possibly allow the French ships to acquire exact information concerning the character and disposition of his force without that great prejudice or future injury to his country which would arise from its possession. He could not send a fast despatch steamer to the nearest English port and telegraph to London for instant instructions, as in those days steam and electricity were not even dreamt of. He could not take possession of the French ships, for that would be an act which would at once involve his country in a dreadful war, of which no man living could see the end. His position, therefore, at that moment was one of the gravest character.

Another matter in connection with it was, that the admiral greatly wished to obtain some information concerning the French naval force, of the strength of which he was utterly ignorant. This was of the highest importance, both to himself and to the country, as its possession would greatly influence his own movements and the preparations being made by the country in the immediate anticipation of a war, the full nature of which could be to some extent gauged by a knowledge of the measures of France.

Admiral Keppel therefore resolved upon that which seemed to him best, namely, to detain the French ships, and prevent their reaching a French port with the information they had gained about his own, until such time as something more definite became known respecting the intentions of both countries.

'Sail to be made in chase of ships to the north-east,' was the important signal that was seen flying at the masthead of the admiral's flag-ship, in the latter part of the afternoon of the 17th of June 1778.

Hundreds of blue-jackets were instantly swarming up the ratlins of every ship in the English fleet, like so many hives of bees let loose, and quickly every sail was seen swelling out with the rising wind, as the whole of the English vessels turned their bows in answer to their helms. Then the white foam thrown away from the sides of each showed that they were speeding swiftly after the now retreating French, who had at once perceived both the signal and the manœuvre.

Ships come up with to be detained and brought to the fleet,' was the signal next seen at the masthead of the admiral's ship as the fleet swept on; and answering flags quickly appeared from corresponding points of each of the English vessels, telling that the command was understood.

About three in the morning, the Milford, a fast-sailing line-ofbattle ship, and the Arethusa, a small frigate, got alongside the Licorne, a French vessel of thirtytwo guns, and, hailing her, politely requested the French captain to come under the stern of the admiral's ship, now a considerable distance astern. The request was refused. Then the Milford fired a shot across the Frenchman's bows, which at once caused her captain to stand towards the English ships and bring to. Then the Milford and the Arethusa conducted the Licorne into the centre of the fleet, which was now rapidly arriving in pursuit. The admiral directed that every attention should be paid to the French commander, and that the English ships in attendance upon her should lie close by until fair daylight, and see that she did not get away. This order was rigidly obeyed, and resulted in a most extraordinary event.

In the mean time, the Arethusa, acknowledged to be the fastest ship in the fleet, had again put about,

and made chase after another French heavily armed frigate which had now got some distance away, and was nearly hull down. The Arethusa rapidly passed the slow line-of-battle ships in the chase, and was soon well ahead of those which were ordered to come up with the other French ship.

The remarkable event to which allusion has been made quickly occurred-singularly enough, almost simultaneously with 'the first fight of the saucy Arethusa.'

As the morning's sun rose in the heavens, an unexpected movement made by the French ship in the centre of the fleet caused a stir on board two English frigates lying near her, who quickly perceived that the Frenchman was about to make an effort to steal away.

Her sails were set, her crew were all seen to be at quarters, and every preparation was observed to have been made for instant action.

The sound of a boatswain's whistle rang through the decks of the nearest British ship, a large frigate named the America, commanded by Captain Lord Longford.

The trill of the pipe was quickly followed by the long-drawn words of command of the boatswain, as he called, 'All hands-to-stations,' and the America's gallant crew, as the drummer between decks rapped out the signal to gun-quarters,' seemed for a few moments in busy commotion; then every man was at his post, motionless and silent.

The guns had been cast loose from their tackles. Rammers and sponges had been taken from their racks, and ranged on the decks for immediate use. The gun crews stood about their weapons ready for action. The magazine had been opened. The sail-trimmers had manned the ropes on deck, or sprung to their stations in the tops.

'Brace the yards and stand towards the French ship,' was Lord Longford's order to the master of the America, who was by his lordship's side, eagerly watching the movements of the Licorne.

The usual reply of Ay, ay, my lord,' was given, as the master raised his speaking- trumpet and through it shouted out the command.

The seamen hauled upon the ropes, the yards swung round, the helm was put up, and the America slowly bore towards the French ship.

No order had as yet been given to load the guns. The moment was extremely critical. No war had commenced. A single gun fired in anger, a decisive movement by one of the English ships without orders from the admiral, and there would be begun an awful contest between France and England. Lord Longford saw that another ship of war, the Milford, had made a corresponding motion to his own, and was also drawing near to the Frenchman.

It was evident that the English ships were showing they were not to be caught asleep.

The two English vessels closed upon the French ship, yet with no intention to fire into her. Their actions were clearly to indicate that she was not to depart without orders to allow her to get away.

The minutes which passed as the English ships bore up were those of great suspense; for the Frenchman's crew were observed to be at gun-quarters, and the men could be seen standing ready for some expected command. A tremendous fight seemed imminent.

Lord Longford stood upon the hammock-nettings, the signal lieutenant on the deck below him. Not a sound was heard on board the America but the lapping of the light waves against her bows, as

she gently rose and fell with their action, and the soft hissing noise of the seething foam as it broke around her sides.

'A signal from the admiral. Can you make it out?' from his lordship to the lieutenant.

The officer quickly raised his telescope, scanned with it for a moment the line of little flags which showed against the sky at the distant masthead of the admiral's ship; and, as he dropped the glass into the hollow of his arm, replied,

Yes, your lordship; it is to fire a gun across the Frenchman's bows.'

'Load the bow-chaser,' was the instant command; but, before a movement could be made to execute the order, a flash was seen, a roar quickly followed. A gun had been fired from the bows of the English man-of-war on the opposite quarter of the French ship. The shot screamed in flight across the forefoot of the Frenchman, and passed far away to seaward, striking the water with a heavy splash, rising and again touching the water many times, marking with a splash each spot as it skimmed the surface, until it finally sank beneath the blue waters of the ocean.

The America's sister ship, the Milford, had seen the admiral's signal first, and, the swifter of the two in the execution of the command, had promptly obeyed it.

The gun so fired was the fatal signal for one of the longest, the most terrible, and the most disastrous wars in which this country has ever been engaged.

It was the signal-gun for a renewal of a struggle which, in the end, was supposed to be the most unfortunate and humiliating in results which had ever happened to England, but which has turned out a universal blessing to Great Britain and to mankind in general.

The termination of the renewed fight with America, so strangely begun by the firing of this gun and the traitorous event which quickly followed its flash and sound, was celebrated only a few months since

York Town, America, just one hundred years later, by that country which sought French aid in the endeavour to assert independence of its parent land. The British flag was saluted by America with every honour which a powerful and ever-increasing people could devise, and rounded by stupendous monuments of their astounding energy and genius, in commemoration of the success which resulted from their efforts for freedom, and side by side with the descendants of those Frenchmen who had joined with them in their struggle, by thus commencing a war with England on their behalf this early morning of the 18th of June 1778.

As the America closed towards the Licorne, Lord Longford, from his position upon the hammocknettings, saw the French captain upon his deck, and officers at different points about the vessel.

Nearer and nearer drew the America. Less than half a cable's length now separated the British ship from the Frenchman.

Good-day to you!' called out Lord Longford, in French, as he politely raised his cocked hat.

'Good-day to you also!' replied the French captain.

'I wish to express my friendly salutations this morning,' was the next remark from his lordship.

'I return your greeting, sir,' was the rejoinder, 'and wish you to receive the assurance of my esteem.'

In an instant the astonished eyes of Lord Longford and those of all around him saw sheets of flame suddenly burst from all the larboard ports of the Licorne! There was instantly a terrible roar of guns,

a fearful sound of crashing blows, and the rush of shot as they sped through the air, followed by the sight of falling ropes, blocks, and pieces of shattered spars, as the America became enveloped, and for some moments lost to sight, in immense clouds of smoke.

In a minute or two this cleared away, and the America's gun crews could be seen in frantic haste, as they loaded and ran out the guns from her ports.

Lord Longford was perceived to be still standing upon the hammock-nettings, unhurt, cool, and collected; but four seamen lay upon the deck, the blood slowly trickling from jagged wounds in their bodies, their flesh having been riven by pointed splinters which had been sent flying from the bulwarks, or torn by parts of spars as they fell divided by the iron shower.

Strange it was that not a single man was struck by the shot which had crashed into the America from the broadside of the Licorne, numbers of them having gone clean through the sides of the English ship.

His lordship raised his hand high above his head, and, with wonderful self-command, called out, 'No firing without orders; signal to the admiral that the Licorne has fired into us.'

The lieutenant near him quickly selected the small rolls of bunting, the signalman attached them to the halyards, and away they went to the masthead, touched its cap, and instantly spread to the wind."

A pause, and all on deck eagerly watched for the answering signal. It came :

'Send a boat on board the Licorne, and bring her captain to the flag-ship,' told the line of colours from the admiral's ship.

Again rang out the boatswain's pipe. Its varied sounds ceased,

and the loud order to man the quarter-galley' was called. The boat was soon swung from its davits and lowered. It had scarcely touched the water when a tremendous cheer resounded fore and aft and from point to point of the America's rigging. This was repeated again and again from the Milford. The Frenchman had struck his flag in surrender!

Away sped the boat to the Licorne. In its stern-sheets was the first lieutenant of the America. The galley reached the side of the Licorne. The English seamen within the boat tossed their oars, the lieutenant sprang up the side and stood alone, sternly and undauntedly surveying the scene before him.

On the quarter-deck was the French captain in front of his officers. All were in full uniform, and fully armed. The French sailors stood to their guns along the whole length of the ship's decks, with their weapons again loaded and run out in expectation of some further order. Advancing to the captain, and touching his hat, the English officer firmly spoke,

'Monsieur the captain of the French ship of war the Licorne is requested to proceed with me on board the English admiral's ship. I have to inform him, in case of refusal, that measures will be at once taken to enforce the English admiral's request.'

With the last of these remarks the French captain unceremoniously brushed past the young Englishman, ordered two of his seamen to place the man-ropes for him to descend by, went down the side and stepped into the galley, followed by the English lieutenant.

The crew of the boat pushed off and let fall their oars together.

'Give way, all,' was the lieutenant's order; and the galley swift

ly dashed through the water towards the flag-ship.

Admiral Keppel, silent and calm, stood on his quarter-deck awaiting the boat's approach. His tall figure was drawn up to its full height. His clear-cut and resolute features bore an aspect of unswerving firmness of purpose. The keen blue eyes that shone beneath his well-defined eyebrows spoke of calm decision. His closely compressed mouth told of unshaken will.

He was surrounded by all the officers of his ship. The whole were in full uniform, and armed.

The admiral's vessel had beat to quarters the moment the crash of the Frenchman's broadside had been heard; and, as the Gallic captain stepped upon her deck, so did he perceive as splendid a crew as ever trod a plank or stood to their guns to fight their country's battles on the seas.

Every man seemed ready for instant action. As the French captain turned and glanced around, Admiral Keppel advanced towards him and raised his fore and aft cocked hat. The French commander returned the compliment in a similar manner. All the English officers touched their hats, and once more, with a defiant look, the Frenchman lifted his laced chapeau.

With a wave of his hand the English admiral motioned towards the entrance to the companion ladder which led to his cabin. The officers drew right and left, and the French captain passed between them and descended. Admiral Keppel and his captain followed; the rest of his officers remained on the quarter-deck to await the result of the interview.

6

Be seated, sir,' courteously said the admiral, as soon as the three had entered the cabin.

admiral's request, who, however, stood during the conversation, his captain by his side.

'I regret to have to say, monsieur,' firmly remarked the admiral, 'that in my opinion you have this day committed an act of unparalleled treachery, by firing into one of the ships of the fleet of his Majesty King George the Third of England which is under my command, while in the act of bearing towards you with no other intent than to prevent your getting away until I gave orders to let you go.'

A smile curled the lip of the French captain as he replied,

'Treachery is what you say, Monsieur l'Amiral; I say it is something else. That which, in one sense, is deemed by some an act of perfidy, is, in the minds of others, a deed of self devotion and courage.'

I hold to my opinion that your action was treacherous. There has been no declaration of war between the two countries. I also hold your deed to have been unprovoked, and, to my thinking, dishonourable; further, you must be responsible to your country for the consequences of your doings of this day.'

'I am well willing to accept that which you have placed upon me; and I say that my country will take the full result of what I have done,'

was