■WILLIAM AUD MARY.

49

that the odds against him were rather apparent than real. Hebelieved, on the authority of James and Melfort, that the Eng-lish seamen, from the flag officers down to the cabin boys, wereJacobites. Those who fought would fight with half a heart;and there would probably be numerous desertions at the mostcritical moment. Animated by such hopes he sailed from Brest,steered first towards the north east, came in sight of the coastof Dorsetshire, and then struck across the Channel towardsLa Hogue, where the army which he was to convoy to Englandhad already begun to embark on board of the transports. Hewas within a few leagues of Barfleur when, before daybreak, onthe morning of the nineteenth of May, he saw the great arma-ment of the allies stretching along the eastern horizon. He de-termined to bear down on them. By eight the two lines ofbattle were formed; but it was eleven before the firing began.It soon became plain that the English, from the Admiral down-ward, were resolved to do their duty. Russell had visited allhis ships, and exhorted all his crews. “If your commandersplay false,” he said, “overboard with them, and with myselfthe first.” There was no defection. There was no slackness.Carter was the first who broke the French line. He w r as struckby a splinter of one of his own yard arms, and fell dying on thedeck. He would not be earned below. He would not let go hissword. “Fight the ship,” were his last words: “fightthe shipas long as she can swim.” The battle lasted till four in the after-noon. The roar of the guns was distinctly heard more thantwenty miles off by the army which was encamped on the coastof Normandy. During the earlier part of the day the wind wasfavourable to the French: they were opposed to half of theallied fleet; and against that half they maintained the conflictwith their usual courage and with more than their usual seaman-ship. After a hard and doubtful fight of five hours, Tourvillethought that enough had been done to maintain the honour ofMacaulay, History. VII. 4

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