The Dutch ships which had come out of the fight were in lamentable condition.

Torrington ordered some of them to be destroyed: the rest he took in tow: he then fled along the coast of Kent, and sought a refuge in the Thames.

As soon as he was in the river, he ordered all the buoys to be pulled up, and thus made the navigation so dangerous, that the pursuers could not venture to follow him, [669] It was, however, thought by many, and especially by the French ministers, that, if Tourville had been more enterprising, the allied fleet might have been destroyed.

He seems to have borne, in one respect, too much resemblance to his vanquished opponent.

Though a brave man, he was a timid commander.