Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 14

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[JANUARY, 1917
might otherwise reap from this Calamity. Some reports speak of the arrival of the Ships destined to your Presidency at Anjengo. We hope it is true and are persuaded your Honor &c., will not lose a moment to give us all the Assistance in your power.
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
The Lord Mansfield and Sandwich from Bengal imported here the 2d Instant. Their arrival is very opportune to assist in carrying Stores for the siege of Pondichery. They have Salt Petre on board for your Presidency. Whether we can send them round conveniently with the present circumstances of Affairs we cannot yet determine. You may, however, depend that nothing but absolute necessity shall induce us to detain them.
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Our call for Gunpowder is so great that we hope your Honor &c., will excuse our repeated Request that you will send us as large a supply as you can possibly spare and find conveyance for; and as we have lost a part of our battering Cannon for the Siege of Pondichery, if you can assist us in this Article with some 18 or 24 pounders, they will be very acceptable.
We are &c.,
GEORGE PIGOT, &c.,
Council.
Admiral Charles Steevens' Report of the Storm to the Council at Fort St. George.12
Consultation 7th January 1761.-Received the following letter from Admiral Steevens to the President and Council at Fort St. George.
GENTLEMEN,-On the first Instant, observing the weather squally and unsettled, I made every necessary disposition to prepare His Majesty's Ships under my Command for going to Sea, if I found myself under an absolute necessity of running out with the Squadron.
At eight o'clock at night it began to be squally, the wind at N. W. by N. and at ten, I found myself under an absolute necessity of 'cutting my cable, and making a signal for the squadron to do the same, driving off under a Reef'd Mizen. From half past ten to half past eleven the wind increased, blowing very hard; at twelve it became moderate, and continued so till near one a'clock; then the wind shifted to the S. E. Quarter, and continued to blow harder than it did before, till about 3, the Norfolk at that time standing to the N. E. under a Reef'd Foresail, and when I could sound, only shoaled my water from 17 to 14 fathom, which soundings I kept till the weather moderated. At 7 o'clock in the morning saw Sadrass1 to the W. N. W., distant 5 Leagues. I then thought it necessary to haul off the land till the weather settled, having received no other damage than splitting a Reef'd Mainsail and Mizen, and losing my long boat; during the Storm I made (from the Ships labouring) 4 feet water.
Yesterday I spoke with the Liverpool at Sea, who had lost all her Masts, and soon after spoke with the Grafton, and left her to take care of the said Ship, as I pushed here this morning with all possible expedition, to be ready to assist the distressed ships of the squadron.
The Grafton and Liverpool are come to an Anchor off this place, and from the Grafton I am informed that on the 28th Ultimo, at about 30 Leagues off the Land He saw Rear Admiral Cornish with the York and Weymouth in Company.
Enclosed I transmit you the best account I can at present learn of the unfortunate lost and distressed Ships of the Squadron.
12 Madras Military Consultations, Range 251, Vol. 47, pp. 12-15.
13 Sadras (Seven Pagodas) in Chingleput District, then a Dutch settlement.
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