"Your fire was tremendous for me; and I can with truth affirm that it was you who did me most damage, and who dismasted my vessel, which was the reason that I was unable to capture the _Thetis_. A single ship, then, has not all the honour of the fight, but certainly all three. In short, sir, I thank the accident that has procured me the pleasure of your acquaintance, and to express the satisfaction that I feel in my heart in writing this letter. I leave you full liberty to make it public among your countrymen. In proving my particular esteem for your person, it will no doubt, at the same time, ensure you the public approbation, and preserve you from those malicious tongues who shall dare attack your respectable character.
"I have the honour to be, with consideration and esteem, sir, your obedient servant,
The Frenchman declares that it was the _Ceres_ which dismasted his ship, though both the captains state in their letters that she lost her foremast, etc., in boarding the _Thetis_. Captain Charnley says the two other ships stood off, and came out of the fight undamaged, whereas they both report considerable injury, and the captain of the _Penelope_ states that ten of her guns were disabled. The only casualty, however, appears to have been one passenger killed, while the _Ceres_ had only two men injured, through their own careless handling of the ammunition--though "the small-shot and grape came on board like hail."
Now, when we are told that a ship has ten guns disabled in action, and that the only person touched was a passenger, presumably not stationed at a gun, the question inevitably presents itself--where were the guns' crews? Also, when grape and case are coming on board like hail, it seems odd that nobody is hit. Every one who has any experience or knowledge of battle is aware, of course, that the saying that "every bullet has its billet" is rank romance; a vast majority of bullets discharged in hot action find no other billet than the bottom of the sea--unless, indeed, they are swallowed by inquisitive fish while sinking--or the nearest hillside. Still, these two good men do not appear to make out their case very well; let us hope that they did not deliberately lie to their owners. The Frenchman was, of course, interested in demonstrating that he was beaten off by three, rather than by one ship; still, he was perhaps a very truthful man: and there we must leave it. The only thing quite clear is that the _Bonaparte_ made rather sure of catching three good prizes, and was considerably sold.