wind towards Brest; and at noon, when Saint-Mathias point bore from the Indefatigable east by north and Ushant north by east, the two frigates again got a sight of the French fleet, which had now anchored between Camaret and Bertheaume bays. At 3 h. 30 m p.m., on seeing the fleet get under way, Sir Edward despatched the Révolutionnaire to the admiral, and, with the Indefatigable alone, continued at his post, having, at 4 h. 15 m. p.m., the Bec du Raz bearing south by east half-east. The Indefatigable now managed to keep just ahead of the French fleet on its way out, and was sometimes within half-gun shot only of the leading ship. At 7 p.m. she began firing guns and sending up rockets; at 7 h. 30 m. hove to, and at 8 h. 30 m., having observed several of the French ships haul close round the Saintes, filled and made all sail to the north-west.

On losing sight of the enemy a few minutes afterwards, the Indefatigable fired half and quarter minute guns, burnt blue lights, and hoisted a light at each mast-head. At midnight she hauled by the wind to the southward; and, at 6 h. 30 m. a.m. on the 17th, Sir Edward sent the lugger with despatches to Falmouth, and shortly afterwards proceeded thither himself. The Brest fleet and its memorable proceedings on this occasion now claim our exclusive attention.

On the 17th, at daybreak, Rear-admiral Bouvet, having cleared the passage du Raz, found himself in company with only nine sail of the line, six frigates, including his own, and one transport. He therefore opened his despatches, as directed in the case of separation, and by them learnt, that he was to make Mizen Head on the coast of Ireland, and cruise off there during five days, when a frigate would join him with fresh instructions. Making sail, about noon, with this destination in view, the rear-admiral did not proceed straight to Cape Clear, lest he should encounter the British fleet, but steered to the westward, and continued sailing in that direction until daylight on the 19th, when he altered his course to north. Shortly afterwards his advanced frigate signalled 16 vessels ; which proved to be part of the expedition, and at noon joined company. Rear-admiral Bouvet now had under his command 15 sail of the line, 10 frigates including the Scévola, three corvettes, and five transports. The missing line-of-battle ship was the Nestor, and the missing frigates, the Fraternité, Cocarde, and Romaine.

On the 20th the weather was extremely foggy. On the 21st, at 7 h. 30 m. a.m., the advanced frigates gained a sight of Dursey island, and shortly afterwards of Mizen Head. Having arrived off the entrance of Bantry bay, the rear-admiral made the signal to prepare to anchor. By this time several pilot-boats, mistaking the fleet for British, had got among the leading frigates, and were detained by the orders of the admiral, who thus found himself provided with pilots for almost every ship in his fleet. M. Bouvet now learnt that, for three days, no ship

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