twelve minutes past 8 a.m.
His great fear had been that the French Admiral would weather on him and escape ; now he felt sure that he had him . At about 5 a.m. the ships of the British fleet bore up , steering first to the north-west , then to the north ; and then again , having closed with the Frenchmen , they hauled their wind once more , and the Admiral , knowing that their crews had heavy work before them , ordered them to heave-to and to pipe to breakfast . The frigates , the _ Ruby _ among them , and the smaller vessels brought up the rear . Exactly at twelve minutes past 8 a.m. , Lord Howe made the looked-for signal for the fleet to fill and bear down on the enemy ; then came one for each ship to steer for and independently engage the ship opposed to her in the enemy 's line . The British line was to windward , and Lord Howe wished that each ship should cut through the enemy 's line astern of her proper opponent , and engage her to leeward . Soon after 9 a.m. the French ships opened their fire on the advancing British line , which was warmly returned . The gallant old English Admiral set an example of bravery by steering for the stern of the largest French ship , the _ Montague _ , and passed between her and the _ Jacobin _ , almost running aboard the latter .