 Command of Prudente was given to Captain Emanuel @-@ <unk> Le <unk> , who sailed to the region to the east of the British held Cape Colony to prey on transoceanic merchant shipping sailing to and from Cape Town . The cruise achieved some success , including the seizure of an American merchant ship from Canton , which had been given a prize crew of 17 and armed with 6 @-@ pounder guns from Prudente 's quarterdeck , leaving the French frigate with only 30 guns including its main battery of 12 @-@ pounder long guns . At dawn on 9 February 1799 , while sailing approximately 100 nautical miles ( 190 km ) southwest of the coast of Natal a sail was seen to the southeast , approaching rapidly . Recognising a British frigate , La Joliff ordered his ships to separate at 07 : 00 , the American ship sailing south while he took Prudente northwards , hoping to draw off the British ship so that the prize could escape . 
