by John Marshall

“ Sir Edward Hughes thus reinforced, returned to Madras towards the close of April 1783; but though his fleet left Bombay in excellent health, the scurvy had made such ravages among the crews, that by the 8th June, the sick amounted to no less than 1,125 men, of whom 605 were in the last stage of the disorder. These were sent to the hospital at Madras; yet within a fortnight the healthiest ships had from 7O to 90 men each, and some double that number, incapable of duty. ”

“ The hostile squadrons remained in full view of each other, practising various manoeuvres till about the afternoon of the 17th, when five of the British ships were obliged to sustain an action on disadvantageous terms, the situation of the enemy preventing Sir Edward Hughes from bringing the whole of his force into play. The brunt of the battle fell on the Superb, Hero, and Exeter, the former bearing the flag of the Commander-in-Chief ”

“ With his force thus diminished he was cruizing of Cuddalore, for the purpose of covering and protecting the army before that place, when M. de Suffrein arrived on the coast from Trincomalee. On the 20th June, about 4h P.M., the French fleet, consisting of fifteen sail of the line, three frigates, and a fire-vessel, made an attack, favored by the wind, upon the British, who upon this occasion had eighteen line-of-battle ships, and nine other vessels. ”

“ The loss of the British in this conflict amounted to 32 slain, and 95 wounded. Among the killed were Captain Stephens of the Superb, and Captain Reynolds of the Exeter. On the morning after the action, the enemy being out of sight, Sir Edward Hughes made the best of his way to Trincomalee, the only place in that quarter where his ships could be properly repaired; and about the middle of March he returned to Madras. ”

“ On the appearance of the British squadron M. de Suffrein got under sail with fifteen ships of the line, including three 50’s, besides frigates, &c.; and about 2{{{1}}}h 30’ P.M. an action commenced, which was maintained with extraordinary spirit on both sides for nearly five hours; the rival commanders in the Superb and Hero, dealing out their rage with unremitting fury upon each other. This battle was memorable for the slaughter it produced of British officers, among whom were Captains Wood, Watt, and Lumley, of the Worcester, Sultan, and Isis ”

“ William Cornwallis, before the fleet commanded by Admiral Villaret de Joyeuse, off l’Orient, an event that reflects immortal honor on all concerned, and for which the squadron received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament [4] . ”

“ Some French frigates anchored in Cawsand bay, and captured a few coasting vessels. On the 16th, the Ardent of 64 guns, standing down Channel, fell in with the enemy’s armament, and mistaking it for the British, was surrounded and taken in sight of Plymouth. ”

“ The ship however, fortunately swung round and heeled over to the shore, by which means her people were sheltered from the breaking of the sea, and enabled to reach the land on the ebb-tide, excepting one man who was killed by the fall of the masts. ”