to throw off pursuit through his superior speed,
and so to accomplish his mission unharmed. The French ships, larger,
deeper, and with better lines than their opponents, were naturally
better sailers, and it may be inferred that even coppering had not
entirely overcome this original disadvantage of the British.

At the very moment of beginning his new policy, however, a subtle
temptation assailed de Grasse irresistibly, in the exposed position of
Hood's column (h); and he met it, not by a frank and hearty acceptance
of a great opportunity, but by a half-measure. Hood thoroughly
crushed, the British fleet became hopelessly inferior to the French;
Hood damaged, and it became somewhat inferior: possibly it would
be deterred from further pursuit. De Grasse decided for this second
course, and ordered part of his fleet to attack. This operation was
carried out under the orders of the Marquis de Vaudreuil, the second
in command. The ships engaged in it bore down from the windward,
attacked Hood's rear ships, stood along northward (f) on the weather
side of his column at long range, and, having passed ahead, tacked (t)
in succession and formed again in the rear, (f^2) whence they repeated
the same manoeuvre (Positions 1 and 2). Thus a procession of fifteen
ships kept passing by eight, describing a continuous curve of
elliptical form. They were able to do this because Hood was condemned
to a low speed, lest he should draw too far away from the British
centre (a) and rear (c), still becalmed under Dominica (Position 2).
The French, having choice of distance, kept at long gunshot, because
they were deficient in carronades, of which the British had many.
These guns, of short range but large calibre, were thus rendered
useless. Could they have come into play, the French rigging and sails
would have suffered severely. This first engagement (Position 1)
lasted, by Hood's log, from 9.48 to 10.25 A.M. It was resumed in
stronger force (Position 2) at 14 minutes past noon, and continued
till 1.45 P.M., when firing ceased for that day; Rodney hauling
down the signal for battle at 2. Between the two affairs, which were
identical in general character, Hood's column was reinforced, and
great part of the British centre also got into action with some of
the French main body, though at long range only. "Except the two rear
ships," wrote Rodney to Hood that night, "the others fired at such a
distance that I returned none."

[Illustration]

T