British reinforcements were hastily despatched Sending to the area but the French were blockading Besieging Île Bourbon in force and the arriving Arriving reinforcements were in constant danger of attack by more powerful French units .

A British blockading force , which had been conducting Action patrols Patrolling in the region in the aftermath of the battle Hostile_encounter of St Marcou earlier in the month , encountered Hostile_encounter two French vessels attempting Hold to sail Self_motion unnoticed between Le Havre and Cherbourg .

The French blockading fleet was under command Control of Henri d'Escoubleau de Sourdis , Archbishop of Bordeaux , and consisted both of sailing and rowing vessels .

If , therefore , with a view Perception_active to violate such blockade , a vessel shall approach Arriving , or shall attempt to leave either of the said ports , she will be duly warned Warning by the Commander of one of the blockading vessels , who will endorse on her register the fact and date of such warning Warning , and if the same vessel shall again attempt to enter or leave Departing the blockaded port , she will be captured Conquering and sent Sending to the nearest convenient port , for such proceedings against her and her cargo as prize , as may be deemed Coming_to_believe advisable .

The siege then settled Resolve_problem down again to more of a blockade , but the final defeat Conquering for the allies came when a crucial British relief Assistance convoy under Admiral Richard Howe slipped Motion through the blockading fleet and arrived at Arriving the garrison in October 1782 .

It also gave Giving the Americans an incentive Influence to take Action a more aggressive stance by blockading Besieging Wonsan .

In consequence of the heavy losses Earnings_and_losses the British force had suffered Earnings_and_losses , reinforcements Cause_change_of_strength were hastily rushed Self_motion to the area and became Becoming individual targets for the larger French squadron blockading Besieging the British base at Île Bourbon .

A British squadron had been blockading Besieging the French island of Isle de France ( now Mauritius ) since early in the year , and early on 5 May discovered Know two ships approaching Arriving their position .