CiiAP. IX. j SUKAJAII DOWLAH. 541
members of council, attended by several of the militia, in superintending the ad. irse.
embarkation of the'European women, had accompanied them to the ship, and for- gotten or been unable to return. Nor was this the worst. The ship suddenly weighed anchor, and the other vessels, following in her wake, sailed down to Govindpore, about three miles below. Many of the militia, believing themselves ^s* "^ '•'« abandoned, rushed to the boats and quitted the shore. Not long after Mr. Drake, "»J '«"'
niamlaiit.
the governor, seeing only two boats remaining at the wharf, and several of his acquaintance preparing to escape in them, followed the disgraceful example. He was indeed only a civilian, and might have some shadow of excuse when he entirely forgot himself under the influence of momentary terror; but what can be said for Captain Minchin, the military commander, who, valuing his own precious person more than honour and duty, sailed off in the same boat with the governor? Can we wonder that for a time those thus foully and mercilessly abandoned could do nothing but vent execrations against the fugitives ?
The soldiers and militia within the fort now numbered only 190. On re- covering in some degree from their astonishment and indignation, they pro- ceeded to deliberate. Then- position, though fearful, was not yet altogether desperate, and it might therefore be possible by acting with piiidence and energy to keep the enemy at bay till the}' could provide themselves with some means of escape. Their first step was to appoint a new governor. Mr. Pearkes, as the i"'"-' g""'*"" eldest member of council present, was entitled to the office, but he waived his lef' t.. theii
flit.:
right, and Mr. Holwell was appointed. The task which thus devolved upon him was difficult in the extreme, and he appears to have performed it with judgment. On the return of two or tliree boats to the wharf he took the precaution of locking the western gate, in order to prevent any more desertions. At the same time he ordered the ship, which was originally stationed opposite to the northern redoubt, and still remained there, to come down immediately to the fort, and made preparations for continuing a vigorous defence till it should become possible to get on board of her. The ship immediately weighed anchor, and all were buoj^ed with the hope of a speedy rescue when she struck on a sandbank, and stuck so fast that the crew at once abandoned her. This was a fearful disappointment, but there was still another resource. The ves.sels were still at Govindpore, and it was not to be imagined that the highest civil and military authorities on board of them, after feeling themselves secure, would not recover from their unmanly panic, and leave no means untried to bring off their abandoned companions. Indeed no great effijrt was required, for the ship, once again before the fort, could ea^sily have repelled any attempt of the enemy to prevent the gan-ison from embarking. It was strange that the anticij)ated relief from Govindpore was not volunteei-ed ; and still stranger that it w;xs not in a manner extorted by all the signals of flags by day, and fires by night, which the garrison continuall}- threw out. With a cowardice and heartlessness almost unexampled, the ships at Goand- pore beheld the signals unmoved, and the ganison were abandoned to their fate.
