 On 7 July 1795 , whilst in company with a small squadron of frigates , Agamemnon was chased by a French fleet of 22 ships of the line and 6 frigates . Due to adverse winds , Admiral Hotham was unable to come to her aid until the following day , and the French fleet was sighted again on 13 July , off the Hyères Islands . Hotham signalled for his 23 ships of the line to give chase , and in the ensuing Battle of the Hyères Islands , Agamemnon was one of the few Royal Navy ships to engage the enemy fleet . The French ship Alcide struck her colours during the battle , only to catch fire and sink . Many of the other French ships were in a similar condition ; Agamemnon and Cumberland were manoeuvring to attack a French 80 @-@ gun ship when Admiral Hotham signalled his fleet to retreat , allowing the French to escape into the Gulf of Fréjus . Admiral Hotham was later greatly criticised for calling off the battle , and was relieved as Commander @-@ in @-@ Chief in the Mediterranean by Admiral Sir John Jervis at the end of the year . 
