About noon
The French could not imitate this , inasmuch as one of their crippled vessels had nothing standing but a foremast . Sir Gervaise had ascertained , before the distance became too great for such observations , that the enemy was getting ready to send up new top-masts , and the other necessary spars on board the admiral , as well as jury lower-masts in _ le Scipion _ ; though the sea would not yet permit any very positive demonstrations to be made towards such an improvement . He laid his own plans for the approaching night accordingly ; determining not to worry his people , or notify the enemy of his intentions , by attempting any similar improvement in the immediate condition of his prize . About noon , each ship 's number was made in succession , and the question was put if she had sustained any material injury in the late conflict . The answers were satisfactory in general , though one or two of the vessels made such replies as induced the commander-in-chief to resort to a still more direct mode of ascertaining the real condition of his fleet . In order to effect this important object , Sir Gervaise waited two hours longer , for the double purpose of letting all the messes get through with their dinners , and to permit the wind to abate and the sea to fall , as both were now fast doing . At the expiration of that time , however , he appeared on the poop , summoning Bunting to his customary duty .