Lord Howe immediately steered for, and on the 5th, early in the morning, arrived off Ushant. The Phaëton and Latona frigates, covered by the Orion, then ran round the island, to ascertain whether or not the French fleet was in port. While standing in towards point St.-Mathieu, the reconnoitring ships plainly saw the fleet at anchor in Brest-road, and returned to Lord Howe with the intelligence. The British admiral, well aware that, if the French fleet came out, it would be to afford protection to the convoy then hourly expected from America, steered straight for the latitude through which the latter would most probably pass. From the 5th to the 18th inclusive the fleet kept crossing the bay in various directions, without seeing an enemy's sail.

On the 19th Lord Howe, having returned off Ushant, again ordered the Phaëton and Latona, covered this time by the Cæsar and Leviathan, to look into the harbour. At 11 a.m. the four ships parted company. The service was executed, and the port found vacant ; and at 8 p.m. the reconnoitring detachment rejoined the fleet. The Leviathan, on her way in, had spoken an American vessel, from whose master Lord Hugh Seymour