 Leaving Spithead on his first cruise in October, he had been at sea for just a few hours when Duguay-Trouin again appeared with a squadron of five ships of the line.Unable to outrun his opponents, Balchen engaged the 74-gun flagship "Lis" before being forced to surrender after being dismasted and threatened with boarding.Balchen was exchanged almost immediately and the court martial, once again, exonerated him from all blame for the loss of his ship.