Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/148

142 the tops of the houses, and to throw shells from some cohorns, and a thirteen-inch mortar; this annoyance continued on the 18th: the next day a battery was begun behind some ruins, opposite the south face of the s. E. bastion, and, at the same time, were mounted three pieces of cannon on the enemy's battery close to the river, turning them against the south flank and face of the north-east bastion: this day the ships Kent, Tiger, and Salisbury, arrived from Calcutta, and anchored about a mile below the fort. The navigation had been extremely difficult, but conducted with extreme precaution and skill by Captain Speke, who commanded the Kent. On the 20th the fire from the fort silenced the three guns on the battery close to the river, and on the 21st they beat down a house near the other, the ruins of which buried some men, none of whom, however, were mortally hurt. The next day this battery was completed, and the other repaired: not more than 20 men, Europeans and Sepoys, had been killed and wounded in all these operations. In the mean time the narrow channel between the ships and the fort had been deligently sounded, and it was found that the vessels which were intended to obstruct their passage, had not been sunk in the proper place. Every thing being ready on shore, it was determined to attack with the ships the next day; and, indeed, no time was to be lost; for the Nabob finding himself deceived, had continually dispatched messengers, of whom six arrived in one day, with letters commanding the English in very imperious and menacing terms to discontinue the attack; he had likewise sent forward a part of his army under the command of Roydoolub, who having advanced within twenty miles of Hughley, halted in consequence of the representations of Nuncomar, assuring him that the French would surrender before he could arrive to their assistance.

During this interval, the Cumberland, in which Admiral Pocock hoisted his flag, arrived at Ingelee. After striking on the sand off Point Palmyras, she plied ten days against the wind and currents in vain to get round, when the great number of sick on board, amounting to 266, determined Mr. Pocock to bear away for refreshment to Vizagapatam, where he found the settlement in fears, not ill