ments. With a boldness which must have astonished them,
accustomed though they had been to the daring manner in which he had
watched their port; under easy sail, but with studding-sails ready for a
start, if necessary, he kept as close as possible to the French Admiral,
often within half-gun-shot; and as that officer made signals to his
fleet, he falsified them by additional guns, lights, and rockets. At
half-past eight, when the French ships were observed coming round the
Saintes, he made sail to the north-west, with a light at each mast-head,
constantly making signals for Sir J. Colpoys, by firing a gun every
quarter of an hour, throwing up rockets, and burning blue lights. At
midnight, having received no answer, he tacked, and stood to the
southward until six o'clock. Still seeing nothing of the Admiral, though
he had sailed over all his cruising ground, he sent off the _Duke of
York_, hired armed lugger, to England, with despatches, intending to
remain with the _Indefatigable_, and take part in the expected battle.
But reflecting on the importance of conveying the information quickly to
England, with the uncertainty of its being carried safely by so small a
vessel; and assured that the _Revolutionaire_, which he had again spoke
that morning, would not fail to meet Sir J. Colpoys, he gave up the hope
of distinction to a sense of duty, and made sail for Falmouth. He
arrived late in the evening of the 20th.

If Lord Bridport had been waiting at Falmouth, with discretional powers,
Sir Edward having been instructed to communicate directly with him, he
might have sailed early on the 21st, and found the enemy in Bantry Bay,
where, perhaps, not a ship would have escaped him. It is, however, to be
remembered, that as the destination of the French armament was unknown
to the last, the Admiralty might very properly determine that he should
receive his final instructions from themselves, and therefore would keep
the fleet at Spithead for the convenience of ready communication.

On the 25th, Lord Bridport attempted to sail. The enemy had arrived four
days before, and if the weather had allowed the troops to land, the most
complete naval victory would have been too late to save the country. The
fleet was prevented from putting to sea on that day by a succession of
accidents, by which five of the heaviest ships were disabled before they
could leave the harbour. The _Prime_ missed stays, and fell on board the
_Sans Pareil_. The _Fo