Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/318

312 appearance of the English squadron spread no little alarm. Mr. D'Aché immediately convened a council of his captains, with the governor and council of the town, who resolved, that it was most expedient for the ships to remain moored as close as possible to the shore, that they might receive the assistance of the guns along the strand: but this resolution was not valid until approved by Mr. Lally; who instantly went from the camp to Pondichersy, ordering a detachment of 400 Europeans to follow him as fast as they could march. He arrived early in the morning of the 30th, convened the usual council, and tendered the detachment, with the same number of Sepoys and Lascars, to serve on board the ships, and protested against the disgrace of not meeting the English squadron in the open sea. This reinforcement changed the former resolution. Mr. Lally returned to the camp in the evening; and the next day Mr. D'Aché, with the eight principal ships, now manned with 3300 men, weighed anchor, but, instead of bearing down on Mr. Pocock, who could not work up to him, kept the wind, plying for Fort St. David. The besiegers during this day kept up an incessant fire from 21 pieces of cannon and 13 mortars, which every hour became superior to that of the fort; not for want of mounted artillery, but of ammunition, of which such quantities had been lavished away when no adequate effect could be expected, that the garrison was obliged to spare it now, in the hour of need and real use. On the 1st of June the fire continued with such increasing superiority, that the sailors, and even the artillery men, at times, quitted their guns. At noon, the French squadron were perceived working towards the road, and by the close of the evening, the enemy had carried on their trenches to the foot of the glacis opposite to the salient angle of the N. E. bastion, where they began to erect a battery, and all the embrasures in the fort which commanded this spot were ruined, and their guns either dismounted or withdrawn: so that the enemy might soon make a lodgement in the covered way; but could get no farther until the ditch was drained or filled up. Nevertheless, it was apprehended, that the French squadron might land a great number of men, with whom the troops