to lay the Monarca alongside to leeward, the Bellerophon, at about 50 minutes past noon, ran foul of the Aigle, the latter's main yard locking with her fore yard. The British ship now fired from both sides, having the Monarca on the larboard, and the Aigle on the opposite bow. In a short time three other enemy's ships opened a cannonade upon her, the Montanez (we believe), with her aftermost guns on the larboard quarter, the French Swiftsure on the starboard quarter, and the Bahama, with some of her foremost guns, athwart her stern. The first set of figures in the following diagram will perhaps assist in showing the situation of the British ship at this period of the battle.

At about 1 P.M. the Bellerophon's main and mizen topmasts fell over on the starboard side, and the main topsail and topgallantsail immediately caught fire with the flash of the guns : assisted by the hand-grenades which the Aigle's people kept throwing from her tops. At 11 h. 5 m. P.M. the master was killed ; and at 1 h. 11 m. Captain Cooke. The command now devolved upon Lieutenant William Pryce Cumby. Shortly afterwards the Montanez dropped out of gun-shot astern, and the Bahama and French Swiftsure became engaged with the Colossus. The musketry from the Aigle had by this time played sad havoc upon the Bellerophon's quarterdeck, forecastle, and poop. At 1 h. 40 m. P.M. the Aigle, who had once or twice vainly attempted to board her opponent, dropped astern, exposed as she fell off to a raking fire, first from the Bellerophon herself and then from the Revenge. The Bellerophon, now quite in an unmanageable state, fired a few shot at the Monarca, who instantly hauled down her colours for the last time, and was taken possession of by the former ; as, nearly at the same time, was the Bahama, who had previously struck, to relieve herself from the destructive fire of the Colossus.

The Bellerophon had her main and mizen topmasts shot away her fore topmast, all three lower masts, and most of her yards badly wounded, and her standing and running rigging nearly cut to pieces. In hull also she was much injured, having had several knees and riders shot away, and part of her lower deck.

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