Page:Final French Struggles in India and on the Indian Seas.djvu/50

22 day broke they and their pursuers had sailed almost out of sight of Suffren's squadron. Suddenly, however, the look-out man on board the Fine signalled the enemy to the south. Immediately every sail was set, and the Héros, followed by the rest of the squadron, soon approached the pursuers and the pursued. Sir Edward, thus baulked of this prey, hove to, and ordered the chase to be discontinued.

In the battle now about to engage, the French had the advantage of two ships, having eleven against nine of the English. Yet this advantage, great as it was, was balanced, partly by the superior organization of the English, partly also by the jealousy and dislike entertained towards Suffren by the officers of the ships which had joined him at the islands. The jealousy, so often evinced in the time of Dupleix, which could not subordinate personal feelings to duty, manifested itself in the manner now to be described in the course of the action.

The French fleet was formed into two divisions; the first was composed as follows: —

Le Héros 74 guns, carrying the commodore's broad pennant. L'Orient 74 „ one of the ships brought from Port Louis. Le Sphinx 64 „ brought by Suffren from Brest. Le Vengeur 64 „ ditto ditto. Le petit Annibal 50 „ captured from the English.