The New Hampshire Gazette

WHITEHALL, July 23.

Letters from Vice Admiral Watson, dated Calcutta, in the River Hughly, Road; and having crossed the Braces on the 8th, proceeded up the River and arrived at Fulta on the 15th, where he found Governor Drake, and the Gentlemen of the Council, on board such Ships and Vessels as escaped falling into the Hands of the Moors. As the Pilots would not take Charge of the Ships till the Springs were over, the Admiral could not proceed hither till the 28th, when he sailed with the Kent, Tyger, Salisbury, Bridgwater, and King's Fisher Sloop. The next Afternoon Col. Clive was landed, in order to attack Busbudgia Fort by Land, at the same Time the Squadron appeared before the Place, anchored and began to cannonade about Eight o'Clock in the Morning, on the 30th; and at Half past Eight the King's Troops were landed, to support Col. Clive. The Ships soon silenced the Enemy's Fire; and immediately after, News was received, that the Place was taken; but the few People in it had escaped. One of the Company's Captains was killed, and 4 Soldiers wounded. This Fort was extremely well situated for Defence, having a wet Ditch round it, but badly provided with Cannon, only 18 Guns, from 24 Pounders and downwards, and about 40 Barrels of Powder, with Ball in Proportion, being found in it. On the First of January, the Kent and Tyger anchored between Tennau Fort, and a Battery opposite to it, both which the Enemy left as the Ships approached. About 40 Guns, some 24 pounders, and all mounted on good Carriages, with some Powder and Ball, were found in the Fort and Battery; and the Admiral left the Salisbury as a Guard-ship, to prevent the Enemy's regaining them. In the Night the Admiral sent the Boats manned and arm'd up the River, to burn a Ship and some other Vessels, said to be fill'd with Combustibles, which was executed without Opposition. The next Morning early, the Company's Troops were landed, and immediately began their March to Calcutta. The Kent and Tyger soon after proceeded up the River, together with the Twenty-gun Ship and Sloop. At 40 Minutes after Nine, the Enemy began to fire upon the Tyger from the Batteries below Calcutta, which they had abandoned as the Ships approached. At 20 Minutes past Ten, the Tyger and Kent made a very warm Fire, insomuch that the Enemy were soon drove from their Guns, and presently after ran out of the Fort, which Capt Coote, with the King's Troops, and an Officer from the Kent, entered a little before Eleven. Four Mortars, 21 Guns of different sizes, a considerable Quantity of all Kinds of Ammunition, were found in this Fort. The Ships have suffered very little in their Masts, Yards, and Rigging, and have only lost 2 men and 3 Soldiers killed, and 26 Seamen and 5 Soldiers wounded. An Expedition was then proposed against Hughly, to be executed by the Twenty gun ships and sloops, the Boats of the Squadron mann'd and armed, assisted by all the King's Troops, amounting to 170, the Company's Grenadiers, and 200 Seapoys, which were to be landed under the Command of Major Kilpatrick; and every Thing being prepar'd, they sailed the 5th of January, under the Command of Captain Smith, of the Bridgwater; and, on the 11th, the Admiral received an Account of the taking of that Place, in which was found 20 Guns, from 24 Pounders downwards, with a Quantity of Ammunition. The City of Hughly has since been burnt and destroyed, together with the Granaries, and Store houses of Salt, situated on the Banks of each side the River, which will be of great Prejudice to the Nabob, as they contained a Store for the Subsistence of his Army.