producing the sign manual of the King of Great Britain, as his authority to land, and warned Admiral Rainier of the consequences, intimating his determination to retire if the place was not immediately given up. While this correspondence was going on, a French corvette appeared in the offing, bringing despatches for Linois; who, on the following night, left lights upon his buoys, cut his cables, and went to the Mauritius.

Circumstances would not have justified the Admiral in any act of hostility against the French, farther than preventing their landing three thousand men at Pondicherry; but it was evident from the King's message to parliament of the 8th of March, that hostilities were about to recommence. This message had reached India in June; the corvette, Le Bellier, sailed early in April, and brought the intelligence which induced Linois to depart from the presence of a force so much his superior.

An

The Count de Dumas, in the "Précis," vol. xi. p. 61, accuses us of bad faith in not restoring the East India and other colonies: this is no more than we are to expect from French writers, whether of the Napoleon or the Ultra school. extract from the same volume, p. 189, may convince an unprejudiced reader, that the conquest of our Indian possessions was deeply contemplated at the time the French government pretended to be most anxious to preserve peace.

The passage is taken from the instructions written in February, 1803, by Bonaparte himself,

for General de Caen, and concludes with these remarkable words.

"The mission of the captain-general is in the first instance a mission of observation, political and military, &c. but the First Consul, well instructed by the captain-general, and by the punctual execution of these instructions, may perhaps place it in his power to acquire a great glory which prolongs the memory of men beyond the duration of ages."

Letters of marque and reprisals having been issued by the British government on the 16th of May, the Caroline frigate, commanded by Captain B. W. Page, sailed on the 27th, with despatches for India, and arrived on the 6th of September. The same intelligence had reached the presidency of Bombay from Bussorah on the 4th, with instructions from the court of directors to detain all Dutch property; their settlements to be occupied by us until the policy of the Netherlands was decided.

Admiral Rainier seeing the war was begun again, employed his squadron in every direction for the annoyance of the enemy. The Sheerness captured a French transport, laden with ordnance stores and provisions; and the Caroline took the General de Caen and Les Freres Unis privateers.

While the honour of the British flag was supported by our ships of war, those of the Honourable East India Company were equally successful in defending themselves from the attack of an enemy's squadron, which might, according to the fair

calculation of sea fighting, have taken or destroyed one half of them.

After Admiral Linois had retired from the roads of Pondicherry, and returned in safety with his squadron to the Isle of France, he received official despatches from Europe, conveying the news of the war, and bringing orders to commence hostilities. He sailed accordingly, and proceeded to the Eastern seas, attacking our settlement of Bencoolen, in the island of Sumatra, where he burnt or destroyed some smaller vessels, took three prizes, and burnt some warehouses, with comparative impunity.

This may be considered the last exploit of any consequence performed by the unfortunate French Admiral. He continued in the Chinese seas, and off Sumatra and Batavia, till the month of February, at which time, when off the straits of Malacca, he fell in with the homeward-bound India fleet, consisting of the following ships:

This valuable fleet, with eleven sail of country ships, fell in, off Pulo A'or, with the squadron under the command of Admiral Linois, consisting

Captain Dance, with great judgment, put his ships' heads towards the enemy; four of his best sailers he sent down to reconnoitre, and having ascertained what they were, called in his look out, and formed the line of battle in close order under an easy sail. As soon as the French ships could fetch into the wake of ours, they put about, and at sunset were close in the rear of the India fleet, which was in momentary expectation of an attack, but at the close of day the French Admiral hauled his wind. Lieutenant Fowler, of the Royal Navy, who was a passenger with Captain Dance, volunteered to go in a fast sailing vessel to order the country ships to keep on the lee-bow of the India fleet; by this judicious. arrangement Captain Dance kept himself between the country ships and the enemy. Lieutenant Fowler, having executed his order, returned, bringing with him some volunteers from the country

ships to serve at the guns (a noble proof of the public spirit of our sailors). The Indiamen lay to in line of battle during the night, with the people at their quarters. At daylight, on the 15th, the enemy were three miles to windward also lying to the British ships hoisted their colours and offered battle, but the enemy not choosing to come down, at nine A. M. the India fleet steered its course under easy sail; the enemy then filled and edged towards them. At one P. M. Captain Dance, perceiving that the French Admiral intended to attack and cut off his rear, made the signal for his fleet to tack and engage in succession. The Royal George led, and was followed by the Ganges and Earl Camden. The ships performed the manoeuvre with admirable correctness, and stood towards the French under a press of sail. The latter formed a very close line and opened their fire on the headmost ships, which was not returned until ours had approached as near as they could get, the French having a great advantage in superior sailing. The Royal George bore the brunt of the action; the Ganges and Camden came up, and also began to engage; but before any other ships could get up, the French Admiral hauled his wind, and stood away to the eastward under all the sail he could set. Captain Dance made the signal for a general chase, but after a pursuit of two hours, finding the enemy gained on him, he very properly desisted.

The action was very short; one man only