All these effects of "breaking the line" received illustration in Rodney's great battle in 1782.
De Guichen and Rodney met twice again in the following month, but on neither occasion did the French admiral take the favorite lee-gage of his nation.

Meanwhile a Spanish fleet of twelve ships-of-the-line was on its way to join the French.

Rodney cruised to windward of Martinique to intercept them; but the Spanish admiral kept a northerly course, sighted Guadeloupe, and thence sent a despatch to De Guichen, who joined his allies and escorted them into port.

The great preponderance of the coalition, in numbers, raised the fears of the English islands; but lack of harmony led to delays and hesitations, a terrible epidemic raged in the Spanish squadron, and the intended operations came to nothing.

In August De Guichen sailed for France with fifteen ships.