On the 25th, looking into Brest Harbour, they were surprised to see the French fleet, consisting of twenty-five sail, partly in Camaret Bay, and under way in Brest Water. The fleet stood off Ushant; the wind came to the S.E. with hazy weather, and on the same night they escaped.
Sir James writes:—
"April 27th.—Yesterday at noon, it blowing very strong from the northward, with foggy weather, the signal was made that the enemy was under sail. A general chase soon followed; but, I am sorry to say, they eluded our pursuit under cover of the thick weather, keeping close to their shore, by the passage du Raz. The cruise has now taken quite a different turn to what I expected; and it gives me great spirits to find we are likely to render to our country some service.
"1st of May.—My fervent vows were very early offered, my best love, for Heaven's choicest blessings to attend you, with many, many returns of your natal day. The fatted calf was intended to have been killed for the fête; but the bustle caused by the French fleet occasioned its being neglected. Your health, however, will be drunk in a bumper of my best wine. I have a letter from the Duc d'Havré, dated Edinburgh, where he was on a visit to Monsieur.[23] He was going to embark for the continent. Mille complimens de sa part pour miladi, &c. &c.
"May 5th.—We have had, the last three days, a strong S.E. gale, which has brought us off Ireland. I hope to-morrow we shall fall in with ships from Plymouth, and that I shall have the satisfaction of receiving letters from you,—the greatest I can possibly enjoy at this time, except that of beating the French fleet.
"May 8th.—Off Cape Clear.—Captain Durham hailed me: he says the French fleet were seen a week ago, steering to the southward. These are trying times for those who feel as we do the importance of events, which involve and may decide the fate of nations.
"May 17th.—Sir Alan Gardner has joined us this morning with a reinforcement. We are still without any certain intelligence of the enemy; a few days must determine. I only wish we could soon, very soon meet them, to put a stop to our perplexity and impatience.
"Friday evening, 24th May.—We are just anchored in Bantry Bay. I fear my conjectures of the enemy being gone to Portugal, or the Mediterranean, and not being destined for this country, are too surely founded.
"I have this instant received your letter of the 4th, by which, though, as yet, very hastily perused, I learn you are at Teignmouth. I am sorry to see that you have already taken alarm at the reports which are circulated respecting us: follow the example of Lady Howe, who neither reads newspapers, nor listens to rumours. I know not who are most to blame, those who invent them, or you who believe them.