Battle of Pulo Aura

14–15 February 1804, Off Pulo Aura, at the eastern entrance to the Strait of Malacca

British success; Linois withdrew and the convoy got through untouched

Rear-Admiral Linois had been sent to the Indian Ocean with Marengo and three frigates before the war began, to raid British trade from Île de France. His great prize was the China Fleet, the yearly convoy of East Indiamen from Canton, carrying cargo worth some £8 million. In 1804 it sailed without a naval escort: 16 Indiamen, 11 country ships and the Bombay Marine brig Ganges, under Commodore Nathaniel Dance of the Earl Camden. Linois found it off Pulo Aura on 14 February. Indiamen were big enough to pass for ships of the line at a distance, and Dance formed them in line of battle and had the leading ships hoist blue ensigns, as if they were warships of Rainier's squadron. Linois watched all night. When he finally closed on the 15th, Dance turned his leading ships towards him. After about 40 minutes of firing at long range, in which one man in Royal George was killed, Linois broke away, and Dance chased him for two hours before rejoining the convoy. Dance was knighted and showered with rewards. Napoleon wrote that his admirals had discovered 'that war can be made without running risks'.