Thursday the Nineteenth , standing with a small Gale S. S. W. the Wind at W. and W. and by S. hazey Weather , Cape Barfleur bearing then S. W. and by S. from me distant about Seven Leagues , between three and Four in the morning , we heard several Guns to the Westward , and in a short time I saw the two Frigats making the Signal of seeing the Enemy , with their Heads lying to the Northward , which gave me reason to think the Enemy lay with their Heads that way ; upon which I ordered the Signal to be made for the Fleet 's drawing into a Line of Battel ; after which I made the Signal for the Rear of the Fleet to Tack , that if the Enemy stood to the Northward , we might the sooner come to engage ; But soon after four a Clock , the Sun had a little cleared the Weather , and I saw the French Fleet standing to the Southward , forming their Line on the same Tack that I was upon ; I then ordered that Signal for the Rear to Tack to be taken in , and at the same time bore away with my own Ship fo far to Leeward , as I judged each Ship in the Fleet might fetch my Wake or Graine ; then brought to again , lying by with my Fore-top-sail to the Mast , to give the Ships in the Fleet the better opportunity of placing themselves , as they had been before directed . By eight a Clock we had formed an indifferent Line , stretching from the S. S. W. to the N. N E. the Dutch in the Van , the Red in the Center , and the Blue in the Rear . By Nine a Clock the Enemies Van Guard had stretch'd almost as far to the Southward as ours , their Admiral and Rear-Admiral of the Blue that were in the Rear , closing the Line , and their Vice-Admiral of the same Division stretching to the Rear of our Fleet , but never coming within Gun-shot of them . About ten they bore down upon us , I still lying with my Fore-top-sail to the Mast . I then observed Monsieur Tourville , the French Admiral , put out his Signal for Battel ; I gave order that mine should not be hoisted till the Fleets began to engage , that he might have the fairer opportunity of coming as near me as he thought convenient , and at the same time , I sent Orders to Admiral Almonde , that as soon as any of his Squadron could Weather the Enemies Fleet , they should Tack , and get to the Westward of them ; as also to the Blue , to make sail and close the Line , they being at some distance a-stern ; but as soon as the Fleet began to engage it fell calm , which prevented their so doing . About half an Hour after eleven , Monsieur Tourville in the Royal Sun ( being within Three Quarters Musquet-shot , ) brought to , lying by me at that distance about an Hour and a half , plying his Guns very warmly ; though I must observe to you , that our Men fired their Guns faster ; after which time I did not find his Guns were fired with that vigour as before , and I could see him in great Disorder , his Rigging , Sails , and Top-sail Yards , being shot , and no body endeavouring to make them serviceable , and his Boats towing of him to Windward , gave me reason to think he was much gaul'd . About two the Wind shifted to the N. W. and by W. and some little time after that Five fresh Ships of the Enemies Blue Squadron came and posted themselves , three a-head of Monsieur Tourville , and two a-stern of him , and fired with great Fury , which continued till after three . About four in the Evening there came so thick a Fog , that we could not see a Ship of the Enemies , which occasioned our leaving off firing for a little time , and then it cleared up , and we could see Monsieur Tourville towing away with his Boats to the Northward from us ; upon which I did the same , and ordered all my Division to do the like ; and about half an Hour after Five , we had a small breeze of Wind Easterly . I then made the Signal for the Fleet to Chase , sending Notice to all the Ships about me , that the Enemy were running . About this time I heard several Broad-sides to the Westward and , though I could not see the Ships that fired , I concluded them to be our Blue , that by the shift of Wind had weathered the Enemy ; but it proved to be the Reer-Admiral of the Red , who had weathered Tourville's Squadron , and got between them and their Admiral of the Blue , where they lay firing some time , and then Tourville anchored with some Ships of his own Division , as also the Reer-Admiral of the Red with some of his : This was the time that Captain Hastings in the Sandwich was killed , he driving through those Ships , by reason of his Anchors not being clear . I could not see this part , because of the great Smoak and Fog , but have received this Information from Sir Cloudesly Shovel since . I sent to all the Ships that I could think were near me , to Chase to the Westward all night ; telling them , I designed to follow the Enemy to Brest ; and sometimes we could see a French Ship , two , or three , standing away with all the Sail they could make to the Westward . About Eight I heard firing to the Westward , which lasted about half an hour , it being some of our Blue fallen in with some of the Ships of the Enemies in the Fog . 'T was Foggy , and very little Wind all night .

Friday the 20th , 't was so thick in the morning , that I could see none of the Enemies Ships , and but very few of our own . About Eight it began to clear up ; the Dutch , who were to the Southward of me , made the Signal of seeing the Enemy ; and , as it cleared , I saw about 32 or 34 Sail , distant from us between two and three Leagues , the Wind at E. N. E. and they bearing from us W. S W. our Fleet Chasing with all the Sail they could make , having taken in the Signal for the Line of Battle , that each Ship might make the best of her way after the Enemy . Between Eleven and Twelve , the Wind came to the S. W. The French ply'd to the Westward with all the Sail they could , and we after them . About Four the Tide of Ebb being done , the French anchor'd , as also we in 43 Fathom Water , Cape Barfleur bearing S. and by W. About Ten in the Evening we weighed with the Tide of Ebb , the Wind at S. W. and ply'd to the Westward . About Twelve my Fore-Topmast came by the Board , having received several Shot .

Saturday the 21st , we continued still plying after the Enemy , till Four in the morning . The Tide of Ebb being done , I anchored in 46 Fathom Water , Cape de Hague bearing S. and by W. and the Island of Alderney S. S. W. By my Topmast's going away , the Dutch Squadron , and the Admiral of the Blue , with several of his Squadron , had got a great way to Windward of me . About Seven in the morning several of the Enemies Ships , being far advanced towards the Race , I perceived driving to the Eastward with the Tide of Flood . Between Eight and Nine , when they were driven so far to the Eastward that I could fetch them , I made the Signal for the Fleet to cut and follow the Enemy ; which they all did , except the aforementioned Weathermost Ships , which rid fast , to observe the motion of the rest of the Enemies Ships that continued in the Race of Alderney . About Eleven , I saw three great Ships fair under the Shoar Tack and stand to the Westward : but after making two or three short Boards , the biggest of them run ashoar , who presently cut his Masts away ; the other two being to Leeward of him , ply'd up to him : The reason , as I judge , of their doing this was , that they could not weather our sternmost Ships to the Westward , nor get out a-head of Us to the Eastward . I observing that many of our Ships hovered about those , I sent to Sir Ralph Delaval , Vice-Admiral of the Red , who was in the Reer of our Fleet , to keep such a number of Ships and Fireships with him , as might be sufficient to destroy those of the Enemies ; and to order the others to follow me , I being then in pursuit of the rest of the Enemy : An Account of the performing that Service I don't trouble your Lordship with , He having given it you already . About Four in the afternoon 18 Sail of the Enemies Ships got to the Eastward of Cape Barfleur ; after which , I observed they hawled in for le Hogue : The Reer-Admiral of the Red , Vice-Admiral of the Blue , and some other Ships , were a-head of me . About Ten at night , I anchored in the Bay of le Hogue , and lay till Four the next morning , being

Sunday the 22d ; and then I weighed , and stood in near the Land of le Hogue : but when we found the Flood came , we anchored in good Sandy Ground . At Two in the afternoon we weighed again , and ply'd close in with le Hogue , where we saw 13 Sail of the Enemies Men of War hawled close in with the Shoar : The Reer-Admiral of the Red tells me , That the night before he saw the other five , which made up the 18 I first chased , stand to the Eastward .

Monday the 23d , I sent in Vice-Admiral Rooke , with several Men of War and Fireships , as also the Boats of the Fleet , to destroy those Ships : but the Enemy had gotten them so near the Shoar , that not any of our Men of War , except the small Frigats , could do any Service ; but that night Vice-Admiral Rooke with the Boats burnt six of them .

Tuesday , the 24th , About eight in the morning he went in again with the Boats , and Burnt the other seven , together with several Transport Ships , and some Vessels with Ammunition , the Names of which Ships I am not yet able to give your Lordship any other Account of than what I formerly sent you , which are in the Margin .

Wednesday the 25th , I Sailed from le Hogue , ordering the Admiral of the Blue , with a Squadron of English and Dutch Ships under his Command , to run along the Enemies Coast as far as Havre de Grace , in hopes that some of the beforementioned five Ships that stood to the Eastward , might have been got thither ; but he informs me , that upon his appearing before that place , he could perceive but one or two small Vessels . The Number of the Enemies Ships did not exceed fifty Men of War , by the best information , from Fifty six to One hundred and four Guns ; and tho' it must be confessed that our number was superiour to theirs ( which probably at first might startle them ) yet by their coming down with that Resolution , I cannot think it had any great effect upon them ; And this I may affirm for a Truth , not with any intention to value our own Action , or to lessen the Bravery of the Enemy , That they were beaten by a Number considerably less than theirs ; the Calmness and Thickness of the Weather giving very few of the Dutch or Blue the Opportunity of Engaging , which I am sure they look upon as a great Misfortune ; and , had the Weather proved otherwise , I do not see how 't was possible for any of them to have escaped us .