The revictualling of Gibraltar surpassed even Suffren's feat of the capture of Trincomalee in the same year.

The English had seized Negapatam and Trincomalee; they hoped to follow up this conquest by the capture of Batavia and Ceylon.

He had re-taken Trincomalee before the English could come to its defence.

TRINCOMALEE (10), an important naval station and seaport on the NE. coast of Ceylon, 110 m. NE. of Kandy; possesses barracks, official residences, and a splendid harbour, a haven of shelter to shipping during the monsoons, and is strongly fortified.