The splendid order of the French astounded the enemy, who had not forgotten the deplorable _Journee de M.de Conflans_.

The sky was murky, and the manoeuvres were interfered with from the difficulty of making out the signals.

Lord Keppel could not succeed in breaking the enemy's line; Count d'Orvilliers failed in a like attempt.

The English admiral extinguished his fires and returned to Plymouth harbor, without being forced to do so from any serious reverse; Count d'Orvilliers fell back upon Brest under the same conditions.

The English regarded this retreat as a humiliation to which they were unaccustomed Lord Keppel had to appear before a court-martial.