French.
| Guns. | Weight of shot. | |
| Le Scævola (razée) | 54 | 1656 |
| Le Brutus (ditto) | 54 | 1656 |
| La Danae | 36 | 800 |
| La Félicité | 36 | 800 |
| La Terreur. | 12 | 144 |
| — | —— | |
| Total | 192 | 5056 |
Thus it appears that the French were 100 guns, and 3556 pounds in weight of metal, superior to the English squadron.
This exploit, which has been justly considered by every officer of the navy a masterpiece of professional skill, as well as of presence of mind and intrepidity, should be more particularly related than in the above very modest public letter. The superiority of the enemy being much too great to be opposed with any chance of success, it became the imperative duty of Saumarez to effect, if possible, the escape of his ships, to which the enemy immediately gave chase. Observing that his own ship and the Druid had the advantage in sailing, and that the Eurydice, which was not only in bad condition but a bad sailer, would fall into their hands, he shortened sail, and having ordered the Eurydice by signal to push for Guernsey, he contrived, by occasionally showing a disposition to engage, to amuse the enemy, and lead him off until the Eurydice was safe. He now tacked, and, in order to save the Druid, closed with the enemy, passing along their line; and the capture of the Crescent seemed at one time inevitable. The Druid meanwhile made her escape, with the Eurydice, into Guernsey Roads.
But Sir James Saumarez had for his own preservation a scheme which, in the first instance, required great courage; in the second, a perfect knowledge of a most dangerous and intricate channel; and, in the last, a consummate skill in the management of his ship. He was himself well acquainted with the coast, and possessed an experienced pilot, John Breton, a native, whose house was on that extremity of the island. As soon therefore as the other two ships were secure, he bore up as if to run his ship on the rocks, to avoid capture. Ordering his pilot to steer the Crescent through a narrow passage between the rocks, which had never before been attempted by a ship of her size, and defying the enemy to follow him, he reached the anchorage in safety,[10] to the no small surprise and mortification of the French, who, after firing some time over the rocks at the ship, were obliged, by the shot of the Crescent and that of the batteries, to give up the contest.
![[View larger image]](#2876857737432228583_134-b.jpg.id-6110547155509539266.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
Close of the action when the Crescent retreated among the rocks at Guernsey.
It is worthy of remark that, after passing through the narrow channel, the ship had to sail so near to the shore of Câtel parish, that he could distinctly see his own house,—a position truly singular, for behind he beheld a French prison, and before him his own fireside! While passing through the narrowest part of the channel, Sir James asked the pilot if he was sure he could see the marks for running through? when he replied, "I am quite sure, for there is your house, and there is my own!"
