Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/25

 "Jai été," as the Frenchman said, when he was invited to an English fox-hunt.

I was as black as a negro when I returned on board, and dying with thirst: ' Very well done, Mildmay," said the captain; "did you find it warm?" I pointed to my mouth, for it was so parched that I could not speak, and ran to the water-cask, where I drank as much as would have floated a canoe. The first thing I said, as soon as I could speak, was " D—— that fire-ship, and the lubber that set her on fire."

The next morning the French squadron was seen in a very disastrous state; they had cut their cables, and ran on shore in every direction, with the exception of the flag ships of the admiral and rear-admiral, which lay at their anchors, and could not move till high-water; it was then first quarter flood, so that they had five good hours to remain. I refer my readers to the court-martial for a history of these events: they have also. been commented on, with more or less severity, by contemporary writers. I shall only observe,