admiral Berkeley's squadron, but effected their escape into Brest. On the 17th, early in the morning, Admiral Lord Bridport, who, with the Royal-George and five or six other ships, had sailed from St.-Helen's on the 13th, arrived off Ushant, and superseded Rear-admiral Berkeley in the command.

On the 25th, Lord Bridport looked into the port of Brest, and counted 13 French line-of-battle ships at anchor, and five under way, in the road of Bertheaume, as if preparing to put to sea with the fresh north-east wind then blowing. The British fleet was at this time right in the centre of the Iroise passage, and not above five or six miles to the south-west of the Black Rocks. At 2 p.m. Lord Bridport made sail to the west-northwest, and in two hours was about four leagues to the west-southwest of Ushant, with, including the Russel, which was then about joining, the following 16 sail of the line:

Frigates, three or four, but their names are uncertain.

On the evening of the same 25th of April, on which Lord Bridport had thus left open the principal passage in and out of Brest, Vice-admiral Bruix put to sea with, except the Convention, which did not join until the next morning, the following well-appointed fleet:

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