6 p.m.
About an hour and a half afterwards , she signalled that they were ships of the line . She then hoisted the Dutch ensign , as if replying to a signal made by the admiral in the distance to Admiral Cornwallis , ordering him to join company . Shortly afterwards she shortened sail , then wore , and stood back towards us . We had been all day retreating , most of the time warmly engaged with our overpowering enemy , when soon after 6 p.m. the French ships suddenly ceased firing ; and shortly afterwards , their admirals making signals to them , they shortened sail and stood to the eastward . By sunset they were nearly hull down in the north-east , while we sailed on , rejoicing in having escaped from as dangerous a position as squadron was ever placed in . I do n't know if I have succeeded in explaining the position of our ships sufficiently well to be understood by shore-going persons . So close were the French ships upon us , that had they not given up the chase when they did , it would have been scarcely possible for us and the _ Triumph _ , which , if she had not suffered as much as we had , was too much cut up to have afforded us any assistance , to have effected our escape .