Note B — LETTER I.
Reading edition
Here followed a minute relation of the battle, which the Alexander sustained for two hours and a quarter, against three ships, each of her own strength, and just before she struck against five. But as all the circumstances of the action, and of the causes which led to it, have been detailed by him, who like Cæsar, knew not only how to execute, but to narrate deeds of glory, I have thought it right to suppress my description; and beg leave to refer the reader to the official letter of Captain, now Rear Admiral Bligh, which appeared in the Gazette, either about the latter end of January, or the beginning of February, 1795.—The names and force of the squadron by which we were taken, were as follows, under the command of Contre-Amiral Neilly.
Guns.
Le Tigre,74
Les Droits de l’Homme,74
Le Jean Bart,74
Le Pelletier,74
Le Marat,74
La Fraternité,40
La Gentille,40
La Charente,40
Le Papillon,14