raged
it for some time, much gallantry being displayed by the captain of a
French 74-gun ship, who, backing his main-topsail, steadily received and
returned the fire of these three ships in succession. The Comte de
Grasse, seeing the remainder of the British fleet coming up, withdrew
out of fire, and by the 11th his fleet was nearly hull down. All hopes
of being able to keep up with them appeared to be at an end, when two
French ships, which had been much damaged, were perceived about noon to
leeward of their fleet. Chase was instantly made by the English, when
the Comte de Grasse bore down to their relief. Sir George Rodney on
this recalled the ships in chase, and formed a close line of battle,
carrying sail to windward all night. At dawn of the 12th, a French ship
of the line, the _Zele_, 74 guns, was seen much disabled, and towed by a
frigate. The Comte de Grasse, on perceiving that she must be taken,
bore up with his whole fleet for her protection. He could now no longer
avoid an engagement. At half-past seven Rear-Admiral Drake's division,
which led, commenced the action, which soon became general from van to
rear. Captain Gardner, in the _Duke_, having unsuccessfully attempted
to force the enemy's line, in consequence of the loss of his
main-topmast, Sir George Rodney, in the _Formidable_, supported by the
_Namur_ and _Canada_, broke through their line, about three ships from
the _Ville de Paris_, and was followed by the ships in his rear, when he
wore and doubled upon the enemy. By this manoeuvre the French line was
broken and thrown into the utmost confusion; their van bore away, and
endeavoured to re-form to leeward, but this, hardly pressed as they
were, they were unable to accomplish. Sir Samuel Hood's division, which
had been becalmed the greater part of the forenoon, now coming up,
completed the victory. Several of the French ships struck. Captain
Cornwallis, to whom the _Hector_ had yielded, left his prize, and made
sail after the French admiral in the _Ville de Paris_. The
well-directed fire of the _Canada_ so much annoyed her, and some other
ships approaching, made it impossible for her to escape; but the Comte
de Grasse seemed determined to sink rather than yield to anything under
a flag. At length Sir Samuel Hood came up in the _Barfleur_, and poured
in a tremendous and destructive fire. The brave Frenchman maintained
the action for a quarter-of-an-hour longer, when finding further
resi