In the course of ministerial alternations, frequently unfortunate for the work in hand, it had nevertheless been continued by his successors.

A numerous fleet was preparing at Brest; it left the port on the 3d of July, under the orders of Count d'Orvilliers.

It numbered thirty-two men-of-war and some frigates.

Admiral Keppel came to the encounter with thirty ships, mostly superior in strength to the French vessels.

The engagement took place on the 27th, at thirty leagues' distance from Wessant and about the same from the Sorlingues Islands.