 With a large portion of his fleet no longer battleworthy , Howe was unable to resume his search for the French convoy in the Bay of Biscay . The Admiralty , though unaware of Howe 's specific circumstances , knew a battle had taken place through the arrival of HMS Audacious in Portsmouth , and was preparing a second expedition under George Montagu . Montagu had returned to England after his unsuccessful May cruise , and was refitting in Portsmouth when ordered to sea again . His force of ten ships was intended to both cover Howe 's withdrawal from Biscay , and find and attack the French grain convoy . Montagu returned to sea on 3 June , and by 8 June was off Ushant searching for signs of either the French or Howe ; unknown to him , neither had yet entered European waters . At 15 : 30 on 8 June Montagu spotted sails , and soon identified them as the enemy . He had located Cornic 's squadron , which was also patrolling for the convoy and the returning fleets . Montagu gave chase and drove Cornic into Bertheaume Bay , where he blockaded the French squadron overnight , hoping to bring them to action the following day . However , on 9 June , Montagu sighted 19 French ships appearing from the west — the remnants of Villaret 's fleet . Hastily turning his ships , Montagu sailed south to avoid becoming trapped between two forces which might easily overwhelm him . Villaret and Cornic gave chase for a day before turning east towards the safety of the French ports . 
 With a large portion of his fleet no longer battleworthy , Howe was unable to resume his search for the French convoy in the Bay of Biscay . The Admiralty , though unaware of Howe <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>specific circumstances , knew a battle <a href='been_done' title='2'><mark>had</mark></a> taken place through the arrival of HMS Audacious in Portsmouth , and was preparing a second expedition under George Montagu . Montagu <a href='been_done' title='3'><mark>had</mark></a> returned to England after his unsuccessful May cruise , and was refitting in Portsmouth when ordered to sea again . His force of ten ships was intended to both cover Howe <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>withdrawal from Biscay , and find and attack the French grain convoy . Montagu returned to sea on 3 June , and by 8 June was off Ushant searching for signs of either the French or Howe ; unknown to him , neither <a href='been_done' title='5'><mark>had</mark></a> yet entered European waters . At 15 : 30 on 8 June Montagu spotted sails , and soon identified them as the enemy . He <a href='been_done' title='6'><mark>had</mark></a> located Cornic <a href='null_genetive' title='7'><mark>'s</mark></a>squadron , which was also patrolling for the convoy and the returning fleets . Montagu gave chase and drove Cornic into Bertheaume Bay , where he blockaded the French squadron overnight , hoping to bring them to action the following day . However , on 9 June , Montagu sighted 19 French ships appearing from the west — the remnants of Villaret <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>fleet . Hastily turning his ships , Montagu sailed south to avoid becoming trapped between two forces which might easily overwhelm him . Villaret and Cornic gave chase for a day before turning east towards the safety of the French ports . 
With a large portion of his fleet no longer battleworthy , Howe was unable to resume his search fir the French convoy in the Bay of Biscay . The Admiralty , though unaware of Howe  specific circumstances , knew a battle done taken place through the arrival of HMS Audacious in Portsmouth , and was preparing a second expedition under George Montagu . Montagu done returned to England after his unsuccessful May cruise , and was refitting in Portsmouth when ordered to sea again . His force of ten ships was intended to both cover Howe  withdrawal from Biscay , and find and attack the French grain convoy . Montagu returned to sea on 3 June , and by 8 June was off Ushant searchin fa signs of either the French or Howe ; unknown to em , neither done yet entered European waters . At 15 : 30 on 8 June Montagu spotted sails , and soon identified em as the enemy . He done located Cornic  squadron , which was also patrolling for the convoy and the returning fleets . Montagu gave chase and drove Cornic into Bertheaume Bay , where he blockaded the French squadron overnight , hoping to bring them to action the following day . However , on 9 June , Montagu sighted 19 French ships appearing from da west — the remnants of Villaret  fleet . Hastily turnin his ships , Montagu sailed south to avoid becoming trapped between 2 forces which might easily overwhelm him . Villaret and Cornic gave chase for a day b4 turning east towards tdasafety of the French ports .