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After the victory had been secured in the van, such British ships as were in a condition to move, had gone down upon the fresh ships of the enemy.
At five minutes past five in the morning the two rear ships of the enemy, Le Guillaume Tell and Le Gedereux, were the only French ships of the line that had their colours flying.
At fifty-four minutes past five a French frigate, L'Artemise, fired a broadside and struck her colours; but such was the unwarrantable and infamous conduct of the French captain, that after having thus surrendered, he set fire to his ship, and with part of his crew, made his escape on shore.
Another French frigate, La Serieuse, had been sunk by the fire from some of our ships; but as her poop remained above water, her men were saved upon it, and were taken off by our boats in the morning.
The Bellerophon, whose masts and cables had been entirely shot away, could not retain her situation abreast of L'Orient, but had drifted out of the line to the lee side of the Bay, a little before that ship blew up: The Audacious was in the morning detached to her assistance.
At eleven o'clock Le Genereux and Guillaume Tell, with the two frigates, Le Justice and Le Diane, cut their cables and stood out to sea, pursued by the Zealous, Capt. Hood, who, as the Admiral himself has stated, handsomely endeavoured to prevent their escape; but as there was no other ship in a condition to support the Zealous, she was recalled.
The whole day of the second was employed in securing the French ships that had struck, and which were now all completely in our possession, Le Tonnant and Timoleon excepted; as these were both dismasted, and consequently could not escape, they were naturally the last of which we thought of taking possession.
On the morning of the third the Timeleon was set fire to, and Le Tonnant had cut her cable and drifted on shore, but that active officer, Captain Miller, of the Theseus, soon got her off again, and secured her in the British line.
The
