Half an hour before noon the leading British reached the French rear, already under short canvas.  The admiral then made signal to engage, and the battle began.  As the ships under fire reduced sail, the others overtook them, passed by the unengaged side and successively attacked from rear to van.  As Hawke himself drew near, Rodney’s ship, the Eagle, having her wheel and much of her rigging shot away, was for the time unmanageable and fell twice on board the flag-ship, the Devonshire, driving her to leeward, and so preventing her from close action with the French flag-ship Tonnant, of eighty guns, a force far exceeding that of the Devonshire, which had but sixty-six.  “This prevented our attacking Le Monarque, 74, and the Tonnant, within any distance to do execution.  However we attempted both, especially the latter.  While we were engaged with her, the breechings of all our lower-deck guns broke, and the guns flew fore and aft, which obliged us to shoot ahead, for our upper guns could not reach her.”  The breaking of the breechings—­the heavy ropes which take the strain of the guns’ recoil—­was doubtless accelerated by the undue elevation necessitated by the extreme range.  The collision with the Eagle was one of the incidents common to battle, but it doubtless marred the completeness of the victory.  Of the eight French ships engaged, six were taken; two, the Tonnant and her next astern, escaped, though the former was badly mauled.

Despite the hindrance mentioned, Hawke’s personal share in the affair was considerable, through the conspicuous activity of the flag-ship.  Besides the skirmish at random shot with the Tonnant, she engaged successively the Trident, 64, and the Terrible, 74, both which were among the prizes.  He was entirely satisfied also with the conduct of all his captains,—­save one.  The freedom of action permitted to them by the general chase, with the inspiring example of the admiral himself, was nobly used.  “Captain Harland of the Tilbury, 60, observing that the Tonnant fired single guns at us in order to dismast us, stood on the other tack, between her and the Devonshire, and gave her a very smart fire.”  It was no small gallantry for a 60 thus to pass close under the undiverted broadside of an 80,—­nearly double her force,—­and that without orders; and Hawke recognized the fact by this particular notice in the despatch.  With similar initiative, as the Tonnant and Intrepide were seen to be escaping, Captain Saunders of the Yarmouth, 64, pursued them on his own motion, and was accompanied, at his suggestion, by the sixty-gun ships of Rodney and of Saumarez.  A detached action of an hour followed, in which Saumarez fell.  The enemy escaped, it is true; but that does not impeach the judgment, nor lessen the merits, of the officers concerned, for their ships were both much smaller and more injured than those they attacked.  Harland and Saunders became distinguished admirals; of Rodney it is needless to say the same.