clothes on their backs. They