which day she had 6 men slain, and 14 wounded. This action terminated the naval war in India; and the Monarca being
down in consequence of the halliards being shot away, and not from design. In this action the English force consisted of three ships of 74 guns, two 70’s, five 64’s, one 50, and one of 20 guns. The enemy had three 74’s, seven 64’s, two 50’s, three frigates, and one smaller vessel. The loss sustained by the former amounted to 77 killed and 233 wounded; the latter had 178 slain and 601 wounded.
Sir Edward Hughes finding the stores, provisions, and ammunition of his squadron nearly exhausted, was now under the necessity of proceeding to Madras to get a supply. On his arrival there, July 20, he was joined by the Sceptre, of 64 guns, which had sailed from England in company with a reinforcement for the squadron in the East Indies, but had parted from the other ships soon after clearing the British Channel. In the mean time M. de Suffrein, having refitted his ships at Cuddalore, repaired to Point de Galle, in Ceylon, where he found two French men of war, one of 74 guns the other a 64, with a convoy of troops and artillery, just arrived from Europe. The British Admiral knew nothing of the movements of the enemy, until the 16th Aug. when he was joined by the Coventry frigate, Captain Mitchell, who after sustaining an engagement with the Bellona, of 40 guns, had discovered their fleet at anchor in Batacalo road.
Sir Edward upon receiving this intelligence used all possible diligence to get his ships ready for sea, being apprehensive that during the absence of the squadron, the enemy might make themselves masters of Trincomalee. He sailed from Madras on the 20th; but the wind blowing strong from the southward, it was not until the night of Sept. 2, that he arrived off the former place; and on the following morning at day-break, he had the mortification to behold the French colours flying on all the forts, and above thirty sail riding at anchor in the different bays, the Commandant of Trincomalee having surrendered by capitulation on the 30th of August.
On the appearance of the British squadron M. de Suffrein got under sail with fifteen ships of the line, including three 50’s, besides frigates, &c.; and about 2{{{1}}}h 30’ P.M. an action commenced, which was maintained with extraordinary spirit on both sides for nearly five hours; the rival commanders in the Superb and Hero, dealing out their rage with unremitting fury upon each other. This battle was memorable for the slaughter it produced of British officers, among whom were Captains Wood, Watt, and Lumley, of the Worcester, Sultan, and Isis; but, like the three preceding combats between these habitual antagonists, proved indecisive. The loss of men by the English, amounted to only 51 slain and 283 wounded; while on the side of the French the killed were 412, and the wounded 676, a circumstance which their ministry for a long time concealed. The enemy returned to Trincomalee on the night of the action; and such was their hurry and confusion lest they should be pursued, that POrient, one of their best ships, ran on shore in the dark and was lost. Sir Edward
