Page:Royal Naval Biography Marshall v1p1.djvu/82

52  of twenty-two ships of the line, until the 4th May 1799, when he discovered the Brest Fleet, consisting of twenty-four sail of the line and nine smaller vessels, which had escaped the vigilance of Lord Bridport, at some distance to windward, steering in for the land. The Vice-Admiral did not hesitate a moment what part to act, although the wind at this time was blowing extremely hard right on the shore; he instantly weighed, stood off, and, not discouraged by the numerical superiority of the enemy’s force, offered them battle, which they assiduously declined; neither did the French Admiral, Bruix, persevere in the attempt to join his friends at Cadiz, which port was not more than seven or eight miles to leeward. During the ensuing night the storm was so great, it was with much difficulty the ships could be kept together. At day light on the morning of the 5th, only four sail of the enemy were to be seen, to which chace was given, but without effect. Lord Keith remained on his station until the 9th, when he suspected, from not again getting sight of the French Fleet, that it had passed the Straits; he accordingly bore up to follow them, and steered for Gibraltar, from whence he accompanied the Commander-in-Chief up the Mediterranean.

On the 2nd June, the Earl of St. Vincent, finding his health getting worse, resigned the command of the fleet to Lord Keith, who after having in vain endeavoured to obtain a meeting with the enemy, returned to England on the l7th Aug. following.

Towards the latter end of November, in the same year, his Lordship sailed from Plymouth to resume the command of the fleet in the Mediterranean, and arrived at Gibraltar on the 6th December. The season for brilliant operations was in some degree over in that quarter, in consequence of the severe losses which the enemy had sustained, and were in no condition to repair; but much praise was due to Lord Keith for the excellent disposition of the force under his command, and the judgment with which he stationed his cruisers, so that few of the enemy’s vessels ventured out of port without falling into the hands of some of our ships of war.

