tance would be covered in
something over a minute.]

[Footnote 116: Probably not over one or two hundred yards from the
enemy.]

[Footnote 117: The position, in the French order, of the ships taken
in the battle, is shown by the crosses in Positions 4, 5, 6.]

[Footnote 118: _Canada's_ log, 8.15; reduced to Hood's times, which
are generally followed.]

[Footnote 119: _Ante_, p. 200 (note).]

[Footnote 120: This mishap occurred to three French vessels.]

[Footnote 121: Ross, "Life of Saumarez," i. 71.]

[Footnote 122: Circular pieces of wood which cap the top of the
masts.]

[Footnote 123: Letters of Lord Hood, p. 103. Navy Records Society.]

[Footnote 124: Mundy, "Life of Rodney," ii. 234.]

[Footnote 125: She is thus rated in the British Navy Lists published
between the time of her capture and the receipt of news of her loss;
but she seems to have carried 120 guns.]

[Footnote 126: Letters of Lord Hood, pp. 103, 104.]

[Footnote 127: See letter of Sir Howard Douglas, son to Sir Charles;
"United Service Journal," 1834, Part II, p. 97.]

[Footnote 128: Author's italics; Mundy, "Life of Rodney," ii. 248.]

[Footnote 129: Troude. Chevalier says sixteen, differing with. Troude
as to the whereabouts of the _Brave_.]

[Footnote 130: Letters of Lord Hood, p. 136.]

[Footnote 131: Letters of Lord Hood, p. 134.]

[Footnote 132: Ibid., p. 104.]

CHAPTER XIII

HOWE AGAIN GOES AFLOAT. THE FINAL RELIEF OF GIBRALTAR

1782

The fall of Lord North's Ministry, besides occasioning the recall
of Rodney, drew Lord Howe out of his long retirement, to command the
Channel Fleet. He hoisted his flag on the 20th of April, 1782, on
board the _Victory_, 100. Owing to the various directions in which
the efforts of Great Britain had to be made, either to defend her own
interests or to crush the movements of the many enemies now combined
against her, the operations of the Channel fleet were for some months
carried on by detached squadrons,--in the North Sea, in the Bay
of Biscay, and at the entrance of the Channel; Howe having under
him several distinguished subordinates, at the head of whom, in
professional reputation, were Vice-Admiral Barrington, the captor of
Santa Lucia, and Rear-Admiral Kempenfelt. In the North Sea, the Dutch
were kept in their ports; and a convoy of near 400 merchant ships
from the Baltic reached England unmolested. In the Bay of Biscay,
Barrington, having with him twelve of the line, disco