Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/306

300 the Newcastle kept behind the Cumberland, and the Weymouth behind the Newcastle, and as the Cumberland had not got into the line (or into the wake of the Yarmouth) when the signal for engagement was thrown out, the other two ship? were still farther off from the enemy's, and the last the farthest.

Mr. Pocock saw the mistakes and embarrassments, and, whilst bearing down, threw out signals to rectify them, which were not understood by the Newcastle and Weymouth, and could not be obeyed by the Cumberland. Nevertheless, it was necessary to go on; for the whole of the enemy's line began to fire hotly, as soon as the English ships came within random shot, and with the chance of much advantage, as the English ships bearing down presented their heads, and were exposed to be raked fore and aft until they formed the line, and presented their broadsides for battle: but luckily the enemy's fire continued without aim. Mr. Pocock did not return a single shot until his ship hauled up with her broadside opposite to the Zodiac's, when the three ships of the van were likewise got into their proper stations: he then, at 55 minutes past three, threw out the signal, and the fire instantly became general throughout the line, for the three ships of the rear, although out of certain aim, were within reach of chance execution. In five minutes the Sylphide bore away under the lee of the Zodiac, although she had only received the distant shot of the Newcastle and Weymouth; but she had only been admitted into the line to impose by shew. In fifteen minutes the Due de Bourgogne, the last of the enemy's rear, quitted her station likewise, and went off in the same direction as the Sylphide, although she had only been exposed to the fire of the Weymouth, and was not much damaged. About the same time the Conde, the third and weakest of the enemy's van, received a shot which disabled her rudder, and obliged her likewise to quit the line. The English and French admirals, Pocock and D'Aché, as with a spirit of duel, kept close and directed their fire entirely against each other, and the engagement had likewise been fierce between the two vans, and continued so after the Conde bore away. The Cumberland still flung up so close to the quarter of the Yarmouth, that she had not room to wear,