noon
Besides fighting , the Admiral had , however , two important objects in view . One was to intercept a convoy of some three hundred and fifty merchant vessels coming from the ports of the United States , laden with provisions and the produce of the West India Islands for the supply of the people of France , who were threatened with starvation for the want of them ; the other object was to see the British East and West India and Newfoundland convoys clear of the Channel , where they might be intercepted by French cruisers . The _ Ruby _ was attached to Lord Howe 's squadron . It was a magnificent sight , when , on the morning of the 2nd of May 1794 , a fleet of one hundred and forty-eight sail collected at Saint Helen 's , of which forty-nine were ships of war , weighed by signal , and with the wind at north-east , stood out from that well-known anchorage at the east end of the Isle of Wight , from which they were clear by noon . The weather was fine , the crews were in good discipline , the ships kept well together , and the men doubted not that they were able to fight and to conquer any foe they might encounter . Never had Paul Pringle felt more proud of his country and his profession , as , walking the deck of the frigate , with True Blue at his side , he looked out at the numerous magnificent ships which glided proudly over the blue ocean . `` Look there , Billy -- look there , my boy !