a light during the night. At half-past
seven saw the flashes and heard the report of several guns to windward,
supposed to be from the French fleet. At half-past one A.M. the Admiral
made the signal to tack. At sunrise saw the French fleet to the
northward about three leagues. At half-past five the Admiral made the
signal to form a line ahead, and for the blue division to lead. At six,
the Conqueror's signal was made to chase to the N.W. At half-past six
the Admiral made the signal for the line to form N.N.E. and S.S.W, two
cables' length asunder, and for the third in command to lead; the French
fleet to windward forming the line ahead, standing to the southward. At
seven the Admiral made the signal for all cruisers to come in and to
close the line one cable's length asunder. At thirty-eight minutes past
seven the Admiral made our signal for being out of our station; forty
minutes past, the signal for the fleet to close in a line of battle;
forty-three minutes past, repeated it; our fleet in a line ahead
standing to the southward. At three quarters past seven the enemy began
firing on our van. The Admiral made the signal for action--our van began
to engage the enemy's van. Fifty minutes past seven we backed the main
topsail, and began to engage. Fifty minutes past eight, engaging the
enemy very close, backed and filled occasionally; at nine luffed up and
backed the main topsail, and raked the enemy's sternmost ships. Having
passed all their line, ceased firing, the centre and rear still engaging
as they passed the enemy. Our masts, yards, sails, and rigging, very
much damaged; the mizen-mast, dangerously wounded, struck the mizen
yard, and sent topgallant-masts and yards down upon deck, unbent the
mizen topsail, a spritsail, topsail, and a jib for a mizen. At
twenty-five minutes past nine saw the Prince George to leeward without
a fore-mast. Employed fishing the fore and mizen topsail yards, and
fitting the rigging, and shifting powder from forward to aft, and
cleared the decks up ready for action. At half-past nine wore to stand
for the enemy. At ten the Admiral made the signal for the commander of
the third post to tack and gain the wind of the enemy; the signal for
engaging flying, and the signal for the line, hauled down. At three
minutes past eleven the Admiral made the signal for the van to tack: saw
one of the enemy's ships with all her masts and bowsprit shot away; Sir
Samuel Hood's division and part of the centre