'The battle is over and the British fleet victorious, De Grasse is in my cabin, the _Ville de Paris_ and four ships of the line are in our possession and one sunk, their whole fleet completely mauled.' So ran the opening sentence of Rodney's first letter after the battle, written on the morning of the 13th. Writing to a brother-admiral he spoke of the battle as having been 'long and bloody, but never doubtful in my opinion.' Eleven hours was Rodney's estimate of its duration, and he added, 'by persons appointed to observe there was never seven minutes' respite during the engagement.' For the enemy it had been a sanguinary and costly day. The French losses in the battle--including the crews of four ships taken by Hood a week later--amounted, in round numbers, to 'at least 15,000 men.' Seven thousand of the number were either killed, wounded, or drowned. Six French captains were among the dead,[49] who, reckoned by themselves, were 3000. Over a thousand of the casualties were in the _Ville de Paris_ and the _Cesar_ alone. Among the 8000 prisoners were 2000 soldiers. The monetary loss to France, in the value of _materiel_ taken, was put at just half a million sterling; and that sum does not include the treasure-chest of De Bouille's army, thirty-six boxes of money containing coin to the value of L25,000.[50] Also on board the captured ships, by a curious chance, was found the whole of the French army's siege-train for Jamaica, heavy guns and carriages, and equipment complete. Such were some of the first fruits. The immediate collapse of the campaign against Jamaica was another of the fruits of the victory, and there were yet other results of wider-reaching effect. The blow that Rodney dealt on the 12th of April reacted on the sea campaign in Home waters, and strengthened Howe's hand for the final effort of the war, the relief of Gibraltar. 'On that memorable day,' says Froude, 'was the English Empire saved.'