of the latter when resisting an attempt to make him prisoner, brought on war between the company and the nawáb. The forces of the latter numbered 40,000 men, including 25,000 infantry trained and disciplined on the European system, and a regiment of excellent artillerymen well supplied with guns. To oppose this force, Major Adams had under his command a small body of troops, variously estimated at from 2,300 to 3,000, of whom only 850 were Europeans. His artillery also was inferior to that of the enemy. The campaign commenced on 2 July 1763, and lasted for four months, in the course of which Adams fought four actions, took two considerable forts and nearly 500 pieces of cannon, and totally defeated the most powerful native army that up to that time had confronted us in India. The two principal battles were those of Gheriah and Andwanala. The former lasted for four hours; the issue was at one time doubtful, the nawáb's troops breaking through a portion of the English line and capturing two guns, but the gallantry of the Europeans and steadiness of the sepoys under Adams's excellent generalship saved the day, and the enemy were compelled to retreat with the loss of all their guns and stores. At the close of the campaign Major Adams was compelled by ill-health to resign his command, and died at Calcutta in January 1764. As soon as the intelligence of the campaign reached England, Adams was advanced to the rank of brigadier-general, but he had already been dead some months when his commission was issued. He is described by a recent military historian as a man who ‘to calmness and coolness in the field of battle united great decision of character and clearness of vision not to be surpassed. He could plan a campaign and lead an army.’
[Sír Mutakharin's Transactions in India; Mill's History of British India; Marshman's History of India; Malleson's Decisive Battles of India.]
ADAMS, WILLIAM (d. 1620), navigator, was born, as he himself tells us, ‘in a town called Gillingham, two English miles from Rochester, one mile from Chatham, where the king's ships do lie.’ At the age of twelve he began his seafaring life, being apprenticed to Master Nicholas Diggins of Limehouse, with whom he remained for twelve years. He afterwards entered the navy, acting as master and pilot, and for about eleven or twelve years served the company of Barbary merchants, until the opening of the Dutch trade with India tempted him ‘to make a little experience of the small knowledge which God had given him’ in that ‘Indish traffick.’ Accordingly in 1598 he joined, as pilot-major, a fleet of five ships fitted out by the Rotterdam merchants and commanded by Jacob Mahu. The vessels were small, ranging in size from 75 tons to 250 tons, but were overcrowded with men. The Charity, the ship in which Adams sailed, was of 160 tons and carried 110 men. Sailing from the Texel on 24 June, the expedition began a voyage which was to prove one long series of disasters. Sickness broke out, and on reaching the Cape Verd islands on 21 Aug. a rest of three weeks was found necessary. Then the commander Mahu died, and the fleet was driven to the coast of Guinea, and another landing to refresh the sick took place at Cape Gonsalves, south of the line. But here fever attacked the crews, so that their leaders determined at once to sail for Brazil, which they did, and coming on the island of Annabon in the Gulf of Guinea, they attacked the town and obtained supplies. Thus were lost two months on the African coast, and from the middle of November to the beginning of April 1599, the ships lay tossing in the South Atlantic. At length they entered the Straits of Magellan, but only to be caught by the winter and to remain there till 24 Sept. before they entered the South Sea. Hardly clear of the straits, the fleet was scattered by a storm. Two of the ships were driven back into the straits, and eventually returned to Holland. Of the others, one was captured by a Spanish cruiser, and the Charity and the admiral-ship Hope finally met again on the coast of Chili. But the commanders and a great part of the crews of both ships were killed in ambushes by the natives, and among them Thomas, the brother of William Adams. Thus reduced to extremity and fearing to be taken by the Spaniards, the survivors took council and finally determined to stand away boldly for Japan, where they hoped to find a market for the woollen cloth which formed a large part of their cargo. Leaving the coast of Chili on 27 Nov., the two ships sailed on prosperously for some three or four months; but then bad weather came on and they were separated. The Hope was never heard of again; the Charity held on, and at last, with most of her crew sick or dying, and with only some half-dozen men able to stand on their feet, she sighted Japan, and on 19 April 1600 anchored off the coast of Bungo in the island of Kiushiu. The unfortunate mariners were received with kindness, and notice of their arrival was at once sent to the capital city Ozaka, from whence orders were soon after received for Adams to be despatched thither.
