'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.' [‎94] (131/562)

[94 ]
Bengal-, for it was not poffible for them to tranfport a fufficient number of
troops thither in their own fhips, neither indeed would they be of any ule
when they got there, without the afliftance of >two or three men of war.
Jc was therefore reiblved, that the whole fquadron fhould proceed as far
as the mouth of the Ganges^ and anchor in Ballafare road, when the
company's fhips and veflels already in the river, (hould fall down where
the fquadron lay, and receive the troops from the Ihips of war. The
Salijburyy Bridge-water^ and Kings-fi]her, were defigned to be put under
the command of Captain William Martin, to carry on the expedition
again ft the Nahoh \ for it was then looked upon as a certainty that the Kent,
Cumberland, and tfyger, could not be got over the Braces *. Another delay
and matter of debate, was, what force fhould be fent to Bengal, and who
fhould command the military ; fometimes Colonel Adlercron, and fometimes
Colonel Clive, was thought to be the moft proper perfon •, at lafl they
determined on Colonel Clive, and indeed the general voice of our country
men was in his favour.- Another fubjedt of the governor and council s
confultations, was, concerning whofe hands the affairs of the company in
Bengal ought to be placed in, provided fuccefs fhould attend the expedition.
At one time it was determined, that the prefidency here fhould fend three
of its own members in the fhips to Bengal, who were to ad; in obedience
to the orders they were to receive from this place; it being agreed that the
governor and council of Fort St. George ought now, until the pleafure of
the Eafi India diredtors fhould be known, to take on themfelves the manage
ment of this diflblved, but once independent fettlement. However, Mr.
Watfon in particular, having ftrongly oppofed this refolution, and declared
(as I have been informed by his fecretary) that he would not undertake
the expedition on any other terms, than having it in his power to deliver
the fettlement to the management of fuch as were appointed by the com
pany to be their reprefentatives in that province •, after many debates, it
was refolved that the former governor and council fhould be reilored to
their refpedtive honour and ftations *, and it is principally to the admiral's
interpofition on this critical occafion, that thefe gentlemen are indebted
for their fubfequent good fortune and unexpeded affluence. But the greateft
difficulty that prefented itfelf was the late feafon of the year; for the monfoon
was now let in, and there was a necefHty for the fquadron's getting to
Bengal againft it, which was confidered as very near imprafticable. We
were given to nnderfland, that fhips failing at this feafon from Madrafs to
Ball afore, were obliged to fland over to the eaftern fide of the bay, and
that the currents generally proved lo flrong againft them, that whilft they
were looking out by their reckoning for the coaft of Pegu, they had often,
to their great aftonifhment, found themfelves driven again on the coaft of
Ccrcmandel ; and after (landing over a lecond time in the fame manner, and
• Dangerous (hoals at the entrance of the Ganges, in the way up to Fulta.
looking
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