aptain Brenton, and the officers and men belonging to the
Caesar, the ship was in readiness to warp out of the Mole
yesterday morning, and got under way immediately after, with all
the squadron except the Pompee, which ship had not had time to
get her masts in.

Confiding in the zeal and intrepidity of the officers and men I
had the happiness to serve with, I determined, if possible, to
obstruct the passage of this powerful force to Cadiz. Late in
the evening I observed the enemy's ships to have cleared Cabrita
Point; and, at eight, I bore up with the squadron to stand after
them. His Majesty's ship Superb being stationed ahead of the
Caesar, I directed Captain Keats to make sail and attack the
sternmost ships of the enemy's rear, using his endeavours to
keep in-shore of them.

At eleven, the Superb opened her fire close to the enemy's
ships; and, on the Caesar's coming up and preparing to engage a
three-decker that had hauled her wind, she was perceived to have
taken fire; and the flames having communicated to a ship to
leeward of her, both were soon in a blaze, and presented a most
awful sight. As no possibility existed of affording the least
assistance in so distressing a situation, the Caesar passed, to
close with the ship engaged by the Superb; but, by the cool and
determined fire kept up on her, which must ever reflect the
highest credit on the discipline of that ship, she was
completely silenced, and soon after hauled down her colours.

The Venerable and Spencer having at this time come up, I bore up
after the enemy, who were carrying a press of sail, standing out
of the Straits; and lost sight of them. During the night it blew
excessively hard till daylight, and, in the morning, the only
ships in company were the Venerable and Thames, ahead of the
Caesar, and one of the French ships at some distance from them,
standing towards the shoals of Conil, besides the Spencer
astern, coming up.

All the ships immediately made sail with a fresh breeze, but, as
we approached, the wind suddenly failing, the Venerable was
alone able to bring her to action; which Captain Hood did in the
most gallant manner, and had nearly silenced the French ship,
when his main-mast (which had been before wounded) was
unfortunately shot away, and, it coming nearly calm, the enemy's
ship was enabled to get off without any