In 1796 , a large squadron of French frigates arrived in Arriving the Indian Ocean under the command of Contre-amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey .

The French squadron , commanded Control by Contre-amiral Pierre César Charles de Sercey , had left Departing their base on Île de France in July , cruising Patrolling off Ceylon and Tranquebar before sailing Self_motion eastwards .

The British ships separated Preventing_or_letting and attempted to escape Escaping , but the French commander `` Contre-amiral '' Joseph-Marie Nielly simply split Destroying his forces in response , and although `` Canada '' was eventually able to outrun Escaping pursuit , `` Alexander '' was slower and was caught Getting by several French ships in succession .

In an effort to simultaneously obtain Getting help Assistance from France and reduce Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale the number of personnel maintained Preserving in the city , the naval commander on the island , Contre-amiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve , ordered Request his subordinate Contre-amiral Denis Decrès to put Placing to sea with the large ship of the line `` Guillaume Tell '' , which had arrived in Arriving the port shortly before the siege began Process_start in September 1798 .

In an effort to simultaneously obtain Getting help Assistance from France and reduce Cause_change_of_position_on_a_scale the number of personnel maintained Preserving in the city , the naval commander on the island , Contre-amiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve , ordered Request his subordinate Contre-amiral Denis Decrès to put Placing to sea with the large ship of the line `` Guillaume Tell '' , which had arrived in Arriving the port shortly before the siege began Process_start in September 1798 .