 With Ceylon no longer engaged , Duperré pulled ahead to engage Astell but found that Stewart had brought his battered Windham between the French frigate and the third East Indiaman . In the growing darkness , Stewart attempted to hail Astell to propose boarding Bellone together , but the remaining officers either ignored or did not hear the suggestion as Astell extinguished all her lights and made all sail to escape the action , receiving a final broadside from Bellone as she pulled away . Alone , Stewart continued to engage the French ships to enable Astell to make her escape . At 19 : 20 the repaired Minerve returned and took possession of Ceylon , and at 19 : 45 Stewart surrendered for the second time in less than a year : his ship badly damaged and casualties mounting among his crew and passengers . 
