Why the French squadron held back in the Third Anglo-Dutch War

Was the French squadron ordered to hold back during the Third Anglo-Dutch War?

Not by a known formal order; its commander appears to have been chosen in part because he was temperamentally inclined to remain cautious.

Surviving orders do not explicitly tell the French squadron to hang back. Command selection could still produce the desired caution without leaving a discoverable written instruction. Political intent can therefore shape coalition naval operations indirectly through personnel choices.