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Though most gallantly done, no such routine manoeuvre as this could shake Hood’s solidly assumed position.  The attempt was repeated in the afternoon, but more feebly, and upon the centre and rear only.  This also was ineffectual; and Hood was left in triumphant possession of the field.  The losses in the several affairs of the two days had been:  British, 72 killed, 244 wounded; French, 107 killed, 207 wounded.  Thenceforth the French fleet continued cruising to leeward of the island, approaching almost daily, frequently threatening attack, and occasionally exchanging distant shots; but no serious encounter took place.  Interest was centred on Brimstone Hill, where alone on the island the British flag still flew.  De Grasse awaited its surrender, flattering himself that the British would be forced then to put to sea, and that his fleet, increased by successive arrivals to thirty-two of the line, would then find an opportunity to crush the man who had outwitted and out-manoeuvred him on January 25th and 26th.  In this hope he was deceived by his own inaptness and his adversary’s readiness.  Hood was unable to succour Brimstone Hill, for want of troops; the French having landed six thousand men, against which the British twenty-four hundred could effect nothing, either alone or in cooeperation with the garrison, which was but twelve hundred strong.  The work capitulated on the 13th of February.  De Grasse, who had neglected to keep his ships provisioned, went next day to Nevis and anchored there to empty the storeships.  That evening Hood called his captains on board, explained his intentions, had them set their watches by his, and at 11 P.M. the cables were cut one by one, lights being left on the buoys, and the fleet silently decamped, passing round the north end of St. Kitts, and so towards Antigua.  When de Grasse opened his eyes next morning, the British were no longer to be seen.  “Nothing could have been more fortunately executed,” wrote Lord Robert Manners, “as not one accident happened from it.  Taking the whole in one light, though not successful in the point we aimed at, nevertheless it was well conducted, and has given the enemy a pretty severe check; and if you give him half the credit the enemy does, Sir Samuel Hood will stand very high in the public estimation.”

Hood’s intention had been to return to Barbados; but on the 25th of February he was joined, to windward of Antigua, by Rodney, who had arrived from England a week earlier, bringing with him twelve ships of the line.  The new Commander-in-Chief endeavoured to cut off de Grasse from Martinique, but the French fleet got in there on the 26th.  Rodney consequently went to Santa Lucia, to refit Hood’s ships, and to prepare for the coming campaign, in which it was understood that the conquest of Jamaica was to be the first object of the allies.  An important condition to their success was the arrival of a great convoy, known to be on its way from Brest to repair