extreme. Every house opened its hospitable doors, and
the tables groaned under a profusion of good cheer. Every one was
anxious to hear the tale of war; and, wherever I went, I was thought
ill-natured if I refused to repeat storm after storm, and all my battles
over and over again. But, the ship being about to weigh anchor, our stay
here was but short. We embarked at Balloh Ghaut, on board small sloops,
and in three days reached the vessel, the _Lord Duncan_, Captain
Bradford, in safety. We had on board a great number of passengers, and
about two hundred invalids, under the command of Captain Lindsay, of my
old corps. Two days afterwards we bade adieu to the Indian shores,
leaving many dear and respected friends behind us.

We were at this time at war with France, and the Indian Seas were well
watched by cruisers from off the Isle of France. Our fleet consisted of
thirteen Indiamen of the first-rate convoyed by the _Tremendous_,
seventy-four, and _Hindostan_, seventy-four. We sailed in two lines,
headed by the two seventy-fours. All seemed order and discipline, and
we thought ourselves a match for any ships of France we might have
fallen in with. Everything went on smoothly, practising and drilling our
guns once a week, and keeping a constant look-out for the enemy. Off the
coast of Madagascar a ship was discovered, early in the morning,
standing right down upon us. Seeing her a single vessel, we conceived
her to be one of our cruisers from off the Cape of Good Hope; but, when
she was within one mile and a half from us, she could not answer our
signals, and consequently ran towards the land, which was to windward of
us. The _Tremendous_, being a fast sailer, went in chase of her. The
Frenchman soon found that he was mistaken. He, no doubt, at first took
us for a French fleet that was then out in these seas, and relied upon
his fast and superior sailing to enable him to get away, should he prove
mistaken; but our commodore overhauled him hand over hand. The Frenchman
tacked, turned, and twisted, but he found it was of no use. He therefore
resorted to his natural cunning, shortened sail, and at last backed
maintopsail, and waited till the English vessel came within pistol-shot.
The commodore, conceiving that the Frenchman was about to strike, did
not wish to injure her, and therefore would not fire. The French captain
availed himself of this interval, and gave the _Tremendous_ a whole
broadside, by which she was so disabl