the attacking party would have appeared already pronounced. The first division of boats, in conformity with its destination, had now attacked La Lemproie, and the fire of small arms from assailants and assailed was seen playing vividly up and down her sides as the boats closed on her. In less than ten minutes she was boarded and carried, and soon after the reddening hue of her port-holes shewed that she was on fire, and that the eager element was hastening from the centre to each extremity of her hull. In effecting the capture of this large vessel the fighting was severe. On the right of La Lemproie, as viewed from the shore, and nearer the citadel, the attack had also been begun. Several boats had rowed alongside and astern of a brig near the citadel, which made a spirited resistance. Great was now the din in this quarter, yet, amid the general noise of the surrounding scene, these partial sounds appeared quelled and subdued. When the attack on this vessel had already commenced, two or three boats came down upon her, firing musketry, to the manifest peril of friend as well as foe. They were of course unaware of the position of the boats that had preceded them. They were hailed to desist from firing, and soon joined their comrades. Between this brig and La Lemproie lay La Normande, mounting ten 4-pounders, and manned with about 50 men. This vessel kept up an animated fire from guns and small arms, and to her, after a short interval, rowed the launch of the Apollo; but ere this was effected, in giving the citadel a return shot from her 32-pounder carronade, our box of combustible tubes (used for priming by insertion in the touch-hole of the gun) was accidentally fired, and the tubes exploding, burnt and skipped about so fiercely as fairly to drive us out of the stern sheets of the boat, and endanger the explosion of our portable magazine, which would have blown us to atoms. We had to reload the carronade, and while thus occupied were saluted specifically by several shot from the broadside of La Normande, who was evidently observing our motions, and on whom as just stated, we had determined to direct our efforts. On closely nearing her we found that she had a boarding netting fixed which it was difficult to penetrate, and observed an individual from one boat, after fruitlessly endeavouring to cut through it, redescend to his boat. We now rowed to a position just abaft her larboard fore chains, and while thus placed, immediately under her gun muzzles, she discharged over us part of her broadside, which, low as she was, could not however be sufficiently depressed. An exchange from small arms now took place through her ports, and we finally brought our 32-pounder to bear in an obliquely raking direction, and discharged it with round and grape, the muzzle almost in contact with her side. This fatal discharge swept her deck, and a shout was heard on board her, whether of surrender we knew not, but we immediately boarded on the bow. By this discharge the Captain of La Normande lost his hand, and on boarding her the crew made no further resistance, but retired below as we advanced along her deck. The dead and wounded were lying about: one of the former was stretched on his belly across the breech of a gun at one of the ports where we had laid her aboard. The wounded were assisted below. Our boat had been the first to succeed in boarding this vessel, which had kept up a vigorous and determined resistance, firing on the previously captured vessels. Being now aided by other boats, we resolved to tow out the capture, and accordingly commenced this tedious operation under a galling fire of round and grape from two heavy guns of the citadel, which were discharged alternately at us and at some other boats engaged in towing out the brig above alluded to, which had also been captured. This brig had been perceived by us to be fast by a rope from her masthead to the shore, and we had hailed the captors to acquaint them with this circumstance, as we observed them towing in vain, and in ignorance of it. Four of the captured vessels were about this period being towed out, and the harbour was now, in so dark a night, fearfully gleaming with the conflagration of the remaining seven. La Lemproie was blazing fore and aft, and from the main-deck to each masthead, while the flames ran along her yards to the extremity of each yard-arm; the conflagration, from the calm that reigned, rising perpendicularly, and presenting a regular and symmetrical outline. Sheets of vivid light from the burning vessels were thrown across the dark surface of the water, which, smooth as a polished mirror, reflected faithfully, when thus illumined, the play of the flames, and figures of boats and men, plying across the scene, were at intervals, by a stream of light, thrown out in strong and gigantic relief over the gleaming tide,-the men appearing the demons of the spectacle. The flaming masts of La Lemproie at last fell in succession over the side, her fore-yard having previously fallen square, and with an almost graceful descent, as if it had been lowered. She finally blew up with an explosion, that in one vast sheet of reddish light, accompanied by a loud but hollow and sepulchral shock, grasped the entire breadth of the harbour, and was distinctly observed by the main body of the fleet at a distance of twenty miles or more, in the offing*. Vast fragments of her timbers and scantling were driven upward with amazing force into the dark sky, in the condition of burning brands, which at last hovered and lingered in their aërial elevation like winged and animated things, until they again, at first slowly, and, as it were, reluctantly, descended to quench themselves in the liquid element beneath. The other six vessels also blew up in succession. The illumination caused by the burning vessels, had latterly enabled the enemy distinctly to mark our movements, and direct their fire with considerable precision; and the boats were in turn so well covered with grape, that the oar blades were cut by the shot. We gave way heartily at the oars. At last a light air sprang up off shore, which materially helped us, and by the aid of which, had it occurred a little sooner, the whole of the captured vessels might have been brought off. Trinity Castle, celebrated for its defence by Lord. Cochrane, fired at us the last in our retreat, and struck the brig before-mentioned; but these distant salutes were felt by us in the light of parting compliments, which we scarcely cared to decline. Our object had been attained, and we were now close to the brigs of our squadron, which we before observed, had been stationed inshore to cover our retreat, and afford us any necessary assistance. The morning had dawned, dim, grey, and serene, and with little of the cheerful presence of the sun, but mild and temperate, and clear enough This vessel was reported to have had on board 400 barrels of gunpowder. U.S. MAG., No. 187, JUNE, 1844. R to see all around with distinctness. The port which on the previous evening had worn the inspiriting aspect of eleven armed vessels safely moored under the town and forts, now appeared naked, empty, and forlorn, with but one small craft remaining in it. They had been moored close to the shore, and lay cleared for quarters, and prepared for an attack; but our delay in reaching them had probably occasioned them to conclude that it would not take place at so late an hour in the night, or rather at so advanced an hour of morning, as that of between two and three, A.M. The loss of the British, though sufficiently severe, was much under what might have been expected from the well sustained fire of the enemy at the onset. It consisted of sixteen killed, and fifty-four wounded. Night doubtless contributed mainly to this result. The French loss was believed to be far greater, but, most of the crews, including the wounded, having been sent ashore in their captured boats, could not be well ascertained. MILITARY ANECDOTES AND SKETCHES OF CHARACTER. BY LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILKIE. THE little interest that Oriental affairs have created in England for a long course of years is quite notorious. Goldsmith has given a sort of currency to this indifference by putting into the mouth of one of his characters, Mr. Hardcastle, "That he cared no more for Ali Cawn than for Ally Croker;" and this sort of feeling was probably participated by the audiences that for many years attended the representation of "She Stoops to Conquer." Recent transactions, more particularly those connected with Affghanistan, have of late drawn more attention to that quarter. It is not difficult to foresee that coming events will still further strengthen this tendency. The general nature of the country and its productions are now well understood; and a better knowledge of the different races that inhabit it will be acquired. This branch of study is very desirable, as may be shown in the late affairs at Gwalior, where the character of the Mahrattas seems to have been misunderstood. They have, however, on this occasion shown that their warlike character has not deteriorated, and proved that they were good soldiers in a situation supposed not suited to their usual pursuits; they have made it appear that, although disliking in general the trammels of discipline, they could act well as infantry, their courage and enterprise as irregular cavalry has been long known and appreciated. That they also possessed intelligence to plan an enterprise, as well as execute it, the following anecdote, although happening many years since, may serve to prove. During the operations against the French, and their ally Chundah Sahib, on the coast of Coromandel, in the year 1750, their united forces were posted in the immediate vicinity of Trichinopoly, having fortified post, called the French Rock, in front. A Mahratta Chieftain, Innis Khan, in our service, observing that the French dragoons were much more alert than the native horse, their allies, imagined the plan of drawing the former into an ambuscade. He communicated his plan to the English Captain Gingen, who approved of it, and the following morning, before daylight, a party of Europeans were sent out to conceal themselves in a deep watercourse, within four hundred yards of the French Rock above mentioned; while Innis Khan, with three hundred of his horsemen, marched out on the west side of the town, and taking a large circuit, posted his men in a deep nullah, or watercourse, with many of which the plain of Trichinopoly is intersected, where, when dismounted, they could not be seen either from the town or French Rock. Everything remained quiet till noon, when forty of the bestmounted Mahrattas issued from their concealment, keeping out of cannon-shot of the French Rock, to the eastward of it, and then galloped directly, sword in hand, on the enemy's camp, where they made no small confusion by cutting down or driving in all the foragers, quite up to the tents. This provoking the French, sixty dragoons sallied forth, followed slowly by Chundah Sahib's horse, to the number of four hundred. The Mahrattas retreated leisurely before them, at the distance of musket-shot, and thus led them as far as the French Rock, where M. Pischard, a brave officer, exasperated at this bravado, formed his troop, and leaving the native cavalry behind him, galloped after the Mahrattas, who now flew before them until they had led them insensibly out of the range of the French artillery on the rock, and beyond their own party in ambuscade; when these, mounting in an instant, sallied from the hollow way and charged the dragoons impetuously in the rear, whilst the flying party, wheeling round, attacked them with equal fury in front. The action was over in a moment; the French had only time to discharge a few pistols, and were cut to pieces, with the exception of ten, who had not been able to keep up with the rest. The cavalry of Chundah Sahib, either from cowardice or suspicion of stratagem, never stirred from the rock; but the officer who commanded that post detached one hundred men, to endeavour to save his friends. Lieut. Trusler, posted in the nullah opposite the rock, seeing them march, and not knowing the success of the Mahrattas, moved out his company to force them to retreat, who, finding all already lost on the plain, returned in haste, and saved the rock, which Trusler was on the point of seizing. The military operations and adventures of Clive in India may be called the romance of history, more particularly during the war in the Carnatic, and before that celebrated man removed the scene of his exploits to Bengal. It would be difficult to say which of these reflected most credit on that gallant officer; but I may be allowed to select an instance that will show his presence of mind, and it further deserves notice as being dissimilar to anything recorded in military annals, or that may hereafter occur. Although not partaking of the nature of a farce, it might well have been denominated the "Mistakes of a Night." It will appear, also, that desertion to the enemy was more common in our service then than latterly. The affair took place in the immediate neighbourhood of the scene described in the last anecdote. The British force under Major Lawrence had its head-quarters at Trichinopoly. The French, commanded by M. Law, were posted at Seringham, to the north of the river Coleroon, which, flowing past Trichinopoly on its right bank, falls into the sea at Devi Cotta. It was suggested to Major Lawrence, by Capt. Clive, that it would be a most desirable object to cut off the communication between Seringham and Pondicherry. The Major, who at all times cherished the rising military talents of his young friend, readily fell into his views, but the difficulty was, how could it be accomplished, seeing that Clive, to whom he wished to entrust it, was the junior Captain of the army. This objection was, however, overruled by the native allies, who refused to give their contingent to the enterprise unless it was commanded by the defender of Arcot. The force placed under Clive,-a pretty tolerable command, by the way, for a young Captain,-consisted of 400 Europeans, 700 Sepoys, 3000 Mahrattas, and 1000 Tanjore horse, with eight pieces of artillery, two of which were battering guns. With this force Capt. Clive marched from Trichinopoly on the morning of the 6th April, 1752, and crossing the Coleroon before daylight, threw himself directly on the French communication, and took a position at the pagoda of Samiaveram, which lies seven miles north of the river, between Seringham and Uttatore, on the high road to Pondicherry. Dupleix, the French Governor of Pondicherry, being dissatisfied with the inactivity of Law at Seringham, sent M. D'Autueil to supersede him, accompanied by 700 men. As it was of the greatest consequence to intercept this detachment, which it was understood meant to try to form a junction with Law by a circuitous route, Clive no sooner learned that they had left Uttatore than he marched out to meet them, leaving only a few troops to guard his post, which he had strengthened and fortified. D'Autueil, alarmed at his approach, fell back on Uttatore, and Clive immediately returned to his position at Samiaveram. Law, who had heard of his departure, and was not aware of his return, hoped to carry the post by a coup de main, and detached eighty Europeans, forty of whom were English deserters, and seven hundred sepoys, for that purpose. The officer who commanded the detachment was met by a spy, who informed him of the return of the British troops; but this was supposed to be a treacherous report, and the French detachment continued its march. Its advance was challenged by the English sepoys, and was answered by an Irish officer who commanded the deserters, that it was a detachment sent by Major Lawrence to reinforce Capt. Clive; the deserters speaking English, confirmed the story so strongly, that the sepoys never thought it necessary to ask for the countersign, but sent one of the guard to conduct the detachment of the enemy to head-quarters. They continued their route through a part of the Mahratta camp without molestation, until they arrived in front of the lesser pagoda, and close to the neighbouring Choultry, where Capt. Clive lay asleep; the sentries from both these places challenged, but the only answer was a volley into each, and rushing into the pagoda, the enemy put to the sword all they met with. Clive started up, but as he never could imagine that an enemy could have found the way unmolested to the centre of his camp, he imputed the firing to some alarm of the sepoys. He, however, started off directly to the upper pagoda, where his European soldiers were stationed, who had taken the alarm, and were under arms; with two hundred of these he returned directly to the Choultry, where he saw a large body of sepoys drawn out and firing at random. As they faced towards the enemy's encampment, he naturally supposed that they were his own people who had taken some foolish alarm; |