1808	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	78

Comet had not a man hurt ; but her main and maintop masts were badly wounded, and her sails and rigging cut. The Sylphe a fine brig of 343 tons, was afterwards added to the British navy under the name of Seagull. Lieutenant James Tomkinson, first of the Comet, was much commended by Captain Daly in his official letter, and became a commander, as the lists inform us, in March, 1810. To the additional credit of the crew of the Comet on this occasion, they consisted chiefly of newly-raised men.

The Espiégle afterwards succeeded in joining her remaining consort, and the two vessels proceeded in company to the westward. On the 16th, however, they were fallen in with by the British 38-gun frigate Sibylle, Captain Clotworthy Upton. After a chase of some continuance, the Diligente by her good sailing escaped ; but the Espiégle was captured, and, under the name of Electra, became added to the British navy.

Proceeding alone to her destination, the Diligente met no further obstruction until the 6th of September, in latitude 17� 50' north, longitude from Greenwich 58� 20' west. On this day, at 6 A.M., the British 18-gun brig-sloop Recruit, Captain Charles Napier, standing close hauled on the starboard tack with the wind from the east by north, discovered the Diligente in the north-east, going free on the larboard tack, or in the direction of the island of Martinique. The Recruit immediately tacked, and made all sail in chase ; and at 7 h. 30 m. a.m. fired two shot at the strange ship, and hoisted her colours. At 8 h. 15 m. a.m. the Diligente tacked to preserve the weathergage, and in less than a quarter of an hour afterwards hoisted a French ensign and pendant.

At 8 h. 30 m. a.m. the two vessels, the Recruit on the larboard, and the Diligente on the starboard tack, passed each other within pistol-shot, and exchanged broadsides. On this occasion Captain Napier was wounded, but not, we believe, so as to oblige him to quit the deck. At 8 h. 40 m. both vessels, having passed out of gun-shot, tacked, and again exchanged broadsides. The Diligente then wore, with the intention of raking the Recruit astern ; but the brig wore also, and brought her antagonist to close action with the larboard guns. At 9 h. 20 m. a.m. the second lieutenant (Moses De Willetts) was wounded. In this way, broadside to broadside, the action continued until 11 h. 30 m. A.M.; when the Recruit had her mainmast shot away. While this lay over the stern the brig continued the action with her foremost guns, and made several attempts to board her antagonist; but the Diligente every time sheered off : The French ship then backed her mizen topsail, and, shooting up under the brig's stern, raked her. As the Diligente stood along her starboard beam, the Recruit returned this fire ; but the Diligente reserved her next broadside, until, bearing up athwart the bows of her disabled antagonist, she

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