During the 31st various manœuvres had been performed, which ended by giving us the weather-gage; and the next morning, the 1st of June, Lord Howe signalled that he intended to attack the enemy, and that each ship was to steer for the one opposed to her in the line. The ships were arranged so that each vessel should be opposite one of equal size. The _Defence_ led the attack, and came under a heavy fire. The admiral’s ship, the _Queen Charlotte_, pressed forward, replying with her quarter-deck guns only to the fire of some of the French ships which assailed her as she advanced, keeping the fire of her main-deck guns for the French admiral, whom he intended to attack. So close and compact, however, were the French lines that it was no easy matter to pass through. As the _Queen Charlotte_ came under the stern of the _Montagne_ she poured in a tremendous fire from her starboard guns at such close quarters that the rigging of the two vessels were touching. The _Jacobin_, the next ship to the _Montagne_, shifted her position and took up that which the _Queen Charlotte_ had intended to occupy. Lord Howe then engaged the two vessels, and his fire was so quick that ere long both had to fall out of the fight. A furious combat followed between the _Queen Charlotte_ and the _Juste_, in which the latter was totally dismasted. The former lost her main-topmast, and as she had previously lost her fore-topmast she became totally unmanageable. Thus almost single-handed, save for the distant fire of the _Invincible_, Lord Howe fought these three powerful ships. At this time a fourth adversary appeared in the _Républicain_, one hundred and ten guns, carrying the flag of Rear-admiral Bouvet. Just as they were going to engage, however, the _Gibraltar_ poured in a broadside, bringing down the main and mizzen-masts of the Frenchman, who bore up and passed under the stern of the _Queen Charlotte_, but so great was the confusion on board her that she neglected to rake the flagship. The _Montagne_, followed by the _Jacobin_, now crowded on all sail; and Lord Howe, thinking they intended to escape, gave the order for a general chase, but they were joined by nine other ships, and wore round and sailed towards the _Queen_. This craft was almost defenceless, owing to the loss of her mainmast and mizzen-topmast. Seeing her danger, Lord Howe signalled to his ships to close round her, and he himself wore round and stood to her assistance. He was followed by five other battle-ships, and Admiral Villaret-Joyeuse gave up the attempt and sailed to help his own crippled ships, and, taking five of them in tow, made off. Six French battle-ships were captured, and the _Vengeur_, which had been engaged in a desperate fight with the _Brunswick_, went down ten minutes after she surrendered.