#age of fighting sail

The French fleet used to come out and manoeuvre within range of their batteries; or, if they proceeded further from the shore, they took good care that they had a leading wind to return again into port. We had been in-shore about a week, every day running close in, and counting the French fleet in the harbour, to see that they were all safe, and reporting it to the admiral by signal, when one fine morning, the whole of the French vessels were perceived to hoist their topsails, and in less than an hour they were under weigh, and came out of the harbour.

— Frederick Marryat, Peter Simple

Three French Frigates & a Gun Vessel aided by a Battery on the Shore, close in with Belleisle April 9th 1799 (detail), 1801 print after Nicholas Pocock.

When the hands were turned up to muster, the number of killed amounted to nine, and wounded to thirteen. When this was made known, there seemed to be a general smile of congratulation at the number fallen, rather than of their regret for their loss. The vanity of the officers seemed tickled at the disproportionate slaughter in a frigate of our size, as compared to what they had heard the ships of the line had suffered.

— Frederick Marryat, The Naval Officer (Frank Mildmay)

Engagement between His Majesty’s Ship Amelia… and L’ Arethuse French Frigate… off the Isles of Loss, on the Coast of Africa… 7 February 1813, 1817 print.