It proves that at this time Napoleon judged that a rupture of peace was not imminent; and when he saw his miscalculation, he sought to delay the war with England as long as possible in order to allow time for Decaen's force at least to reach the Cape, then in the hands of the Dutch.

The French squadron was too weak to risk a fight with an English fleet; it comprised only four ships of war, two transports, and a few smaller vessels, carrying about 1,800 troops.[209] The ships were under the command of Admiral Linois, who was destined to be the terror of our merchantmen in eastern seas.

Decaen's first halt was at the Cape, which had been given back by us to the Dutch East India Company on February 21st, 1803.

The French general found the Dutch officials in their usual state of lethargy: the fortifications had not been repaired, and many of the inhabitants, and even of the officials themselves, says Decaen, were devoted to the English.

After surveying the place, doubtless with a view to its occupation as the _point d'appui_ hinted at in his instructions, he set sail on the 27th of May, and arrived before Pondicherry on the 11th of July.[210] In the meantime important events had transpired which served to wreck not only Decaen's enterprise, but the French influence in India.