'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.' [‎181] (218/562)

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Bavid, but on the 8th Inflant were both forced from that ftation by the 1757*
fudden and unexpedled arrival of a French fleet, which by failing better
than either of us, put us in the moft imminent danger of being taken. They
all anchor'd at Pondicherry that day at noon, but as they approached us fafb,
(and with fuch an apparent profpedl of coming up with us) I imagine,
thev would not have left off chace, but for the apprehenfion of being car
ried to leeward of their port. I had an opportunity of making the following
remarks upon the fleet.—The commanding (hip was the neareft but one, with
a St. George's flag at the fore-top-maft head; 1 counted, and with great cer
tainty, fifteen lower deck ports of a fide. Seven more of the fleet appeared
large, and are at leaft two-decked (hips •, the other two were long and low,
and appeared to be frigates of thirty-four or thirty-fix guns each. The
VGloire a French frigate, lay at the fame time at Pondicherry^ fo that in all
they have now eleven fail. Captain ¥ownley, after we feparated, flood on to
MadrafS) from whence he propofed failing in a few hours to join you. I
was but five days to Ballafore road, fo. that I imagine he may be hourly
expefted.
On the 5th of this month, the Bofcawen^ Braund, Norfolk, Bonham, Princefs.
Augufia, Bade/on, and 'Tavifiock, Jenkins, bound to China^ arrived ztMadrafs \
they left England in March with Admiral Coats bound to Jamaica, and kept
company with Commodore Stevens \n thz Elizabeth, with ^Yarmouth, Wey
mouth, Colchefter and Queenhrough men of war and Warwick India man, all
bound to India, as far as Madeira, where they (topped on the 12th of Aprils
while thefe fhips proceeded on by themfelves. As we only juft fpoke with
them at fea, I did not learn any extraordinary news, nor fhall I take up
any more of your time, as I hope for the honour of waiting upon you in per-
fon to-morrow.
This early intelligence (for the Revenge had only 4 days and 18 hours paf-
fage from St. David's to Ballafore road) was of great importance, and indeed of
the utmoft confequence, as it put Calcutta and our iquadron on their guard,
for until now we were totally ignorant of any French fhips of war being in:
India. We had only three line of battle (hips left, xht Kent having been
condemned; and the Cumberland was a fingle fhip at Culpee, thirty miles
down the river from Calcutta, preparing to heave down, and not expeding
an enemy, was in no condition to receive one. The French fleet *, which
had touched at Porto-Novo, a Dutch fettlement, to the fouthward of
Pondicherryi for intelligence, had from thence (leered along (bore in the
* This was a part of that fleet, of which the Eaji India direftors had given fo early intelli--
gencc as 17,56. Vide^. 89.
I am, Sir,
Your moft obedient humble fervant,
W. JAMES.
Revenge, at Inge lee, 14th.
September, 1757.
night .5,
\