About nine o’clock
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 . On the 29th the weather moderated , and the French squadron again started in chase . About nine o'clock the French battle-ship , the _ Hoche _ , sprung her main-topmast , and one of the French frigates carried away her top-sail yard . At this both the French and the British ships shortened sail . The French ships wore away to the north-west , and the British again followed them ; but the _ Anson _ had sprung her topmast , and in the evening the _ Hoche _ lowered hers . The weather now became very bad , and the frigates hauled up and soon lost sight of the enemy .