AFRICA, 25 
cafily form an idea of the diforder which pre« 
vailed during this affair. Next morning, when 
the gunners went to clean the guns, they found 
feme of them filled to the mouth, and contain-^ 
ing three charges, one above another, with as 
many bullets. In feveral of the mu&ets the 
balls were un dermoft : and I am fully perfuaded 
that, without the affiftance of the Mercury, we 
fhould have been taken ; luckily however we 
efcaped, after being heartily frightened. No- 
thing indeed but the phantom Terror could 
have thrown officers into fuch a confternation, 
that they fuffered themfelves to be cannonaded 
for four hours without daring to return a fmglc 
fhot. The Englifh certainly muft have be- 
lieved that we had no guns, or that thofe which 
they faw were only of wood. The leaft refift* 
ance on our part would have made them foon 
fheer off, and without doubt they would have 
retired fafter than they approached. 
I cannot finifli this fketch, which is truly 
worthy of the humorous pencil of Calot, 
without relating one circumftance more, which 
provokes a fmile even yet whilft I am writing. 
Running up and down from the poop to the 
quarter deck, and from the quarter deck to 
the 
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