CHAP. XVII.

CHAP. XVII.

The distresses of France had now reached their height in the destruction of her navy, and the annihilation of her commerce. Spain also, cut off from her resources by the vigilance of our fleets, was equally poor, and her subjects still more wretched; while Britain, now directed by unanimity and wisdom, seemed as if invigorated by the struggle.

Great must have been the sufferings of his people, when Louis XV. condescended to express his ardent wish for the return of peace to an individual who was then his prisoner. That Sovereign ingenuously avowed to Sir John Ligonier the pressures which had induced him to urge the topic; and it was a hint too interesting for humanity to pass unnoticed. Accordingly, a Congress was soon after held at Aix-la-Chapelle, in order to arrange the terms of negociation. The prospect however, did not relax our efforts, which were still greater than ever.

Eleven thousand five hundred and fifty Marines were the establishment of 1748.

Admiral Boscawen, who had sailed from England in November of the last year, got sight of the Mauritius upon the 23d day of June. His orders were to make an attack upon it, but this object was subordinate to the conquest of Pondicherry, which was the chief view of the expedition. The enemy had long been aware of his destination, and were well prepared to receive him. After having reconnoitred the coast, and sounded where a probability appeared of effecting a disembarkation, it was at last ascertained, that the powerful means of defence which presented every where, and the dangers of approaching the land in many places, must necessarily involve a great sacrifice of men, and render success even ultimately doubtful. The coming on of the autumnal monsoons had also an influence in the decision of a Council, which was to relinquish this attempt, and to proceed without delay for the Coast of Coromandel, the enjoined scene of operations.

Upon the 27th of June, the Admiral bid adieu to the island, and arrived at Fort St. David on the 29th of July. Here the troops were landed and encamped, with all the necessary stores. At no period could the Nation ever boast of a more zealous or faithful servant than Admiral Boscawen. It was now but a short interval ere he proceeded to carry his instructions into effect, under his own auspices; having entrusted the Fleet to Captain Lisle, the next in command, who had orders to co-operate to the utmost.

Previous to the departure of Vice Admiral Griffin, with four ships intended for Europe, the Marines were drafted from them, and added to the battalion, which upon this service consisted of eight hundred and eighty rank and file. The whole amounting to four thousand one hundred and twenty British and Country troops to be afterwards reinforced by two thousand native auxiliaries, and one thousand one hundred sailors, trained to small arms, were to form the besieging army. The battering cannon, mortars, and every implement were conveyed by the squadron within two miles of the town, while the land forces began their march towards Pondicherry, on the 8th of August, about thirty miles distant. They were uninterrupted till the 11th, when a shew of opposition was made by an intrenched force of the enemy on the banks of a river. These gave way, however, upon the advance of a detachment to attack them. On the other side stood the fort of Arian-Coupan, which it was essential to carry previous to opening the siege. A force of seven hundred men, composed of grenadiers, and the piquets of the Army were deemed adequate to this attempt by the Engineers who reconnoitred the works. In this service they had been unhappily deceived, from the peculiarity of the ground in front of the fort, the real strength of which was hid from their view.

Unprepared for the assault, our brave men, when too late, found its formidable state, but with a persevering though an unfortunate spirit, they continued an attack which afforded no hope of success.

The enemy now galling them extremely by flanking fires from two batteries on the opposite side of the river, a retreat was made after the loss of 150 men killed and wounded, and amongst them some of our best officers. The fall of Major Goodere of the Artillery, upon this occasion, was peculiarly lamented, and from his high professional talents, was considered as an event inauspicious to the future operations of the army.

The detachment being repulsed, retired towards the sea, in order to preserve a communication with the ships, and thus to disembark the cannon and stores. Here they slept all night upon their arms, and on the following day, the 13th of August, were joined by the army. In the afternoon the 1100 Seamen were landed under Captain Lloyd.

It was now determined to carry on approaches in regular form. Upon the 17th a battery of four guns was opened, but being injudiciously placed it produced no effect. The Artillery Officers having volunteered to construct another, it began on the following morning with such success, that a desperate attempt was made by the enemy to destroy it. This at first succeeded, but our men soon rallying from a temporary panic, the French were beat back and their Commanding Officer taken prisoner. Major Lawrence, however, and some officers scorning to participate in the early terror which seized the troops, became captives.

Upon the 20th some gunpowder taking fire within the Fort, the principal Battery blew up, by which explosion upwards of 100 of the enemy perished. They then, by putting matches to the different mines, demolished all the fortifications, and the remains retreated to Pondicherry.

The ruins were soon occupied by our troops, who were employed, until the 25th in rendering this post tenable. They afterwards crossed the river of Arian-Coupan, and got possession of a strong situation within a mile of the place, without a shew of contest. This being to the north west of the town, a communication was from thence maintained with the ships to the northward of it, and all the implements necessary for the siege were now landed.

Early in the morning of the 1st of September the Advanced Guard of 100 men, consisting principally of Marines, was attacked by very superior forces, which were headed by Mons. Portalis, the principal Engineer of the enemy; who was mortally wounded, besides four other Officers, and the whole were repulsed with a loss of upwards of 120 soldiers.

Upon this occasion a woman fought in the Marine Ranks of the name of Hannah Snell, a native of Worcester, who, after many chequered destinies, inlisted at Portsmouth in Colonel Frazer's regiment, from whence she was embarked with a detachment on board the Swallow sloop, one of Admiral Boscawen's squadron. In this affair she behaved with distinguished courage, having fired 37 rounds, and received a ball in the groin, which, two days afterwards, she herself extracted, and likewise dressed the wound. Eleven others in both legs, but of inferior consequence also, rendered her removal to the Hospital, at Cuddalore, absolutely necessary, where she continued three months.

When recovered she was ordered on board the Eltham frigate, in which she continued till that ship returned home and was paid off. After receiving her discharge from the Marine Service, in company with many of her companions, she set out for London. The time arrived when they were to bid each other a long adieu; this moment she chose to discover her sex, in order to attest the truth of her adventures. One of her friends tendered his hand, which was declined. She afterwards wore the Marine Dress, and having presented a petition to his Royal Highness the Duke of Cumberland, he, with a princely spirit, attended to her prayer, and placed her on the King's list for a pension of thirty pounds a year for life. This she enjoyed until a few years ago, when, after a long residence at Walsall, in Staffordshire, her days were closed.

It was not until the 25th of September that the batteries were completed, when they began to play. Owing to a general ignorance of the plan of Pondicherry, our first attack was directed against its strongest quarter, and after different approaches, it was discovered that a deep and intervening morass prevented their being carried within a distance near enough to produce effect. Notwithstanding a combined cannonade on the part of the squadron, against the town, it was found that the enemy's fire rather gained an ascendency. Sickness becoming prevalent, from the fatigues endured by the troops, often up to the middle in water; the rainy season being daily expected, which would inundate the country and cut off their retreat to Fort St. David's, and the army rapidly diminishing in its numbers, afforded strong grounds for immediately abandoning the siege. A Council of War, held on the 30th of September, determined upon this measure, after which period the only objects to be accomplished were reimbarking the men and stores, and setting fire to the batteries, all which were effected upon the 5th of October, and the whole were in motion upon the morning of the 6th.

They had happily chosen the critical moment for retreat, as the rains which fell upon the same evening, had nearly rendered the rivers impassible; however they reached Fort St. David's upon the evening of the 7th, after having demolished the Fort of Arian-Coupan on their way.

The want of Engineers was bitterly felt throughout the whole, and though it was in many instances amply compensated by the handsome and voluntary tenders of service, from the Officers of the Corps of Royal Artillery, still these were of too subordinate a nature to remedy the errors committed in the leading plan of operations.

We had also to combat a garrison nearly equal to our own army, which was but little aided by the Native Auxiliaries, whose chief use lay in guarding the skirts of our Camp from surprize, or harassing parties; for they would never defend any post without being supported by European troops.

This disaster involved a loss of 1065 Whites of every description, while that of the enemy did not exceed 500.

In the West Indies an attack was again intended against St. Jago, in Cuba, by some land forces embarked at Jamaica and the Marines of the squadron, with which design the whole put to sea, but after a long perseverance against strong northerly winds, which prevented their approaching that coast, it was given up, and diverted to an enterprize against Port Louis on the south side of Hispaniola. This service was performed by the ships in line of battle, which, after three hours heavy cannonade, compelled its Governor to surrender upon terms, when Major Scott, with a detachment of Governor Trelawney's regiment, and the Marines, were landed, and took possession of the Fort in the name of his Majesty.

After having shipped or destroyed upwards of 80 heavy cannon, and blown up the works, the whole were re-embarked.

Towards the close of the present year a very serious mutiny occurred on board his Majesty's ship Chesterfield, upon the coast of Africa, but like all attempts of so diabolical a nature, it was suppressed by the spirited efforts of a few well disposed of her crew. This leads me to the reflection, that, however brave and intrepid the character of a British Seaman is, still his valour becomes palsied the moment it is exerted in a wrong cause. Such indeed must ever be the consequence of such ill aimed combinations. The wretch who is capable of subverting his country's interests cares but little for those of his friends. In principle a villain, he never fails being the first to desert and betray the unfortunate men, who are the dupes of his counsels, particularly when his own life appears in danger.

In order to exhibit how dangerous it is even to conceal the existence of a mutiny, I will state an instance which arose out of the above occasion:—After the Chesterfield was recovered from those daring insurgents, she was carried into Barbadoes, when all the culprits were put on board the Richmond, excepting two. Some of them were indulged with their liberty and to mess with that ship's company; so liberal are our laws even to the criminal, before trial and condemnation.

Having, by their protestations of innocence, interested some of the people in their favour, T. Ferriman, the ship's Steward, I believe from pure motives, and wishing to discover those who had united in planning their escape, drew out a paper for the signature of all who wished well to the scheme. Within two hours he was himself informed against, by one who had subscribed to it, and being found in his pocket, it was too powerful an evidence to resist that article of War which holds him equally guilty with the perpetrator, who knowingly conceals any gathering mutiny even for a moment.

Every detail of active operation closes with the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, now a second time rendered memorable by the growth of the Olive.

After more than nine years hostility, all the powers agreed to a general restitution of conquests. France and Spain were left to lament a ruined Navy, and an impoverished people, while Great Britain felt an accession of more than four millions of circulating specie, which concealed from the public view a large addition to her national debt.

At this time the respective rank between the sea and land Officers was decreed by his Majesty, and an order issued for an exact uniformity of dress throughout the naval service.

Amongst the many reductions which now progressively took place, during 1748, and the early part of the ensuing year, may be remarked the total extinction of the Marine establishment, the Officers of which, at these successive periods, were placed on half pay.