Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/305

Book IX and next the Due of Orleans of 50: These were the van: In the centre was the Zodiac of 74, on which M. D'Aché hoisted his flag. The four ships which formed the rear, were the Saint Louis of 50, immediately after the Zodiac, then the Moras of 44, the Sylphide of 36, and the Due de Bourgogne of 60 guns closed the line.

The English line, having only seven ships to nine, were to chuse their opponents accordingly. Mr. Pocock in the Yarmouth of 64, was the centre, and steered for the Zodiac, the centre of the enemy's line. In consequence the Tyger of 60 guns which led the English van, bore down for the Vengeur; the Salisbury of 50, for the Bien Aimé; and the Elizabeth of 64, in which Admiral Stevens hoisted his flag, and was the ship a-head of Mr. Pocock, neglecting the Condé, bore down for the Duke of Orleans, which ranged immediately a-head of M. D'Aché. In consequence, likewise, the Cumberland of 66, which was to be next a-stern of Mr. Pocock, should have steered for the Saint Louis, the Newcastle of 50 for the Moras, and the Weymouth of 60; neglecting the Sylphide, for the Due de Bourgogne. This was understood. It is likewise generally understood, that when the Admiral brings to, and throws out the signal to engage, every ship is to do so likewise, at the same distance from its respective opponent, as the admiral lies from his. But the Cumberland, from some unaccountable defect, was so unmanageable, that in bearing down, she could not be got to wear clear of the Yarmouth, that is, to keep on her left hand, but at every endeavour flew up on the Yarmouth's weather-quarter, or to the right.

But another mischance happened, which was effected by this of the Cumberland. The signal for the line of battle a-head, which was kept flying on board the admiral, whilst bearing down for the enemy, was mistaken by the Newcastle and Weymouth to mean that the ships were to go down a-stern of one another, instead of continuing on the left of each other, until they should haul the wind to present their broadsides on the signal for engagement, when this change would place them exactly right in the line of battle a-head. In consequence