Читать книгу Champions of the Fleet. Captains and men-of-war and days that helped to make the empire онлайн

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These were the forces on either side, in ships and men:—

British Line of Battle. Dreadnought 60 guns Capt.Suckling 375 men Augusta 60 ” Capt.Forrest 390 ” Edinburgh 64 ” Capt.Langdon 467 ” 184 guns. 1232 men. French Line of Battle. La Sauvage 30 guns 206 men L’Intrépide (Commodore) 74 ” 900 ” L’Opiniâtre 64 ” 640 ” Le Greenwich (formerly British) 50 ” 400 ” La Licorne 30 ” 200 ” Le Sceptre 74 ” 750 ” L’Outarde 44 ” 350 ” 366 guns. 3446 men.

Directly the French came in sight the senior officer, Captain Forrest of the Augusta, signalled to the other two captains to come on board for a council of war. They came, and, the story goes, arrived alongside the Augusta together and mounted the ship’s side together. As they stepped on to the Augusta’s gangway, Captain Forrest, it is related, addressed the two officers in these terms: “Gentlemen, you see the enemy are out; shall we engage them?” “By all means,” said Captain Suckling. “It would be a pity to disappoint them,” said Captain Langdon. “Very well, then,” replied Forrest; “will you gentlemen go back to your ships and clear for action?” The two captains bowed, and turned and withdrew without having, as it was said, actually set foot on the senior officer’s quarter-deck.