FORTER^S JOURNAL. 



165 



an hour we so disabled both as to compel them to haul off 

 to repair damages. In the course of this firing, I had by 

 the great exertions of Mr. Edward Barnewall the acting 

 sailing master, assisted by Mr. Linscott the boatswain, 

 succeeded in getting springs on our cables three different 

 times — but the fire of the enemy was so excessive, that 

 before we could get our broadside to bear, they were shot 

 away, and thus rendered useless to us. My ship had re- 

 ceived many injuries, and several men had been killed and 

 wounded — but my brave officers and men, notwithstanding 

 the unfavourable circumstances under which we were 

 broughtto action, and the powerful force opposed to us, were 

 nowise discouraged — all appeared determined to defend 

 their ship to the last extremity, and to die, in preference 

 to a shameful surrender. Our gaff, with the ensign and 

 motto flag at the mizzen, had been shot away — but 

 FREE TRABE AND SAiLOKs' RIGHTS Continued to fly at thc 

 fore. — Our ensign was replaced by another — and to guard 

 against a similar event, an ensign w^as made fast in the 

 mizzen rigging, and several jacks were hoisted in different 

 parts of the ship. The enemy soon repaired his damages 

 for a fresh attack ; he now placed himself, with both his 

 ships, on my starboard quarter, out of the reach of my 

 earronades, and where my stern guns could not be brought 

 to bear ; he there kept up a most galling fire, which it was 

 out of my power to return, when 1 saw no prospect of 

 injuring him without getting under way and becoming the 

 assailant. My top-sail sheets and halliards were all shot 

 away, as well as the jib and fore-top-mast-stay-sail-halliards. 

 The only rope not cut was the flying-jib-halliards ; and 

 that being the only sail I could set, I caused it to be hoisted, 

 my cable to be cut, and ran down on both ships, with an 

 intention of laying the Phoebe on board. The firing on 

 both sides was now tremendous ; I had let fall my fore- 

 top-sail and fore-saii, but the want of tacks and sheets had 

 rendered them almost useless to us. Yet we were ena- 

 bled, for a short time to close with the enemy ; and 

 althousfh our decks were now strewed with dead, and our 

 cock-pit filled with wounded, although our ship had been 

 several times on fire, and was rendered a perfect wreck, 

 we were still encouraged to hope to save her, from the 

 circumstance of the Cherub, bemg compelled to haul off* 



