 Seeing that his ships were in danger of being caught by the much larger British ships of the line , Captain Beens gave orders for the squadron to separate . Gentille and Fraternité splitting from Gloire to the west with the ships of the line HMS Hannibal and HMS Robust in close pursuit while Gloire swung northwest , eluding most of the British squadron except for the 32 @-@ gun frigate HMS Astraea under Captain Lord Henry Paulet , which managed to stay in contact throughout the afternoon . 
