Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/107

 BOOK II.

THE ISLE OF FRANCE AND HER PRIVATEERS.

I.

Between the peace of Versailles and the outbreak of the Revolutionary war, the French Marine was but thinly represented on the Indian seas. But when in 1793, war was declared between the two nations, the flag of the French Republic, that flag which so soon was 'to make the tour of Europe,' appeared again to animate those whom it represented to fight, not on this occasion for victory, but for existence.

For, indeed, at the outset of the struggle the navy of France was far from being in a condition to combat the ships of her ancient rival with any prospect of success. The nobility, from which its officers had been drawn,