its triumphant close, wrote, “With respect to the galleons, as it is uncertain when they will come home and likewise impossible for me to divide my force in the present necessitous condition of the ships under my command, I must lay aside all thoughts of them during this cruise.”  In this unhesitating subordination of pecuniary to military considerations we see again the temper of Nelson, between whom and Hawke there was much community of spirit, especially in their independence of ordinary motives and standards.  “Not that I despise money,” wrote Nelson near the end of a career in which he had never known ease of circumstances; “quite the contrary, I wish I had a hundred thousand pounds this moment;” but “I keep the frigates about me, for I know their value in the day of battle, and compared with that day, what signifies any prizes they might take?” Yet he had his legal share in every such prize.

The opening of October 14th, the eighth day after Hawke’s letter to Warren just quoted, brought him the sight of his reward.  At seven that morning, the fleet being then some four hundred miles west of La Rochelle in France, a number of sails were seen in the southeast.  Chase was given at once, and within an hour it was evident, from the great crowd of vessels, that it was a large convoy outward-bound which could only be enemies.  It was in fact a fleet of three hundred French merchantmen, under the protection of eight ships-of-the-line and one of fifty guns, commanded by Commodore L’Etenduere.  The force then with Hawke were twelve of-the-line and two of fifty guns.  Frigates and lighter vessels of course accompanied both fleets.  The average size and armament of the French vessels were considerably greater than those of the British; so that, although the latter had an undoubted superiority, it was far from as great as the relative numbers would indicate.  Prominent British officers of that day claimed that a French sixty-gun ship was practically the equal of a British seventy-four.  In this there may have been exaggeration; but they had good opportunity for judging, as many French ships were captured.

When L’Etenduere saw that he was in the presence of a superior enemy, he very manfully drew out his ships of war from the mass, and formed them in order of battle, covering the convoy, which he directed to make its escape accompanied by one of the smaller ships-of-the-line with the light cruisers.  He contrived also to keep to windward of the approaching British.  With so strong a force interposed, Hawke saw that no prize-money was easily to be had, but for that fortune his mind was already prepared.  He first ordered his fleet to form order of battle; but finding time was thereby lost he changed the signal to that for a general chase, which freed the faster sailers to use their utmost speed and join action with the enemy, secure of support in due time by their consorts as they successively came up.