Bedford, Censeur, and Fortitude, determined, if practicable, to give them battle, and save as many of the convoy as I possibly could.
“Just as the ships under my command had formed, the Censeur rolled away her fore-top-mast; by which, having only a frigate’s main-mast, she was rendered useless. The van line-of-battle ship of the enemy being then but long gun-shot off, and the rest coming fast up, I judged it proper, with the general opinion of my officers, coinciding with that of Captain Montgomery of the Bedford, to bear up, keeping very near together for our mutual support, and cutting down every part of the stern for the chase-guns. I ordered the Lutine frigate directly to take the Censeur in tow; but, from the very heavy fire from the enemy’s van ship, it could not be effected.
“Captain Gore, who commanded the Censeur, though his ship was in so disabled a state, not half manned, and with but very little powder, made the most gallant defence; but being at length overpowered, by two sail more of the enemy’s line coming up, I had the mortification to see him strike his colours about half-past two o’clock.”
On his return home. Captain Gore was tried by a court-martial, and most honourably acquitted, with a very flattering compliment from the president, Rear-Admiral Sir Roger Curtis. He was afterwards successively appointed to act as captain of the Robust 74, and Alcmene frigate.
In Sept. 1796, Captain Gore obtained the command of the Triton 32: and from that period we find him actively employed on Channel service until the escape of the French fleet from Brest, April 25, 1799, when he was despatched with the important information to Earl St. Vincent, commander-in-Chief on the Mediterranean station.
After communicating with Lord Keith, the second in command. Captain Gore proceeded, with two frigates under his orders, to reconnoitre the coasts of France and Spain, from Toulon to Cadiz; in which latter port he at length discovered the enemies’ combined fleets, amounting to thirty-eight sail of the line, with a suitable train of frigates, corvettes, &c.
This very formidable force sailed from Cadiz, July 21, 1799, and Captain Gore closely watched them until they all bore up round Cape St. Vincent, and made sail to the northward: he then pushed past them for England, and arrived at Plymouth, with the intelligence of their junction and movements, five days before they reached Brest.
