Had not the real superiority of the English over the French on the ocean, now come in play, this combat would have been a drawn battle, though accompanied by the usual characteristics of such struggles, at the close of the last and the beginning of the present century; or the latter considering an escape ti sort of victory.  But both parties were reduced to the necessity of repairing damages, and this was the work to prove true nautical skill.  Any man may load and fire a gun, but it needs a trained seaman to meet the professional emergencies of warfare.  A clodhopper might knock a mast out of a vessel, but a sailor must replace it.  From the beginning of this affair, all of us in the Dawn had been struck with the order, regularity and despatch with which the Black Prince and Speedy had made and shortened sail, and the quickness and resource with which they had done all that seamanship required in securing wounded spars and torn sails; while, there had been no end to Marble’s sneers and comments on the bungling confusion of the French.  This difference now became doubly apparent, when there was no smoke nor any cannonading to divert the attention of the respective crews.  In half an hour the Black Prince was clear of the wreck, and she had bent several new sails, while the difficulties on board her antagonist appeared just then to be at their height.  This same difference existed between the two other vessels, though, on the whole, le Cerf got out of her distress sooner and more skilfully than her consort.  As to the Speedy, I must do my old acquaintance, Lord Harry Dermond, the justice to say, that he both fought his ship, and repaired his damages, in a highly seaman-like manner.  I’ll answer for it, the Hon. Lieut.  Powlett had not much to do with either.  He had much better been in his mother’s drawing-room, that day, and permitted a more fitting man to fill his place.  Sennit was then on his way to Barbadoes, however, nor do I believe your master of a press-gang ever does much before an enemy.

Fully two hours passed, during which the combatants were busy in repairing damages.  At the end of this time, La Desiree and le Cerf had drawn more than a mile to the eastward of the English ships; the latter following them, as soon as clear of their wrecks, but under diminished sail.  The Black Prince had actually got up three spare top-masts, in the interval, and was now ready to set their sails.  The Speedy was less active, or less skilful, though she, too, had not been idle.  Then the English drove fast towards their enemies.  Mons. Menneval bore up in good season, this time, edging away, and opening the fire of both ships on his adversaries, when they were about half a mile distant.  The effect of this early movement was soon apparent, it being a great mistake to reserve a ship’s fire, as against an enemy that approaches nearly bows on.  M’Donough owed his victory in Plattsburg Bay, to having improved so favourable a chance; and the French were beaten at the Nile, because they did not; though Nelson probably would have overcome them, under any circumstances; the energy imparted by one of his character, more than counterbalancing any little advantage in tactics.