'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎65] (94/562)

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CHAP. VI.
tfhe fquadron leaves Trinconomale, and arrives at Fort St. David ; is driven
out to fea, hut returns fafe to the road.—The Admiral makes an excurfion
to Chllambaram. — Manner of travelling in India.— Defeription of the
famous Pagoda at Chilambaram.— Mr. Watfon receives his Majefifs com-
miffion appointing him Rear-admiral of the Red. — Mahomed-Ally, Nabob An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India.
of Arcot, arrives in the neighbourhood of Fort St. David.— He is vifited
by the admiral, &c.— He returns the admirals vifit; the manner of his
reception on board the fleet. — Account of fome particular Indian cujioms
on that occafion.—Account of the land-wind, and its violent effeffs.
THE fquadron having fpent near three weeks at in wooding, 1755.
watering, and cleaning, on the joth of May, the admiral, commodore,
and all the captains went on fhore to take leave of the governor; and the
next morning, we failed with the whole fleet from I'rinconomale, and
on the 14th catt anchor in Fort St. David's road. But in a few days
after, we began to be fenfible that our anxiety for leaving Trin-
conomale in order to return again upon the coaft, (the fcene of aftion) had
occafioned us to be there too foon ; for unluckily the monjoon did not
change till after our arrival; and when it did, it blew with fo much
violence, that we foon defpaired of riding out the ftorm. Therefore,
on the 24th ot May all the Ihips were obliged to put to fea, but returned
•gain to St. David's road on the 31ft, without having received any material
damage *.
The
* The S. W. monfoon is commonly called the little mon/oon, hecaufe the ftorms attending
it, are not in general fo fevere, as thofe in the autumn feafon ; bat ever fince the deftruftion
of part of Admiral Bofcanven's fquadron, which happened at this time of the year, the Englijh
cannot be too fearful of its confequences.
The following copy of a letter to me, though of an old date, from Lieutenant James
Alms of the navy, (now commander of his majefty's fhip the cannot be unacceptable
to the^ reader, as it is pertinent to the fubjeft of this vernal monfoon, and as it contains
the only particular and authentic account that ever was publifhed of the lofs of his ma
jefty 's fhip the Namur of 74 guns, and upwards of 500 choice feamen, who perifiied on this
occafion : Mr. Alms's probity as a man, and courage and ability as a fea officer, are well known
both in England and the Eaji Indies,
K. - " We