e could not approach near enough to
engage. During the three succeeding days, he used his utmost endeavours
to bring them to a battle, which they still declined, and at last
they disappeared. He then directed his course to Pondicherry, on the
supposition that they were bound to that harbour; and on the eighth day
of the month perceived them standing to the southward: but he could not
bring them to an engagement till the tenth, when M. d'Apche, about two
in the afternoon, made the signal for battle, and the cannonading began
without further delay. The British squadron did not exceed nine ships
of the line; the enemy's fleet consisted of eleven; but they had still a
greater advantage in number of men and artillery. Both squadrons fought
with great impetuosity till about ten minutes after four, when the
enemy's rear began to give way: this example was soon followed by
their centre; and finally the van, with the whole squadron, bore to the
south-south-east, with all the canvass they could spread. The British
squadron was so much damaged in their masts and rigging, that they could
not pursue; so that M. d'Apche retreated at his leisure unmolested. On
the fifteenth, admiral Pococke returned to Madras, where his squadron
being repaired by the twenty-sixth, he sailed again to Pondicherry, and
in the road saw the enemy lying at anchor in line of battle. The wind
being off shore, he made the line of battle a-head, and for some time
continued in this situation. At length the French admiral weighed
anchor, and came forth; but instead of bearing down upon the English
squadron, which had fallen to leeward, he kept close to the wind, and
stretched away to the southward. Admiral Pococke finding him averse
to another engagement, and his own squadron being in no condition to
pursue, he, with the advice of his captains, desisted, and measured back
his course to Madras. On the side of the English, above three hundred
men were killed in the engagement, including captain Miche, who
commanded the Newcastle, captain Gore of the marines, two lieutenants,
a master gunner, and boatswain: the captains Somerset and Brereton, with
about two hundred and fifty men, were wounded; and many of the ships
considerably damaged. The loss of the enemy must have been much more
considerable, because the English in battle always fire at the body of
the ship; because the French squadron was crowded with men; because they
gave way, and declined a second engagement;