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76 distinguished share. On the glorious 1st June, the Defence was the first vessel that cut through the enemy’s line, passingshe was soon capable of making such sail as to preserve her distance; the Revolutionnaire was at the same time observed about a mile and a half to windward, totally dismasted. The weather being thick and hazy, Captain Parker soon lost sight of the enemy; and as the Audacious was in too disabled a state to give him hopes of rejoining the Commander-in-Chief, he bore away for the Channel, and arrived safely at Plymouth.

On the 29th May, a partial engagement took place between the hostile fleets, in which some of the enemy’s ships were much crippled, and the advantage of the weather-gage obtained by the British. Thick foggy weather prevented any operations on either side for the two following days; at intervals the fleets were in sight of each other, and not many miles distant.

At day-break on the 1st June, the French fleet was descried on the lee bow, consisting of twenty-six line-of-battle ships, mounting 2158 guns, (the whole of whom, excepting one or two, appeared complete in their masts and rigging,) six frigates and corvettes. The force under Earl Howe was at this time composed of twenty-five ships of the line,