north of the harbour towards St. Martin's Point, otherwise called the Bay of St. Helen's. I took the charge of the pilotage on myself, and run in fhore during the night, judging my distance by the lead; the weather was very foggy, and continued fo till the morning of the July 21.; the wind was at N. East. At eight o'clock in the morning we had a clear fight of the land, diftant about four miles, and bore up for Saldanha bay. We were forced to turn by traverses into the Bay; nevertheless our arrival was fo unexpected, and our movements fo rapid, by carrying every fail we could bear, that the Dutch had just time to cut their cables, to loofe their fore top-fails, which they kept bent for this purpofe, and to run their fhips on fhore, and to fet them on fire, as the Romney dropt anchor; but our boats board ed them fo quickly, and our people behaved fo gallantly, that the flames in all of them were foon extinguished, except in the Middleburg; the burnt with incredible fury, and becoming light as the confumed, the got a-float, when her mafts tumbled, and had nearly drifted on board two of the other prizes: however, by an exertion of the boats of the fquadron, she was towed off, stern foremost, in which the General in perfon affifted. The boats had not left the Middleburg ten minutes, when the blew up clofe by the South Point of Hotties Bay. At this time a boat was feen rowing to our fhip, filled with people in the Eastern garb, making humble figns of fubmiffion; they provided to be the Kings of Tarnate and Tidote, with the Princes of their respective families, whom the Dutch East India Company had long confined on Ifle Robin, with different male factors, but had lately removed them from that island to Saldanha. Before midnight we had got all the prizes a-float, and next day we got them rigged and ready for fea, having brought the principal fails from the Hooker, which lay concealed under Schapin Island, where the fails had been lodged, in hopes we never should have discovered them. This Hooker had been feized by the Rattlefnake in furprize, according to my order in the difpofition of attack. The names of the prizes are: Gnns. Tons. The Dankbaarheyt, Capt. Steetfel, from Bengal, The Paerl, Capt. Plokker, from China, The Honeoop, Capt. Laud, from ditto, The Hoogcarfpel, Capt. Hatmeyer, from ditto, The Middleburgh, Capt. Van Geunip, which was burnt, came also from China, There were alfo two large hookers, which I could not conveniently bring away; and to avoid leaving any marks of barbarity towards a fettlement where our wants had been fo often relieved, I would not permit them to be burnt or deftroyed. Note Note 245. Lift of the French Fleet under M. de Suffren. Note 246. Lift of the Squadron under the command of Sir Edward Hughes, in the Eaft Indies. Ships. Eagle, Lift of the Ships under Sir Edward Hughes, in his first action with M. De Suffren, Feb. 17. 1781. Monmouth, 64 Ja. Alms. Sir Edward Hughes's Line of Battle in the second action. The Exeter to lead on the 'Starboard, and the Magnanime on the Combustion, fire-fhip, H. Newcombe. Capt. Dunbar M'Lellan. Ja. Alms. Geo. Talbot. Ja. Watts. Cha. Wolfely. It appears, that the Sultan and Hero were, on or before the action, ordered to exchange places with each other. Superb, Capt. Stevens, wounded, (fince dead) Lieutenants Hughes and Newcombe. Exeter, Capt. Reynolds, killed; Lieut. Cha. Jones, wounded. Killed and Wounded in the fecond action. Officers Killed and Wounded. Superb, Two Lieutenants and the Mafter killed. Monmouth, one Lieutenant of Marines. Worcester, one Lieutenant. Burford, one Lieutenant of Marines. Note 247. Summons fent to the Governor of Negapatam. SIR, Camp before Negapatam, Nov. 7. 1781. As we are perfectly acquainted with the weakness of the town and citadel of Negapatam, and the smallness of the garrison you have to defend defend it against the ships and troops of his Britannic Majefty, and the East India Company, under our command; of whofe great fuperiority, in point of proportioned numbers and discipline, you cannot be ignorant. We are induced, from motives of humanity, in order to avoid the effufion of blood, and of regard to you and the inhabitants of the place, to prevent, if in our power, the diftreffes and calamities that may befal you and them, to demand of you the immediate furrender of the place, upon fuch terms as appear to us reasonable and confiftent, and you and we agree upon. For this purpose we give two hours from the time this fummons is delivered to you, to deliberate on an anfwer. If you agree to furrender on capitulation, commiffioners are immediately to be fent on your part to the General in camp; but if you reject the offer now made you, the batteries will immediately open against your walls, and you yourself will be the cause of more disadvantageous terms at a later day. We have the honour to be, with great regard, &c. (Signed) EDWARD HUGHES. Note 248. Answer to the Summons fent by Sir Ed. Hughes and Sir Hector Monro. SIRS, I have had the bonour juft now to receive the letter you was pleased to write me, containing the fummation to deliver over this place. And as I am obliged by honour and oath to defend this place with all my power, I cannot enter into any agreement regarding the furrendering the fame, but shall, when you refolve to attack me, defend myself with the forces that I have on hand. I have the honour to be, Sirs, with great respect, your most obe. dient fervant, (by the indifpofition of the Governor) (Signed) MOSSEL. Note 249. PRELIMINARY. The honourable Governor and Council of Negapatam propofe to Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Hughes, K. B. Commander in Chief of all his Britannic Majefty's fhips and veffels in the East Indies, and Major General Sir Hector Monro, K. B. commanding the land forces in the attack of Negapatam, to furrender the said town and citadel to them, on the conditions concluded in the following articles. I. The officers and garrifon of Negapatam fhall march out at the |