342 A VOYAGE TO Book IX. 



as on the 20th. This happy change could be attri- 

 buted only to the fargafo fucked into fuch feams as 

 were open : and this farther appeared by feveral pieces 

 of it thrown out by the pump befides a confider- 

 able quantity of the weed was feen flicking to the 

 outfide of the fhip's bottom. But on the 29th the 

 water began again to increafe, and foon after abated 

 in fuch variations it continued during the whole voy- 

 age. And we according to its ftate, flu8;uating be- 

 twixt hope and fear. 



On the 21ft of July, about fix in the morning, 

 being in 43 deg. 57 min. latitude, and 39 deg. 44 

 inin. E. of Conception, we difcovered two fail within 

 three leagues of us bearing E. N. E. The rays of 

 the fun had hindered us getting fight of them fooner. 

 They flood to the S. W. and our three fhips kept on 

 together N. E. without altering their courfe till feven 

 in the morning, when being within little more than 

 cannon-lhot of each other, the largefl of the two fired 

 a gun with iliot, and at the fame time both hoifled 

 Englifh colours, our frigates alfo formed a line, 

 though little in a condition for fighting ; for befides 

 being weakly manned, and the want of arms and 

 ammunition, they had no nettings for fecuring the 

 men, fo that both the quarter deck and forecaflle 

 were expofed. 



We, however, after the enemy had hoifled their 

 colours, continued failing in a line, but flill in our 

 proper courfes, till the fmallefl of the Englifh fhips 

 bore down upon us, and fired feveral fhot to oblige us 

 to hoifl our colours ; on which at half an hour after 

 feven a fire both of great guns and mufketry began on 

 both fides ; and at eight o'clock the fhips were within 

 piflol fhot of each other. 



The force of the three French frigates was this, 

 the Louis Erafme carried twenty guns ; eight on the 

 quarter deck of eight pounders, and the twelve on 

 the fore-caflle fix pounders, and had betwixt feventy 



and 



