that his four separated ships
were approaching the enemy, and being approached by them, caused
Hughes to give the orders to wear, and for a general chase; the flag
for the line being hauled down. These signals would bring all the main
body to the support of the separated ships, without regard to their
order in battle, and therefore with the utmost expedition that their
remaining sail power would admit. Two of the fleet, however, made
signals of disability; so Hughes annulled the orders, and at 1.30
formed on the port tack, recalling the engaged vessels. Both squadrons
now stood in shore, and anchored at about 6 P.M.; the British near
Negapatam, the French some ten miles north. The loss in the action
had been: British, 77 killed, 233 wounded; French, 178 killed, 601
wounded.

On the following day Suffren sailed for Cuddalore. There he received
word that two ships of the line--the _Illustre_, 74, and _St. Michel_,
60, with a convoy of supplies and 600 troops--were to be expected
shortly at Pointe de Galle, then a Dutch port, on the south-west side
of Ceylon. It was essential to cover these, and on the 18th he was
ready for sea; but the necessity of an interview with Hyder Ali
delayed him until the 1st of August, when he started for Batacalo.
On the 9th he arrived there, and on the 21st the reinforcement joined
him. Within forty-eight hours the supply-ships were cleared, and
the squadron sailed again with the object of taking Trincomalee.
On the 25th he was off the port, and, the operation being pushed
energetically, the place capitulated on the 31st of August.

It is difficult to resist the impression that greater energy on
Hughes's part might have brought him up in time to prevent this
mishap. He reached Madras only on July 20th, a fortnight after the
late action; and he did not sail thence until the 20th of August,
notwithstanding that he apprehended an attempt upon Trincomalee.
Hence, when he arrived there on the 2d of September, not only had
it passed into the hands of the enemy, but Suffren had reembarked
already the men and the guns that had been landed from his fleet.
When Hughes's approach was signalled, all preparations for sea were
hastened, and the following morning, at daybreak, the French came out.
Hughes had been joined since the last action by the _Sceptre_, 64,
so that the respective forces in the action fought off Trincomalee on
September 3d were twelve of the line to fourteen, viz.: British, three
74