 To mitigate this disaffection , Sercey ordered two of his frigates , Prudente and Forte to cruise in the Bay of Bengal against British trade during the autumn of 1798 . When these ships returned , Sercey had already sailed for the east , leaving instructions for the frigates to follow . These orders were however countermanded by the Governor of Île de France , Malartic , who ordered the frigates seized while they were in harbour . Although Sercey protested Malartic 's actions , the governor issued new orders to the ships : Forte was sent northeast to operate in the Bay of Bengal off Calcutta while Prudente was partially disarmed and sold to a privateering concern to operate against trade as a commercial investment . 
