'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎128] (165/562)

[ 128 ]
1757- and from this intended battery. Preparations were accordingly made fo?
—^this purpofe; but before they could be carried into execution, the army
were obliged to make themfelves mafters of the half-moon battery, which
they did with great gallantry, driving the enemy's troops before them into
the fort.
All things being ready ; on the 226 the admiral appeared extremely
anxious to begin the attack; but the flood-tide in the afternoon was fo very
late, the fhips could not pofTibly be placed in their proper ftations while
there was fufficient day-light to diredl our fire; the enemy therefore would
have had a great advantage over us; for though the nights were too dark
for us to diftinguifli the embrafures of their fortifications, yet they could
plainly fee the hulls of our (hips, which would have lain fo near the fort,
that a fhocking carnage muft have been made amongft their crews. That
another day however might not be loft, the admiral the fame evening ordered
lights to be placed on the mafts of the veflels that had been funk, with
blinds towards the fort, that we might fee how to pafs between them
a little before day-light, and without being difcovered by the enemy.
At length, the glorious morning of the 23d of March arrived, and upon
the fhips getting under fail, the Colonel's battery, which had been finifhed
behind a dead wall, began firing away on the S. E. baftion. The Tyger,
with Admiral Pocock's, flag flying *, took the lead, and about fix o'clock in
the morning got very well into her ftation againft the N. E. baftion. The
Kent, with Admiral IVatforfs flag, quickly followed her; but before ftie
could reach her proper ftation, the tide of ebb unfortunately made down
the river, which occafioned her anchor to drag ; fo that before fhe brought
up, fhe had fallen abreaft of the S. E. baftion, the place where the Salif-
htiry fhould have been, and from her mainmaft aft, fhe was expofed to the
flank guns of the S. W. baftion alfo. This accident of the Kent's anchor
not holding fad, and her driving down into the Salijhtwy's ftation, threw
this laft fhip out of adlion, to the great mortification of her captain,
officers, and crew, for (he never had it in her power to fire a gun, un-
lefs it was now and then, when fhe could fheer on the tide. The French,
during the whole time of the Kent and Tyger's approach towards the fort,
vept up a terrible cannonade upon them, without any refiftance on their
parts; but as loon as the fhips came properly to an anchor, they returned
it with fuch a fury as aftonifhed their adverfaries. Colonel Clive's troops at
hewdd I foTapAt VV o day fl bef0re l his '- had arrIved at BaIla / ore in Cumherland, and though
fore in L baf^ W, Z t t P f T*"' ^ he WOuld b y n0 be fnadiv;, and there-
nf g d a£
W Mch otherwifc'would^avc bfn KTommandcr h0n0,,ri
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