e, their course diverging thenceforth from
that of the British approach. The effect of this would be that the
British rear, when it reached that point, would be fresh, having
undergone no fire, and with that advantage would encounter the French
rear, which had received already the fire of the British van and
centre. To obviate this, by bringing his own van into action, de
Grasse signalled the van ships to lead south-south-west, parallel
with the British north-north-east (4, a). The engagement thus became
general all along the lines; but it is probable that the French van
was never well formed. Its commander, at all events, reached his post
later than the commander of the rear did his.[117]

At five minutes past eight, Rodney made a general signal for close
action, followed immediately by another for the leading ships to head
one point to starboard--towards the enemy--which indicates that he
was not satisfied with the distance first taken by the _Marlborough_.
The _Formidable_, his flagship, eighteenth in the column, began
to fire at 8.23;[118] but the _Barfleur_, Hood's flagship, which
was thirty-first, not till 9.25. This difference in time is to be
accounted for chiefly by the light airs near Dominica, contrasted
with the fresh trades in the open channel to the northward, which the
leading British vessels felt before their rear. De Grasse now, too
late, had realised the disastrous effect which this would have upon
his fleet. If he escaped all else, his ships, baffled by calms and
catspaws while the British had a breeze, must lose the weather-gage,
and with it the hope of evading pursuit, hitherto his chief
preoccupation. Twice he signalled to wear,--first, all together, then
in succession,--but, although the signals were seen, they could not
be obeyed with the enemy close under the lee. "The French fleet,"
comments Chevalier justly, "had freedom of movement no longer. A fleet
cannot wear with an enemy's fleet within musket-range to leeward."

The movement therefore continued as described, the opposing ships
slowly "sliding by" each other until about 9.15, when the wind
suddenly shifted back to south-east again. The necessity of keeping
the sails full forced the bows of each French vessel towards the enemy
(Position 5), destroying the order in column, and throwing the fleet
into _echelon_, or, as the phrase then was, into bow and quarter
line.[119] The British, on the contrary, were free either to hold
their course o