force.  There were two successive acts in the drama.  In the first, ten British ships engaged the eight leading French; in the second, the fifty and two of the seventy-fours, which had been belated, came upon the field and strengthened the attack upon the enemy’s centre.  The Orion, being third in the order, was one of the five vessels which passed within the French, and fought on that side.  In so doing, she described a wide sweep around her two predecessors.  While thus standing down to her station, an enemy’s frigate, the Serieuse, opened fire upon her, wounding two men.  It was then part of the chivalrous comity of fleet-actions that frigates should not be molested by the ships-of-the-line, so long as they minded their own business,—­an immunity which of course ceased if they became aggressive.  Saumarez was urged to return her fire.  “No,” he replied, “let her alone; she will get bolder and come nearer.  Shorten sail.”  She did draw nearer, and then the Orion, swinging sharply towards her, let drive her broadside of double-shotted guns.  All the masts of the unlucky frigate went overboard, and she shortly sank, nothing but her poop being visible the next day.  The helm of the British vessel was then shifted, but so much ground had been lost that she could anchor only abreast the fifth French ship; the interval left being filled by those who followed.  In this position the Orion silenced her immediate opponent, the Peuple Souverain, which, being in an hour and a half totally dismasted, cut her cables and dropped out of the line; the contest being then continued with the sixth in the French order, the Franklin, next ahead of the flag-ship, Orient.  The Orion was thus near by the latter when she blew up, but the few burning fragments which fell on board were quickly extinguished.

Twenty-four hours after the battle, Saumarez, who had been delayed till then by a severe wound from a splinter, went on board the flag-ship to call on the admiral; and to this visit we owe the knowledge of two closely related incidents, recorded by his biographer and friend, which are significant at once of his individual ideas on tactical combination, and of the lack of personal sympathy apparent between him and Nelson.  He “found several of his brother officers on the quarter-deck, discussing the merits of the action.  Some regret having been expressed at the escape of the two sternmost ships of the French line, Sir James said to the admiral, ‘It was unfortunate we did not—­’ and was proceeding to say ‘all anchor on the same side.’  But, before he could finish the sentence, Nelson hastily interrupted him, exclaiming, ’Thank God there was no order!’ Then turning the conversation, he entered his cabin and sent for Captain Ball....  We may relate the circumstances which induced Saumarez, without the least intention to offend, to make the observation at which offence was taken.  It was Nelson’s custom, when in communication or company