The numbers involved in this skirmish are not fully clear. One assumes a single ship of the line, unnamed but fairly new, taking on 5 French ships, size not mentioned. 3 more British ships arrive and then the 4 defeat and capture the 5 French. What sort of valour was employed, other than the cabin boy's we don't know because we don't know the relative size or ordinance of the vessels. Odds are it recounts a real event but placing it in history would be difficult without more info.

Perhaps one of our naval historians will tell us what size/type of vessel the first ship mentioned is based on the 500/550 men. 50 guns doesn't seem very many. A frigate? A second rater?