more than six guns to bear[1]; poor Nereide nearly gained her post, and did in the most gallant manner maintain that and the one intended for Sirius, until Bellone cut. All the enemy's ships being on shore, and finding Sirius could not get off, the whole of them opened their fire on Nereide; but notwithstanding this unequal contest, and being aground, she did not cease firing until 10 o’clock, and sorry am I to say, that the captain, every officer, and man on board, are killed or wounded[2].
“Captain Lambert would have immediately run down with the enemy, but there was a shoal a very little distance from, and between him and them; he did all that could be done, by keeping up a heavy, although distant fire; nothing was wanting, to make a most complete victory, but one of the other frigates to close with la Bellone.
“I must now inform you, that the moment we took the ground, every possible exertion was made to get the ship off, by carrying out stream and kedge anchors; but both these came home together. I then got a whole bower cable and anchor hauled out (not a common exertion for a frigate), as also the stream; but although heaving the one with the capstan, and the other with purchase on purchase, we could not move her one inch, from the nature of the ground, and the very heavy squalls then blowing. We continued lightening every thing from forward, and made many severe but fruitless attempts to heave the ship off before day-light, all, however, to no effect. At that time the Nereide was a perfect wreck, Magicienne in as bad a situation as Sirius, no possibility of Iphigenia closing with the enemy, and the whole or the latter on shore in a heap. We then tried the last resource, by warping the Iphigenia to heave us off, but could not get her in a proper situation until the 25th in the forenoon.
“I now had a survey by the captains, masters, and carpen-- ↑ The three foremost on each side.
- ↑ La Nereide did not take the ground until some hours after la Bellone and le Victor had cut, in order to get further from her fire; and then only in consequence of her best bower cable and the spring being shot away. See p. 167.
