'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.' [‎102] (139/562)

within fight of Calcutta, when the enemy began the attack by firing upon her.
Captain ^Latham however had no fooner brought his fhip to an anchor,
(which he did very much like an expert and gallant officer) but he briikly
returned the fire ; and the Kent having come to an anchor alfo and difcharged
a few broad fides, the Indians at 11 o'clock gave up the conteft ; and
obferving alfo that Colonel Ciiuc at the fame time had nearly invefted the
town on the land fide, they abandoned the fort. On this fome of the old
inhabitants of the town waved their hands from the fhore, and one of them
hoifted an Englijh pendant on a tree. The admiral immediately fent Cap.
tain King afiiore to take pofiefiion of the fort in his majefly's name, and in
a few minutes after it was garrifoned with a detachment ot Adlercron\
Tegiment, under the command of Captain Ccote, who ferved on board the
Kent, and who was appointed governor of this new conquefl.
Soon after Captain Coote had taken poflefilon of the fort, Colonel Clive
entered the place at the head of the company's troops, when the captain
prefented to the colonel an order f which he had received from the admiral,
appointing him governor of the fort •, the colonel denied any authority
Admiral IVatfcn had to appoint an inferior officer to him as governor, and
told Captain Coote that he would take on himfelf the command ; and if he
offered to obftrud him, or dilbbey his orders, he would immediately put
him under an arreft: the captain defired that he might acquaint Mr.
Watfon with thefe particulars ; to which the colonel confented.—Upon
this the admiral fent Captain Speke on fhore to know by what authority
the colonel took upon him the command of the fort; who anfwered, by
the authority of his majefty's commiffion as lieutenant-colonel and alfo
commander in chief of the land forces. Captain Speke went to the admiral
with this anfwer, and foon returned with a meffage from Mr. JVatfon to
the colonel, that if he did not abandon the fort, he would fire him out.
The colonel replied, he could not anfwer for the confequences, but that he
would not give up his command. Soon after this. Captain Latham,
^vho was in a ftridl intimacy with him, was fent by the admiral to
t " Charles Watfon, Efq; Vice-admiral of the blue fquadron of his majefty's fleet, and
commander in chief of his majefty's ftiips and veffels employed in the Eafi Indies t and
of the marine forces of the united company of merchants trading to and in thefe parts.
Jou are hereby required and directed togarrifon the fort of Calcutta with his majefly's troops
which you have now on fhore, and take care to pod centinels and guards fo as not to be fur-
prized by the enemy. In the evening I fhall be on ihore ; and you are not to quit your port,
•or deliver up your command till farther orders from me. During your continuance on Ihore,
you are to take care that no diforders be committed by his majefty's troops, or any other people,
but to treat the natives with humanity, and take particular care that there is no plundering, as
fuch offenders may depend on the fevereft puniftiment. Given under my hand on board his
majefty's fhip the AW, off Calcutta, z&Jan. 1757. >
rr, 0 r .. . „ . . C harles W atson."
10 Captain Lyre Loote, ot his majefty's 39th regiment
of foot.
By command of the admiral.
Henrj Doidge.
Colonel