The action occurred Coming_to_be off Start Point in Devon , when the British frigate HMS `` Nymphe '' encountered Hostile_encounter and chased Motion the French frigate `` Cléopâtre '' .

During the previous month , `` Cléopâtre '' and another frigate , `` Sémillante '' , had been successfully raiding Attack British merchant shipping in the English Channel and Eastern Atlantic from their base at Cherbourg .

Closing to investigate Scrutiny , Pellew rapidly identified Check the ship as `` Cléopâtre '' and gave Giving chase Motion , the French frigate initially fleeing Escaping but Captain Jean Mullon then turning Becoming to fight Hostile_encounter as `` Nymphe '' began Process_start to overtake Motion his ship .