noon
At eight o'clock they bore up , and five of their frigates chased the English ships . Presently , however , finding that they did not gain , they rejoined the squadron , which bore away to the south-west . On the 20th the two frigates were joined by the forty-four-gun frigate _ Anson _ . At noon the French were nearly becalmed . There was now no doubt that the destination of the squadron was Ireland , and the news was despatched by the _ Sylph _ to the commander-in-chief of the Irish station . On the 26th the French ships turned on the frigates , but gave this up about noon , and proceeded on their way . The sea now became so rough that all the ships shortened sail .