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view had taken place, and ordered a proper place to be reconnoitred for pofting the baggage, in cafe I fhould either have found it advifeable to go and meet the enemy, or to receive them on the ground I had occupied. In the middle of the night of the 1ft, or rather early in the morning of the 2d, intelligence was brought me, that Hyder had come to Chittiput, diftant from us about eleven miles. The army was then under orders of march to proceed nearer Arnee, which, I was encouraged to hope, might prove an eafy acquifition, and which, by the large ftock of provifions it contained, added to the extreme fitness of its fituation, opened to us no lefs a profpect than the total expulfion of the enemy from the Carnatic. In my then pofition, with Hyder's army on the one fide, and an object of fuch magnitude on the other, it became a point of deliberation, which was the most eligible line of conduct to be adopted; to perfevere in my original intention of threatening Arnee (which Hyder had most undoubtedly come to cover) and thereby bring on an action, or to advance and engage the enemy. I preferred the former, as it promised the most certain iffue, upon the mind of Hyder, whofe fole view evidently was to fave his grand magazine. It was equal to him whether he accomplished that, by diverting our attention from it, or by giving us battle. But it is reafonable to imagine, that if he fucceeded on the former grounds, he would hardly, after having fuffered four defeats, put any thing to risk on the latter. We accordingly therefore commenced our

march towards Arnee, contiguous to which the advance of our army had arrived, and we had begun to mark out the ground for our encampment, when a diftant cannonade opened on our rear, and which was the first annunciation I had of Hyder's having approached fo near us, in force. His coming upon us, thus fuddenly, proceeds from his being able to cover the march of his line of infantry by his large bodies of horse, and which having generally been the companion of our movements, during the whole war, were never to be confidered as any pofitive proof of his army being at hand.

Every difpatch was used in making the neceffary difpofitions for repelling the attack, and coming to action. Our line was then in a low fituation, with high and commanding ground all round, which as the enemy had got poffeffion of, our different manoeuvres were performed under every difadvantage, and expofed to a heavy though diftant cannonade. It was not till near mid-day that we had reduced the enemy's various attacks to one fettled point, fo as to advance upon them with effect, and with a prospect of advantage; but fo foon as that was accomplished, we pushed on and they gave way; we pursued them till the evening was far advanced, taking from them in their retreat one gun, five tumbrils, and two carts loaded with ammunition.

I remained at this advanced station to the last moment the state of my provifions would admit of; and when obliged to fall back for my fupplies, I endeavoured to do it with all the credit poffible, by again feeking for Hyder, who by

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my intelligence, had encamped with his army contiguous to a road by which we might march. He retreated before me with precipitation, although in poffeffion of ground which he could have difputed our approach towards with great advantage. We purfucd our march the preceding day, by the fame road on which he had retreated, but found that he had turned off and croffed the country towards Arnee. On the 8th of June, when encamped in the neighbourhood of Trivatore, and where we had halted a day to refresh both the troops and cattle, of which they food greatly in need, having fuffered feverely both by ficknefs and fatigue, our grand guard was most unfortunately drawn into an ambufcade compofed of about fix thoufand of Hyder's chofen horfe, and totally cut off before any fupport could be afforded.

It is with pleasure I acquaint you, that the establishment of peace with the Mahrattas is in the faireft way towards being happily accomplished, as, on the 17th of May laft, articles of a treaty of peace, and perpetual friendship and alliance, between the English and the Mahrattas, were agreed to and executed by Manheo Scindia, on the part of the latter, and by Mr. David Anderfon, (deputed by the governor-general and Council) on the part of the former, fubject however to the approval and ratification of their refpective governments, before they fhould become final. In as far as depends upon us, I believe every part has been confirmed; but as yet I have not heard of the conditions having received the feal

and fignature of the Pefhwa, and the atteftations of the dependent members of the Poona state.

The only important movement of the army, which happened between the action of the 2d of June until this prefent time, was the relief of the garrifon of Villore, which was performed between the 7th and 21st of Auguft; the army having marched in that period, near two hundred miles, threw into the place provifions fufficient to maintain the garrifon to the first of March next.

and

I am concerned to acquaint your lordships with the fall of Trincomale, which by our intelligence was furrendered to the French force under Monfieur Suffren on the 31ft ult. by capitulation.My orders were to defend it to the laft. Our fquadron had an action with the French fquadron off the place on the 3d inftant, in which the last suffered moft; but our fleet found it neceffary to come to thefe roads, where it arrived the 9th inftant, and is now refitting, and intends proceeding to Bombay the middle of next month, The Minerva ftore fhip, and the Major and Nottingham Indiamen belonging to Sir Richard Bickerton's fleet, are arrived; the two latter having on board Lieutenant Colonel Adams, with two companies of his majefty's 101ft regiment, and Colonel Reimbold, with two companies of his majefty's electoral troops. They have all of them arrived extremely healthy, and have fuffered very little indeed by the voyage.

My prefent weak ftate will not allow of my entering into a particular detail of the late march of

the army towards Cuddalore, and

its return, together with the other occurrences which have fince happened.

Major General Sir Hector Munro has refigned the fervice, and returns to Europe in the Myrtle tranfport, which fails in a few days. Major General Stuart, who has been conftantly in the field during the whole of this year's campaign, will in confequence fucceed to the chief command of the company's troops on this establishment. He has been in command of the army ever fince my illness, in the conduct of which he has fhewn the most indefatigable activity, in a manner highly to his own honour, and much to my fatisfaction.

REMARKABLE ACTIONS at SEA.

Admiralty-Office, April 15, 1782. Extracts of Letters from Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, Knight of the Bath, and Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships employed in the Eaft-Indies, to Mr. Stephens, received the 6th inftant, by the Honourable Captain Carpenter, who came Pafenger to Ireland in the Rodney Packet belonging to the EaftIndia Company.

Superb, off Negapatnam, July 15, 1782. Mentioned, in my letter of the 15th ult. my intention to embark, in a few days, all fuch men from Trincomale hofpital as could

be

any ways ferviceable on board, and proceed with the fquadron to this coaft to watch the motions of that of the French under Monf. Suffren; and accordingly, I failed

from Trincomale Bay on the 23d of laft month, and anchored in Negapatnam Road the day fol lowing.

At this place I was informed that the French fquadron was then at anchor off Cuddalore, which had furrendered before to their land forces; and that his majesty's armed tranfports the Refolution and Raikes, on their paffage to join me at Trincomale with flores and ammunition, had very unfortunately been fallen in with by the French fquadron, and captured; and the San Carlos, another of his majefty's armed tranfports, with the Rodney brig, were chaced, and very narrowly efcaped being alfo captured, and had returned to Madras road.

I continued with the fquadron at an anchor in Nagapatnam road till the 5th of this month, when, at one P. M. the French fquadron, confifting of 18 fail, 12 of which of the line, came in fight. At three P. M. I weighed with his majesty's fquadron, and food to the fouthward all that evening and night, in order to gain the wind of the enemy.

On the 6th, at day-light, the enemy's fquadron at anchor, bearing N. N. E. diftant about feven or eight miles, wind at S. W. At fifty minutes past five A. M. I made the fignal for the line of battle a-breaft, and bore away towards the enemy. At fix, obferving the enemy getting under fail, and ftanding to the weftward, hauled down the fignal for the line of battle a-breast, and made the fignal for the line a-head at two cables length distance. At ten minutes past feven, our line being well formed, made the fig

nal

nal to bear down on the enemy; each fhip in our line againft the ship opposed to her in the enemy's line. At forty minutes past ten the enemy's line began to fire on ours. At forty-five minutes paft ten I made the fignal for battle, and at the fame time the fignal for a close engagement.

From ten minutes after eleven, till thirty-five past noon, the engagement was general from van to rear in both lines, and moftly very clofe; the enemy's fhips appeared to have fuffered feverely both in hulls and mafts; the van fhip had bore away out of the line, and the Brilliant, the French admiral's, fecond a-head, had loft his main-maft. At this time the fea breeze fet in at S. S. E. very fresh, and feveral of the fhips in our van and center were taken a

back and paid round with their heads to the weftward; while others of our fhips, thofe in the rear in particular, which had fuffered much lefs in their rigging, paid off and continued on their former tack. Some of the enemy's fhips were also paid round by the fea breeze with their heads to the weftward; the admiral's fecond a-head in particular, which I fuppofed to be the Ajax, but proved afterwards to be the Severe, fell along fide the Sultan, and ftruck to her; but, whilft the Sultan was wearing to join me, made what fail he could, fired on and raked the Sultan, without fhewing any colours, and then got in amongst his own fhips. At fifty paft noon, finding the Worcefter, Eagle, and Burford ftill continuing on their former tack, and nearing the body of the enemy's fquadron very fait, I made

the fignal to wear, and hauled down the fignal for the line, purpofing to make the fignal for a general chafe; but the captain of the Monarca having hailed, and informed me that all his ftanding rigging was fhot away, and the fhip otherwise fo much difabled as to be ungovernable; and the Hero, on the contrary tack, hauling in with the land with the fignal of distress out; and the enemy's fhips having wore and come to on the larboard tack, thofe leaft difabled forming to the windward to cover their difabled fhips, and endeavouring to cut off the Eagle, I made the fignal at twenty minutes paft one, to wear, and ftood to the weftward, the engagement ftill continuing partially, wherever our fhips were near the enemy's, and the Eagle hard preffed by two of the enemy's fhips. At half past one I made the fignal for the line of battle a-head on the larboard tack, and made the Exeter's fignal to come within hail, and directed her to take her ftation a-ftern of the Sultan. At two P. M. the enemy's fquadron were standing in fhore, and collecting their fhips, which I was alfo endeavouring to do, as our fquadron was very much dif perfed, and continued on different tacks, the fhips being greatly difabled, and in general ungovernable.

At half past four I hauled down the fignal for the line of battle a-head, and made the fignal to prepare to anchor; and at half past five I anchored with the Superb in fix fathom water, between Negapatnam and Nagore; the other hips of the fquadron anchoring as they came in with

the

the land, and the Worcester next day.

The enemy having collected their fhips into a close body, anchored at fix P. M. about three leagues to leeward of our fhips; during the remainder of the day, and all night, our fhips were clofely employed in fecuring their lower mafts, almoft all their ftanding rigging being fhot away; fplicing the old and reeving new rigging, and getting ferviceable fails to the yards.

On the 7th in the morning the damages fuftained by the feveral fhips of the fquadron appeared to me fo great, that I gave up all thoughts of pursuing the enemy; and at nine A. M. the French fquadron got under fail, and returned to Cuddalore Road, their difabled hips a-head; and thofe lefs fo, covering their retreat in the rear.

At ten A. M. I fent Capt. James Watt, of his majefty's fhip the Sultan, in the Rodney brig difarmed, with a flag of truce, and a letter to Monfieur Suffren, containing a demand of the furrender of the French king's fhip the Ajax. Capt. Watt came up with the French fquadron the fame evening, and my letter was forwarded to M. Suffren, who returned an evafive anfwer, faying it was the French fhip Severe who had the halliards of his enfign fhot away, as frequently happens in action, by which means it came down, but was never intended to be ftruck.

I am extremely happy to inform their lordships, that in this engagement his majefty's fquadron under my command gained a decided fuperiority over that of

the enemy; and had not the wind fhifted, and thrown his majesty's fquadron out of action, at the very time when fome of the enemy's fhips had broken their line, and were running away, and others of them greatly difabled, Į have good reafon to believe it would have ended in the capture of feveral of the line of battle fhips. I am happy alfo to inform their lordships, that the officers and the men of the fquadron behaved to my fatisfaction, and have great merit for their bravery and steady conduct; the captains Gell of the Monarca, Rainier of the Burford, and Watt of the Sultan, eminently diftinguished themselves by a strict attention to my fignals, and the utmoft exertion of courage and conduct against the enemy.

I am alfo obliged to Col. Fullarton of the 98th regiment, who has been my companion in the Superb, fince I left Madras Road in March laft, preferring to ferve with his corps on board to living inactive on fhore. The officers and men of this regiment have behaved with great regularity on board the fhips of the fquadron, and done their duty well on all occafions.. Major Grattan, an officer late of General Meadow's staff, and a captain in the 100th regiment, has alfo ferved with great credit on board the Superb on this occafion, in the abfence of his corps now on the Malabar coaft.

The death of Captain Maclellan of the Superb, who was hot through the heart with a grape fhot early in the engagement, is univerfally regretted by all that knew him. I had expe

rienced

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