The following day, Brenton was sent to Algeciras under a flag of truce and negotiated the release of "Hannibal's" officers on parole. He returned to Gibraltar to find Samuarez preparing to transfer to HMS "Audacious": eager to attack the French before they reached the safety of Cadiz, he deemed "Caesar" too damaged to take part in any further operations. However, Brenton was confident he could make the ship seaworthy and requested permission to continue repairs. Just fours days later his crew had completed extensive repairs to her hull and foremast, and her shattered mainmast had been entirely replaced. On 12 July the French squadron, which had been reinforced by six Spanish ships of the line, departed Algericas and Samuarez's squadron set off in pursuit. The British subsequently earned a notable victory at the Second Battle of Algeciras but "Caesar" did not play a significant part in the battle.