He knew that the English were expecting reinforcements. Why then did he not promptly pursue them? He did not do so because he could not trust all his captains.
The following morning Suffren summoned his captains on hoard the Héros. Those inculpated promised better conduct for the future. The squadron then quietly pursued its course to Porto Novo. Here Suffren disembarked his troops, negotiated the terms of an alliance with Haidar Ali, and on the 23rd, having re-victualled his ships and been joined by one man-of-war and three frigates, sailed for the south, protecting some transports he was despatching to the islands, and hoping to meet again his English rival.
On the 8th April his wishes in this respect were fulfilled. With his twelve line of battle ships he sighted, on the morning of that day, the eleven ships composing the squadron of Sir Edward Hughes[1] standing for Trincomali. For three days they continued in sight, Suffren finding it impossible to force an action. But on the morning of the 12th, Hughes, changing his course to gain Trincomali, unavoidably gave the Frenchman the advantage of the wind. Of this advantage Suffren made prompt use.
The action began about half-past twelve o'clock. Seven of the French ships were immediately engaged. But two, the Vengeur and the Artésien, notwithstanding the repeated signals of the commodore, kept at a distance, and their example was for some time followed
- ↑ The French ships carried 972 guns; those of the English 737.
