The loss of the _Culloden_, which was the vessel which struck on the sands, and of the _Leander_, which went to her assistance, was serious, and had the French rear-admiral, Villeneuve, who commanded the five vessels at the rear of the French line, cut his cables and come to the assistance of his comrades, the eight British ships, engaged with as many French, would have been in a serious position. He did not do so, however, possibly fearing to run his ships aground. Consequently the _Alexandria_ and the _Swiftsure_ came in to the assistance of the British ships, some of which were being terribly damaged by the greatly superior weight of the French fire. The _Bellerophon_, dismasted and disabled by the enemy's fire, dropped out of the line, and the _Alexandria_ took her place, while the _Swiftsure_ attacked the _Franklin_. The _Leander_, seeing how hard was the fight, relinquished her attempt to get the _Culloden_ afloat, and, sailing in, engaged in the battle.