Page:Narrative of a captivity and adventures in France and Flanders between the years 1803 and 1809.djvu/21

 evidently disapproving of the return; but the Phœbe was then some distance to windward. Captain Capel, seeing the irresolution and want of energy in the French squadron, about four P. M. boldly bore down, fired at them, and hauled his wind again, as if desirous of enticing them off shore; between six and seven P. M. they gave up the chace, and again made sail for Toulon, followed by the Phœbe. It is impossible to say with what discretionary power the commodore was invested, but it was nevertheless certain, from the decided advantage the French squadron had in sailing, that if they had continued the chace in either instance, the Phœbe must have been taken, for there was no friendly ship of war within many leagues. During the night the squadron lay too off the mouth of the harbour, and when day dawned, again gave chace, which was continued all day, taking care not to reach too far off shore; in the evening they bore up and lay too as before. The 6th they again stood to sea, and returning, about sunset, anchored in Toulon