On April 8, I set sail from the Rade de St Pierre de Martinique with the convoy I was to escort. The King's army set sail at ten o'clock to follow. At four o'clock, the enemy army was reported to me. I signaled to the ships astern to increase their sail, while I reduced it to wait for them and to give the convoy more headway. By sunset, we were almost under Dominica, and the Convoy was beginning to feel calm under this island's land.

At daybreak on the 9th, I discovered the Enemy Army, made up of thirty-seven ships, five of which had three decks, and a number of frigates and other light vessels. They were to leeward of us, taking advantage of reefs to approach us. I gave the Army the signal to form up in line of battle on a low tack, to put myself between the Convoy and the Enemy Army, and I gave the Convoy the signal to force sail towards Guadeloupe, where I gave orders for a Frigate to anchor it in the meantime. I then maneuvered so that the Auguste and Zélé, which were still calm under La Dominique, could join the Army. I had to tack several times to prevent them from being cut off.