Saturday 15 September 1781 · Supplement

SUPPLEMENT. To the ORIGINAL BENGAL GAZETTE For Saturday September 15th 1781 patch their disabled ship the Hannibal to the Brazil or to the West Indies, under Jury Masts, and if the rest can proceed on their Course without stopping for Water, as it is believed they may. having 15 days advantage of our Squadron, which required that time to repair the great damage sustained by several of the Company's ships and Transports, to compleate their Water. The Fortitude Hinchinbrook, and some of the other Ships, that bore the first brunt of the attack, suffered exceedingly, and had many men killed and wounded; in the Fortitude 7 killed and 25 wounded amongst which last is Capt, Gregory, butnot badly.—Mr. and Mrs. Beecher are, come in this ship she was closely engaged with the Hannebal, that 5 of the French jumped on bord of her, and more were preparing to follow, when our Hero, (for you see the French had a ship of the same name) came to her relief, and disengaged her. Some of these being still detained in the Fortitude, many particulars are known from them. After the Hero had attacked the Hannibal the latter had both fore and mizen mast brought by the bord and her main mast almost in the same conditions, with much damage to her Hull, so that they were forced, to tow her out of the Harbour between their Heoro and another Ship; at which instant our Commodore threw out the signal for the Isis, to pursue her, but this it seems was so ill attended to, that Cap. Sutton was immediately put under Arrest, and the Command given to a Lieutenant.—It seems to be agreed that the Hannibrl might easily have been taken had Captain Sutton done his duty. This Gentleman it seems was but lately tried for parting too easily with a dutch ship of 50 Guns, with which he had an engagement, in the Isis, but had the good fortune to get requitted. After the French Ships got out of the Harbour of St. Jago it was considered in a Council of War, whether it would be proper to pursue and engage them, but Gen. Meadows objecting strongly to this, as the time before they could return to St. Jago again to teke in the Indiamen and transports, (which was unavoidable) and any misfortune happening to any of their ships renderd the pursuit hazardous, and it was therefore laid aside. The day that the squadron left the Island, the Commodore dispatched the Sloop Porto to England It cannot be long before we hear from them, from the Cape and see some of the Men of War and a part of the Troops arrive, whatever their success may be. Mons. Soufrein who Commands the French Squadron, is known to be an Officer of great abilities and ardour.—It is said, that he expected to find but the Monmouth and 3 50 Gun Ships to encounter with; and it seems that the Hero had been appointed to make a part of our squadron but 2 days before they sailed which circumstance might not have reached Brest before the french Squadron left. --before ours had reached St. Jago, they met with a neutral ship that informed them that the spanish fleet consisted of thirty one ships of the line, and Frigates were cruzing off Cape St. Vincents waiting for ours, which were appointed to relieve Gibralter, and these last it seems, were to be compleated to 30 before they left Cork.—Whether they had proceeded to take up the victulars.—The French Sailors that is on bord of the Fortitude say that when they left Breast, there was great talk of getting ready six Ships of the line and Transports which were to proceed to India with a body of Troops, in August, under Mr. Belcomb to support Hyder Ally, but this might only be talk, and in any event such an expedition must depend upon the success of their Arms in the West Indias, and that of the conflict with the spanish Fleet, and relief of Gibralter &c. &c. tho' there seems nothing improbable in the design. Mr. Macpherson is arrived in the Valentine.—Two more Danish ships are arrived at Tranquibar that have touched at the Cape.—The last left it the 16th June, and had a two Months passage exactly from thence, the squadron under the Command of the Chevalier Roach, was there, and she brought them an account, that the squadron of Mons. Soufrein would soon arrive.—soon after the Frigate Latine which left Breast the 16th March, arrived, there and brought later advices. she also brought some Dutch Members for the Council at the Cape; and as soon as she landed them, she proceeded to the Islands, with Mons. Chevreau, late Intendant of Pondicherry, and with a large sum of Money, which which she had on board. A letter from on Board the Princessa Frederica, (the Danish ship which left this Coast in January with Mr. Cotsford on board) which was still at the Cape, says that two of the Officers had given information to the Chevaleir Roach, that the property was English, and it was apprehended she would be sent to the Marutious. There were then 10 homeward bound Dutch ships at the Cape, and all their Cargoes unloaded, which will add to the Value of the conquest, but in any event it is a great pitty, that our squadron should be so late in leaving England. It is said that the two ships which are arrived here, will speedily be dispatched for Bengal to bring Rice, the scarcity of which will be very severely felt, if a supply does not soon arrive. As yet the ships sent to the Northward do not appear nor any other supplies from them. Nothing material from the Army since they left the Mount.—It is supposed that they will find Tripasore evacuated. The Squadron are still before Negapatam, but no Troops as yet arrived from Tanjore to carry on the siege;—And the Dutch getting every assistance from Hyder to prevent it. The Coventry arrived from Bengal yesterday.

Or the Original BENGAL GAZETTE [ILL] [ILL] that his business in it was immediate, under the guns of the Fort, and he Commanded as a Pilot, to proceed with the ships out of the river, and to be guided by the instructions he had received from the Board of Trade. This he positively refused to do, alledging for his reason, that the risk with which it was attended was so great, that he would not take upon him so great a responsibility, as the charge of the two ships out of the river. A large French ship was at anchor at Kedgeree, and others were cruising in the bay, he therefore thought it his duty to represent the danger, and that it would be more adviseable to wait a more favourable opportunity, than to run the risque of any ships falling into the hands of the enemy, and that it was the general opinion of the Council, that it would be more prudent to detain the ships in the river, than to expose them to so great a risque, which was much increased by the lateness of the season. But it was not for him to judge of the propriety of the measure, and he only submitted it to the consideration of the Board. The Board then took into their consideration the ships papers, and the Captains were ordered to attend. The Captains were examined, and it appeared that one of them had been taken by the French, and had made his escape, that he had been appointed to the command of a ship at Madrass, and had brought her round to this place, where he had been appointed