extreme British rear; the others of the French rear
remaining long out of action (C). The figure C shows the imperfect
achievement of the design D. However, as the position of Suffren's
flagship prevented the British van from tacking into action, the net
result was, to use Hughes's own words, that "the enemy brought eight
of their best ships to the attack of five of ours." It will be noted
with interest that these were exactly the numbers engaged in the first
act of the battle of the Nile. The _Exeter_ (like the _Guerrier_
at the Nile) received the fresh broadsides of the first five of the
enemy, and then remained in close action on both sides, assailed by
two, and at last by three, opponents,--two 50's, and one 64. When the
third approached, the master of the ship asked Commodore Richard King,
whose broad pennant flew at her masthead, "What is to be done?" "There
is nothing to be done," replied King, "but to fight her till she
sinks." Her loss, 10 killed and 45 wounded, was not creditable under
the circumstances to the French gunnery, which had been poor also at
Porto Praya. At 6 P.M. the wind shifted to south-east, throwing all
on the other tack, and enabling the British van at last to come into
action. Darkness now approaching, Suffren hauled off and anchored at
Pondicherry. Hughes went on to Trincomalee to refit. The British loss
had been 32 killed, among whom were Captain William Stevens of the
flagship, and Captain Henry Reynolds, of the _Exeter_, and 83 wounded.
The French had 30 killed; the number of their wounded is put by
Professor Laughton at 100.

On the 12th of March Hughes returned to Madras, and towards the end
of the month sailed again for Trincomalee carrying reinforcements and
supplies. On the 30th he was joined at sea by the _Sultan_, 74, and
the _Magnanime_, 64, just from England. Suffren had remained on the
coast from reasons of policy, to encourage Hyder Ali in his leaning
to the French; but, after landing a contingent of troops on the 22d of
March, to assist at the siege of the British port of Cuddalore, he put
to sea on the 23d, and went south, hoping to intercept the _Sultan_
and _Magnanime_ off the south end of Ceylon. On the 9th of April
he sighted the British fleet to the south and west of him. Hughes,
attaching the first importance to the strengthening of Trincomalee,
had resolved neither to seek nor to shun action. He therefore
continued his course, light northerly airs prevailing, until th