Admiral Bompart now changed his course, but at daybreak found himself almost surrounded by the British vessels. Both squadrons waited, but with very different feelings, the order to commence action. The _Robust_ led the way, followed closely by the _Magnanime_, and was received with a fire from the stern-chasers and the quarter guns of the French frigates _Embuscade_ and _Coquille_. A few minutes later the _Robust_ returned the fire, and bore down to leeward for the purpose of engaging the _Hoche_, which, like herself, was a seventy-four-gun ship. In half an hour all the French frigates that could get away were making off. The _Hoche_ by this time was a mere wreck, having suffered terribly from the fire of the _Robust_; her hull was riddled with shot, she had five feet of water in her hold, twenty-five of her guns were dismounted, and a great portion of her crew were killed and wounded. After the battle had raged for three hours she struck her colours. The _Embuscade_ had also surrendered. The other British vessels set out in pursuit of the fugitives. The _Coquille_, after a brave resistance, was forced to haul down her colours, and the _Ethalion_ pursued and captured the _Bellone_. Five French frigates attempted to escape, and in doing so sailed close to the _Anson_, which had been unable to take part in the action owing to the loss of her mizzen-mast, and as they passed ahead of her, poured in such destructive broadsides that she lost her fore and main masts, and had much other serious damage. Of the ships that had escaped, the _Résolue_ was captured two or three days later. The _Loire_ made a good fight; she was pursued by the _Mermaid_, and _Kangaroo_. The latter, which was an eighteen-gun brig, engaged her, but lost her fore-topmast. The _Mermaid_, a thirty-two-gun frigate, continued the pursuit.