broken and thrown into the utmost confusion; their van bore away, and endeavoured to re-form to leeward, but this, hardly pressed as they were, they were unable to accomplish. Sir Samuel Hood's division, which had been becalmed the greater part of the forenoon, now coming up, completed the victory. Several of the French ships struck. Captain Cornwallis, to whom the _Hector_ had yielded, left his prize, and made sail after the French admiral in the _Ville de Paris_. The well-directed fire of the _Canada_ so much annoyed her, and some other ships approaching, made it impossible for her to escape; but the Comte de Grasse seemed determined to sink rather than yield to anything under a flag. At length Sir Samuel Hood came up in the _Barfleur_, and poured in a tremendous and destructive fire. The brave Frenchman maintained the action for a quarter-of-an-hour longer, when finding further resistance vain, and that he was deserted by his second, hauled down his flag. The enemy's fleet continued going off before the wind in small detached squadrons and single ships, pursued by the British. On this, Sir George made the signal to bring to, in order to collect his fleet and secure the prizes. Some of the ships, however, not observing the signal, did not return till the next day. Before the prisoners could be shifted from the _Caesar_, she caught fire and blew up, an English lieutenant and 50 men belonging to the _Centaur_, together with 400 Frenchmen, perishing. The French are supposed to have lost 3000 men killed, and double that number wounded, for, besides the ships' crews, the fleet had on board 5500 troops. It was said that at the time the _Ville de Paris_ struck there were but three men left alive and unhurt on the upper deck, and that the Comte de Grasse was one of the three. A story is told of a female sailor who fought in the action. While the battle was raging, one of the crew of a gun being wounded and sent below, a woman took his place. After the action she was brought before the admiral, when it was discovered that she was the sailor's wife, and had been concealed on board. She declared that she thought it her duty to supply her husband's place, and fight the French. Rodney threatened her for a breach of the rules, but privately sent her a purse of ten guineas. A few days afterwards the admiral detached Sir Samuel Hood in chase of the crippled French ships, when two more were captured in the same gallant way by Captain Goodall of the _Valiant_. A frigate of 32 guns and a sloop of 16 were also taken. For this action Sir George Rodney was created a peer of Great Britain; Sir Samuel Hood a peer of Ireland; and Admiral Drake and Commodore Affleck were made baronets. These actions must be taken merely as examples of what the navy was about at that time. Towards the end of 1782, negotiations for a general peace were set on foot, and it was finally concluded early in the following year. CHAPTER FIFTEEN.