Attack on the Pretender's Fleet
Captain Peircy Brett to the Secretary of the Admiralty

Lyon, Plymouth Sound, 30 July 1745

On the 9th inst. west of the Lizard 39 leagues, I saw two of the enemy's ships. By four o'clock I was within two miles of them, they then hoisted French colours, and shortened sail, one was a man of 64 guns, and the other a small ship of 16 guns. At five I ran alongside the man of war within pistol shot, and began to engage. By six my mizzen mast and yard came down upon deck. By nine all my lower masts and top-masts were shot to pieces, so that I lay muzzled and could do nothing. The enemy did not receive much damage in his masts and yards, but his hull must have suffered greatly. At ten he sheered off, and as he was going I gave him a farewell with two of my 24-pounders, but he made no return, and in less than an hour was out of sight, and my condition was such I could not follow him. The small ship in the beginning of the engagement made two attempts to rake me, but I soon beat him off with my stern chase.

From the beginning to the end of the engagement we kept a continual fire at each other, about the distance of a pistol shot. The Lyon's hull is very much shattered as well as her masts, yards, rigging, two of my guns dismounted, and 45 of my men killed and 107 wounded. The next morning at daylight I saw the enemy to the southward of me, making the best of his way to some port in the Bay of Biscay, and as the small ship was not then in company I imagine he proceeded on his voyage to the westward. It was near 24 hours after the engagement before I was in a tolerable condition of making sail....

My officers all behaved extremely well except the Captain of the Marines, whom I have put under arrest, for skulking on the poop under cover of some bags that were there, for the greatest part of the engagement, which encouraged most part of his men to do the like. I was not an eye witness of his bad behaviour, else I should have treated him as he deserved, for the poop ladder being shot away, and myself wounded, rendered me incapable of climbing up.... As I was not so happy as to take him, I have only this satisfaction left, that I spoiled his voyage.

Naval Miscellany, III:110.