to have a double destination. The 15 two-deckers, of which with the Océan (late Peuple), and Invincible three-deckers, and two others repairing in the harbour, it was then composed, were first to escort to the coast of Ireland a strong division of Hoche's troops, distributed on board the fleet, consisting, besides those 15 line-of-battle ships, of 12 frigates and several transports.

The debarkation effected, Vice-admiral Villaret Joyeuse, to whom the naval command of the expedition had been intrusted, was to detach himself, without loss of time, with the eight best sailing line-of-battle ships of the fleet, and hasten to the Isles of France and Bourbon. There he was to embark the black troops, which the agents of the Directory, who had gone out in Rear-admiral Sercey's frigate-squadron, had, after enfranchising all the slaves in the colony, been directed to organize. These troops Admiral Villaret was to carry to the succour of Tippoo-Saib ; and, having landed the men, was to co-operate with Rear-admiral Sercey in doing all possible mischief to the British factories and commerce on the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel. After this M. Villaret and his eight sail of the line and five or six frigates would probably pass to the aid of the Dutch, who had already paid over to the hands of the French minister of marine the sum of 1,200,000 francs, as the estimated cost of equipping the squadron which France had promised should, in conjunction with a Dutch squadron, attempt the recapture of their late eastern possessions.

The seven sail of the line expected at Brest under Richery, and the five which M. Villeneuve was bringing from Toulon, would amply replace the eight carried off by M. Villaret, and were to transport to Ireland the remainder of the troops attached to the expedition. As, however, M. Villaret saw nothing but India, and General Hoche nothing but Ireland, there was a want of harmony between the two chiefs; and Hoche, as possessing the greatest interest with the government, got M. Villaret removed from the naval command, and Vice-admiral Morard-de-Galles appointed in his stead.

It was the intention of M. Truguet, that the expedition should leave Brest before the end of October, or the beginning of November at the latest; but General Hoche, being desirous to transport the whole of his troops in one trip, preferred waiting the arrival of the two daily-expected squadrons.

On the 5th of November M. Richery, having gained intelligence that a British squadron, whose force, if he had been informed of it, he would have found to consist of only seven sail of the line (one a three-decker) and two frigates, was cruising about 90 miles to the south-west of Belle-Isle, considered it too hazardous to attempt entering Brest: he therefore, with his seven two-deckers and three frigates, put into Rochefort. Here the French admiral remained until information reached him, that Sir Roger Curtis had returned into port with his squadron. Thus

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