bridle ports. She is French-rigged;-the rake of her stern is French;-in fact, she is French all over."

Addressing the boatswain, Captain Oughton said, "Send the ship's company aft".

At the summons of the boatswain the men came aft, and stood in a body on the lee-side of the quarterdeck, with their hats off, and impatience in their looks.

"Now, my lads," said Captain Oughton, “if I am not mistaken, that vessel is commanded by the very best seaman that ever left a French port; and, to do him justice, he's a fine fellow!-a severe punisher, and can take a mauling as well as give one."

"Yes, sir, so can we," replied several of the men together.

"I know you can, my lads; and give and take is fair play. All I say is, let it be a fair stand-up fight, and may the best man win'. So now, my lads, if you're ready to come to the scratch, why, the sooner we peel the better-that's all!"

"Hurrah!" cried the seamen, as they separated to their quarters; and, in compliance with the injunctions. of the captain, threw off their jackets, and many of them their shirts, to prepare for the conflict.

The corvette, after she had rounded to, and exchanged colours, reduced her sails to precisely the same canvas as that carried by the Windsor Castle. This was to try her rate of sailing. In a quarter of an hour her superiority was manifest. She then hauled up her courses, and dropped to her former position on the Windsor Castle's weather beam.

"The fellow has the heels of us, at all events," observed Captain Oughton.

The corvette gradually edged down until nearly

within point-blank range. When within two cables' length of the Windsor Castle, who had, a little before, filled her main-topsail to be in command, the Frenchman hauled up his fore-sail, and discovered his lower rigging manned by the ship's company, who gave a loud but hasty cheer, and then disappeared.

The corvette had already put her helm up and paid off to pass under the stern of the Windsor Castle, with the intention of raking her. The promptitude of Captain Oughton foiled the manoeuvre of the Frenchman; which would have been more fatal had the English seamen been in the rigging to have been swept off by his grape-shot.

"Look

"That was well stopped, Newton, wasn't it?" said Captain Oughton, showing his white teeth. out again-here she comes."

The corvette again attempted to rake as she ranged up after tacking, by throwing herself up in the wind; but Captain Oughton, watching the slightest variation of his adversary's career, gradually edging away, and then putting his helm up, manoeuvred that the broadsides should again be exchanged. This second exchange was more effectual than the first.

After the second broadside, the vessels were much farther apart, from the Windsor Castle running off the wind, while the corvette was too much crippled to work with her usual rapidity. This was convenient to both parties, as the last broadside had been very mischievous. The Frenchman, low in the water, had suffered less in her hull and ship's company, but more in her spars and rigging. The foremast was cut nearly in half by the carronade shot of her antagonist; her main-yard was badly wounded, and her wheel knocked to atoms,

which obliged them to steer on the lower deck. The Windsor Castle had received five shots in her hull, three men were killed, and six wounded; three of her main shrouds were cut in two, and her mizen-mast was badly wounded.

It was a quarter of an hour before the Frenchman returned to the attack. Captain Oughton had again hauled his wind, as if not wishing to decline the combat; which, indeed, the superior sailing of his antagonist prevented. The corvette appeared to have given up manoeuvring; whether from the crippled state of her spars and sails, or from perceiving that he had hitherto gained nothing by his attempts. He now ranged up to within two cables' length of the Windsor Castle, and recommenced the action, broadside to broadside.

The breeze was lulled by the concussion of the air; and both vessels continued in the same position, and at the same distance, for upwards of an hour, pouring in their broadsides, every shot of which was effectual.

"Now, this is what I call a reg'lar set-to. Fire away, my lads," cried Captain Oughton, rubbing his hands. A proper rally this!"

66

The wounded mizzen-mast of the Windsor Castle received another shot in the heart of it, which threw it over the side. Every part of her hull proved the severe and well-directed fire of the enemy; her sails were as ragged as Jeremy Diddler's pocket-handkerchief; her remaining masts pitted with shot; the bulwarks torn away in several places; the boats on the booms in shivers; rigging cut away fore and aft, and the ends. swinging to and fro with the motion of the vessel; her decks in confusion; and some of her guns, from necessity, deserted.

Bringing her head up towards the Mizzen-mast. The after mast.

THE fire of the Windsor Castle had been equally destructive. The vessels had gradually neared each other in the calm; and the height of the Windsor Castle out of the water, in comparison with the corvette, had given her the advantage in sweeping the decks of the enemy. The contending vessels were in this situation, when, for a minute or two, a cessation of firing took place, in consequence of the accumulation of smoke, which had so completely enshrouded them both, that they knew not where to direct their guns; and they waited until it should clear away, that the firing might recommence. A light air gradually swept the veil to leeward, and discovered both vessels to each other, at the distance of half a cable's length. Captain Oughton was with Newton on the poop, and the commander of the French corvette was standing on the hammock netting of his own vessel. The latter took off his hat, and courteously saluted his adversary. Captain Oughton answered the salutation; and then