September in the afternoon, when the signal was thrown out to bringto.—The next morning at four A. M. the Squadron filled, and stood in for the land, and at day-break the Admiral, and his Squadron, had the mortification to behold the French Fleet at anchor in BACK-BAY, and the French Flag flying at both Forts *. When Mons. Suffrein, on the morning of the third, discovered the British Fleet, he immediately weighed, stood out of Back-Bay to the south-east, with fifteen sail of the line t, three frigates, three sloops, and a fire Ship, and formed ahead on the starboard tack; the wind blowing strong at south-west off the shore, which placed them towindward of his Majesty's Squadron: the twelve British Ships formed the line without delay, and about two in the afternoon a fourth engage, ment commenced. Early in the action, the Worcester, 64, Captain Charles Wood, who was the rearmost in the British Squadron, owing to her heavy sailing had fallen far astern. The Monmouth was the next Ship to her. Captain Alms with a resolute presence of mind, which marks the perfect Seaman, observing three of the enemy's line of battle Ships, edging down upon the Worcester, with a manifest design of cutting her off,-threw the Monmouth's main topsail aback, to give the Worcester an opportunity of closing: Sir Edward Hughes perceiving this manœuvre, and possessing a mind sufficiently liberal to appreciate its importance, instantly followed Captain Alms's example, with the whole of the Squadron. The three French Ships finding their intention thus frustrated, hauled their wind, to get back into their line: the Worcester being secured, the British Squadron again filled their main-topsails, and stood on in a line with the enemy. From the second broadside which the Monmouth sustained in this action, she received a shot nine feet below the water line, that entered her fore magazine, and caused her to make four feet water in the space of an hour; in consequence of which six of her lower deck guns became useless; all the hands quartered at them being taken off, and obliged to work at the chain pumps--no spare men having been this Trincomale, the best and finest harbour in the East Indies, was taken from the Dutch by the English in 1782, was retaken by the French in the month of August following, and was restored to the Dutch by the peace of 1783, who again lost it during the present war +Mons. Suffrein had been reinforced by the Illustre, 74, the St. Michael, 64, and the Elizabeth, formerly a Company Ship, 50 guns, with several transports; so that he had altogether at anchor, in the several bays. thirty sail. No Commander possessed more of this than the ever lamented EARL HowE; who was sensible of the great advantages that may often be thus attained, An instance of this advantage appeared in the remarks of Sir H. Nelson on the 14th of February. Vid. pages 500, 301. An officer however does it, to use their own expression,—with an halter round his neck....... day on board the Monmouth; she however had not a man killed, and but two wounded. The British line throughout the day was extremely well preserved. The Exeter, and Worcester, suffered most, in their masts and rigging. Many of our brave officers were killed, or desperately wounded t.-Immediately after the action, which terminated with the close of day, the two Fleets separated; the British. stood for Madras Road, and the French for Back Bay Trincomale. Sir Edward Hughes being obliged to leave Madras Road, on account of the north-east monsoon, which had set in with an hard gale of wind; on the 15th of October, 1782, he prepared to sail with the line of battle Ships for Bombay; leaving all the frigates to cruise be tween Point Palmiras and Madras Road, for the protection of the merchant Ships, and other vessels. Sir Edward arrived at Bombay the end of November, with the greater part of the Squadron :-during the passage, the Hero, with Commodore King's pendant, the Monmouth, Captain Alms, and the Sceptre, Captain Graves, were detached to Goa, a Portuguese settlement on the Malabar coast, to refit.—The Admiral, on his arrival at Bombay, being reinforced from England, by five Ships of the line under the command of Commodore Sir R. Bicker. ton; and being afterwards joined by three Ships from Goa, sailed from Bombay, and on the 14th of April, (1783,) anchored in Madras Road. A Fifth Action soon afterwards took place between the British, and French Fleets; but as Captain Alms, whose public services this memoir is intended more particularly to record, could not, on account of a severe illness, bear a share in it, we shall only add→→→→ that some time previous to this event, Lieutenant Donald Campbell received an acting order from The Admiral to take on him, for the time being, the command of the Monmouth; and Captain Alms had Sir Edward's permission to stay at Madras with the faint hope of reestablishing his health. On the 17th of September, 1783, war having ceased between the English, and French Fleets, in India; and Captain Alms feeling, or being resolved to feel, that his health was considerably recovered, reassumed the command of his Ship, and was heartily welcomed by the crew, who were devoted to their On the contrary, instead of her proper complement, (500 men,) all she had on board amounted only to 300-including the Captain, and Officers-and also the boys. The Hon. Captain Lumley, of the Isis, a most promising young officer, and Captain James Watt, of the Sultan, who was deservedly esteemed, were killed. Captain C. Wood, of the Worcester, was wounded, with little hopes of his recovery. I brave Commander. He soon received the Admiral's orders to put himself under Commodore Sir R. Bickerton, and to proceed with that officer to Tellicherry; whence, having landed part of the thirty-sixth, and fifty-second regiments, as a reinforcement to the British army against Tippoo Saib, the Commodore with his Squadron, consisting of the Gibraltar, Monmouth, Defence, Worcester, Eagle, and Hound Sloop, sailed for Bombay, and arrived in the harbour on the 5th of November.-The Monmouth was immediately sent into dock; and after undergoing a thorough repair, came out on the 24th of December. Having received orders from Sir Edward Hughes, then at Bombay, to take under his command the Isis, Crocodile, Chaser, and Combustion, and to proceed with them to Spithead, Captain Alms sailed in the Monmouth, accompa nied with the above Ships, from Bombay, January the 13th, 1784, and arrived at The Cape by the 7th of March. On the 12th of April, he sailed from the Cape with all his Ships, except the Crocodile, which had been previously ordered to sail for England by Commodore R. King. Captain Alms during his passage home touched at the islands St. Helena and Ascension; and having parted company with the Chaser, and Combustion, owing to their slow sailing, anchored at Spithead on the 13th of June. Soon after his arrival his good old Ship the Monmouth, by order from the Admiralty, sailed into Portsmouth harbour, and was paid off on the fifth of July. Captain Alms now returned to the domestic solace of his anxious family, and to receive the hearty welcome of his numerous friends. The fatiguing and anxious Duty he had lately been engaged in, had too much shaken the precarious state of health that long withheld him from the Service of which he was so distinguished an ornament. His patience and resignation were such as might be expected from a man, whose principles had been ever founded on the basis of religion. Having borne a long and painful illness without a murmur, he met death with all the fortitude of a mind long accustomed, to behold its terrors, and to rise superior to their influence : "While storms, and oceans raved, Bears his proud knighthood's badge, his honest scars; Each wish by mental dignity inspir'd ;— Him whom her son mature experience owns, Him, him alone, Heroic Glory crowns. Captain Alms died at Chichester, on the 8th of June, 1791; and was buried in the Cathedral. He left a wife, and five children. NAVAL ANECDOTES, COMMERCIAL HINTS, RECOLLECTIONS, &c. NANTES IN GURGITE VASTO! SIR Mo. IX. IR Edward Hughes's Squadron in the action off Trincomale, August the 3d, 1782; as illustrating the preceding Biographical Memoir of the late Captain James Alms. Worcester, 64, Captain Charles Wood, Coventry, ditto, 28. dangerously wounded. Medea, ditto, 28. Monmouth, coppered, 64, Captain James Seahorse, ditto, 24. Alms. Eagle, 64, Captain Reddall. Combustion, Fireship. Sir Edward's captain, Maclellan, was killed in the action of the 6th of July: the Admiral mentioned him in his dispatches as an excellent officer in every department of the service. French Squadron, under Mons. de Souffrein, on the 3d of August, 1787, in Back-Bay, Trincomale. L'Hero, 74 guns, coppered, Mons. de Le Brilliant, 64, St. Felix, 516 men. Le Vengeur, 64, coppered, Forbin, 516 English Hannibal, 50, toppered. men. L'Artisien, 64, coppered, L'Androis, ditto. Le Sphynx, 64, coppered, Duchaleau, do. Le Flammand, 50, de Queberville, 430 men. La Consolante, 50, FRE GATES. La Pourvoyeuse, 40 guns, du Galle, 400 men. La Sylphide, 18, La Bellone, 36, coppered, Bovard, 350 La Diligente, 8, men. La Fine, 40, coppered, Perier de Salvert, 400 men. La Pulveriseur, Fireship. 85 men. CAPTAIN R. WILLETT MILLER. MR. EDITOR, "THE services of my late excellent friend Captain Ralph Willett Miller, whose life was unfortunately lost on board, the ship he had so gallantly commanded at the Battle off the Nile, have been so little known in proportion to their consequence, and their brilliancy, that I wish much to see them recorded in your publication. "The detail which accompanies this letter, is simple, and unadorn ed: those who had the happiness of serving with the de parted here, might fill it with the more minute circum stances, which interest the feelings and engage the affections. The whole truly delineated, would pourtray such a character, as rarely adorns human nature-The most active and zealous. patriotism, extensive professional knowledge, executed with a clear judgment and firm bravery, with a mind inspired by the purest religious principles, formed in closest connection the whole of this much regretted friend. * He was born in New York, January 24, 1762, and was the son of an American gentleman who unfortunately lost his whole pro perty by a steady adherence to the royal cause in that country: he married Miss Ann Witchell, daughter of the late worthy Mr. George Witchell, many years head master of the Royal Academy at Portsmouth, under whose tuition the subjećt of 1 |
