2 pm Wed, 1st Aug - Noon Thur 2nd Aug
Moderate breezes and clear weather. At 2: saw large Fleet of Ships in Alexandria at anchor, Made all sail. Admiral and Fleet, - 20 minutes past 2: the Zealous made the Sig’l for 16 Sail East - 30 minutes past 2: that ships are at anchor, the line 16 in No - At 3: the Admiral made the signal to prepare for Battle. Cleared Ship for action, hove overboard the 2 wings of the Cabin, 2 Oval deal tables Six small deal tables, 2 wainscoat tables, 4 Canvas Births, one Grindingstone - At ½ past 3: Culloden’s signal to quit the prize - At 53 min past 3:_Mutine's_ signal to pass within hail - At 4: the Mutine’s signal to shorten sail – At 25 mins past 4: the signal to prepare for Battle when it may be necessary to Anchor abaft with Springs - At 50 minutes past 4: the Admiral made the Signal to engage the van and Centre of the enemy’s fleet - At 40 minutes past 5: the Admiral made the Signal to form in line of battle ahead or astern without regard to succession - At 45 minutes past 5: to alter the course to Starboard in succession bore down on the enemy - At ½ past 6: the signal to make sail after lying by - At 40 min past 6: the van of the enemy began to fire on our van – At 45 minutes past 6: the Admiral made the signal to engage closer - At 50 min past six: the Admiral anchored by the stern alongside the enemy - At 55 minutes past 6: let go the small Bower, brought by the stern next the Admiral abreast the Enemy, began a smart fire. - At 7: the Action became general - At 20 min past 8: discovering the French admiral on fire - At 56 minutes past 8: our opponent ceased firing, directed our fire on the ship ahead and astern of us - At ½ past 10: sent a boat with an officer to take possession of the prize, found her to be the Aquilon of 74 guns, - At 55 min past 10: the French Admiral blew up. Ships in the rear still in action, found the enemy’s van entirely dismasted and disabled. At daylight counted 7 ships of the Enemy that had struck, dismasted, one frigate sunk and 5 Sail of the Line had not struck. The Audacious dropt’d down on the Rear, the Alexander and Goliath fired at two of the Enemy which immediately struck. The Majestick and Theseus in Action in the Rear, observed a Frigate within the Enemy’s line fire a broadside and haul her colours down after having discovered her to be on fire, the people leaving her in boats for the shore, one of the Enemy’s Line of Battleships on fire in the Rear - At 11: she blew up – At noon: found Eleven Sail taken and destroyed - ¼ past: the Admiral made the Zealous Signal to Chase 2 Sail of the Line and two Frigates of the Enemy’s making their escape. Employed repairing the Rigging and securing the masts, unbend all the Sail.