devait, was to

5. vaisseau de ligne, battle-ship, A war-vessel of such power as to admit her into the line of battle. Usually carrying seventy-four or more guns. — Brueys, pronounce Bru-é-iss,

6. que devaient . . . général en chef, an inversion for que V amiral et le général en chef devaie7it 77ionter ; trans. ht which both the admirai and the general ht chief were to sait,

7. frégates, frigates^ war-vessels smaller than a battle-ship. A frigate carried from twenty-four to fifty guns.

8. corvettes, corvets or sloops of war. A war-vessel smaller than a frigate.

9. cutters. An English word which is pronounced contre in French. The “cutter” was smaller than a “corvet.”