The provision ships, twelve in number, were diverted at once to the relief of Gibraltar, under charge of the Spanish sixty-four, which had been one of their convoy before capture, and was now manned by a British crew.  Continuing on, intelligence was received from time to time by passing vessels that a Spanish squadron was cruising off Cape St. Vincent.  Thus forewarned, orders were given to all captains to be prepared for battle as the Cape was neared.  On the 16th it was passed, and at 1 P.M. sails in the south-east were signalled.  These were a Spanish squadron of eleven ships of the line, and two 26-gun frigates.  Rodney at once bore down for them under a press of canvas, making signal for the line abreast.[72] Seeing, however, that the enemy was trying to form line of battle ahead on the starboard tack, which with a westerly wind was with heads to the southward, towards Cadiz, a hundred miles to the south-east, he changed the orders to a “General Chase,” the ships to engage as they came up; “to leeward,” so as to get between the enemy and his port, and “in rotation,” by which probably was meant that the leading British vessel should attack the sternmost of the Spaniards, and that her followers should pass her to leeward, successively engaging from the enemy’s rear towards the van.

At 4 P.M. the signal for battle was made, and a few minutes later the four headmost of the pursuers got into action.  At 4.40 one of the Spanish ships, the Santo Domingo, 80, blew up with all on board, and at 6 another struck.  By this hour, it being January, darkness had set in.  A night action therefore followed, which lasted until 2 A.M., when the headmost of the enemy surrendered, and all firing ceased.  Of the eleven hostile ships of the line, only four escaped.  Besides the one blown up, six were taken.  These were the Fenix, 80, flag of the Spanish Admiral, Don Juan de Langara, the Monarca, 70, the Princesa, 70, the Diligente, 70, the San Julian, 70, and the San Eugenio, 70.  The two latter drove ashore and were lost.[73] The remaining four were brought into Gibraltar, and were ultimately added to the Navy.  All retained their old names, save the Fenix, which was renamed Gibraltar.  “The weather during the night,” by Rodney’s report, “was at times very tempestuous, with a great sea.  It continued very bad weather the next day, when the Royal George, 100, Prince George, 90, Sandwich, 90 (Rodney’s flagship), and several other ships were in great danger, and under the necessity of making sail to avoid the shoals of San Lucar, nor did they get into deep water till the next morning.”