n company.

Shortly afterwards she shortened sail, then wore, and stood back towards
us. We had been all day retreating, most of the time warmly engaged
with our overpowering enemy, when soon after 6 p.m. the French ships
suddenly ceased firing; and shortly afterwards, their admirals making
signals to them, they shortened sail and stood to the eastward. By
sunset they were nearly hull down in the north-east, while we sailed on,
rejoicing in having escaped from as dangerous a position as squadron was
ever placed in. I don't know if I have succeeded in explaining the
position of our ships sufficiently well to be understood by shore-going
persons. So close were the French ships upon us, that had they not
given up the chase when they did, it would have been scarcely possible
for us and the _Triumph_, which, if she had not suffered as much as we
had, was too much cut up to have afforded us any assistance, to have
effected our escape. I am very certain that our old admiral would not
have deserted us, nor was it likely that the other two ships would have
done so. We should all, therefore, after a desperate fight, either have
gone down, been blown up, or captured. As it was, our brave admiral's
masterly retreat excited general admiration. Every seaman on board was
well able to judge of our danger, and of the way in which we had been
rescued. Had he not so gallantly bore up to save us in the _Mars_, our
ship must inevitably have been taken. He might, as some officers would
have done, have left us to our fate, for the sake of preserving the rest
of the squadron; but he had no notion of doing anything of the sort, and
gallantly determined that if he could help it, not a single one of his
squadron should fall into the hands of the enemy. In his despatch,
giving an account of the transaction, he spoke in the handsomest way of
the behaviour of the officers and ships' companies engaged, saying very
little of the manner in which he had come to our rescue. He and all of
us got the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for what had been done,
and all will acknowledge that he richly deserved them. As soon as we
lost sight of the French fleet, we steered a course for Plymouth, to
carry the intelligence that it was at sea. From the way the stern of
our ship had been knocked about, we were compelled to remain for some
time at Hamoaze to refit, and were therefore unable to sail with the
fleet under Lord Bridport, which went out to