The French 26-gun frigate, ship French frigate Belle Poule 1765 2 was on a reconnaissance along with the 26-gun frigate ship French frigate Licorne 1755 2 , the corvette ship French corvette Hirondelle 1762 2 , and the cutter Coureur, when on 17 June she encountered a large British squadron that included HMS Arethusa 1759 6 at a point 23 miles south of The Lizard.