admiral
made the signal for the fleet to sail. It was a fine sight to see
twenty-four line-of-battle ships, beside the _Royal George_, mostly
seventy-four's, some larger and some smaller, getting under way
together, and standing over to the enemy's coast. We were a few hours
later than we should have been, however, for on our arrival we heard
that Admiral Conflans had just before slipped out of Brest harbour, and
sailed away for Quiberon Bay, hoping to cut off a small English squadron
under Commodore Duff at anchor there.

We made all sail in chase, but a strong south-easterly wind blew in
their teeth, and it was four days before we arrived off Belle Isle, when
we were joined by Commodore Duff, with four fifty-gun ships and six
frigates. Early in the morning, the _Maidstone_, one of our look-out
frigates, made the signal that the enemy's fleet was in sight! We, on
this, threw out the signal for our ships to form in line, while the
frigate was sent inshore to ascertain how far we were from it. You will
understand that the fog prevented us from seeing the land or the enemy,
and from the same cause it was no easy matter, as we all sailed close
together, to prevent one ship from running into another.

We had not long to wait, however, before, the fog lifting, we caught
sight of the French fleet, crowding all sail to get away from us, for
their frigates had found out our fleet, while ours had discovered
theirs. We made all sail in chase, both the enemy's ships and ours
having every stitch of canvas they could carry. In about three hours
the van of our fleet got up with them.

I remember standing by my father's side, in the forecastle, and thinking
what a grand sight it was, as the _Warspite_ and _Dorchester_ gallantly
commenced firing their broadsides into the enemy. The next ship that
got into action was the _Magnanime_, commanded by the brave Lord Howe,
followed quickly by the _Revenge_, _Torbay_, _Montagu_, and many others
whose names are known to fame. There was a heavy sea running at the
time, and, big as were our ships, they kept tumbling about so much that
we were unable to fight our lower-deck guns. The captain of one of the
French ships, the _Thesee_, engaged with the _Torbay_, thought that he
could do so; and Captain Keppel, who commanded the English seventy-four,
unwisely followed his example. The two ships were thus hotly engaged,
firing their broadsides into each other, when we saw the Frenchman gi