Ship's Log—William Alms | Captain's log of HMS Monouth, 1783-84, including an account of the Battle of Cuddalore

Ship's Log—Captain James Alms

Captain's Log maintained on HMS Monmouth

commencing in the Bay of Bengal just before the Battle of Cuddalore, THE FINAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE AMERICAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE, with an account of that battle ("...1/2 p[as]t 4 the Enemy began their attack on our rear: when the Admiral made the Signal to engage, began the Engagement with the Enemys fourth Ship: in the line & continued firing till 1/2 p[as]t 7, when being dark both fleets ceased..."), noting the death of several deaths from wounds over the next days, the withdrawal of the fleet to Madras, and the slow return to Britain, daily entries recording bearings, course, winds and remarks, noting for example punishments ("...Punished Ja[me]s Knowles Seaman with 12 lashes for Drunkenness and Insolence...", 26 December 1783), 184 pages, 20 June 1783 to 5 July 1784; followed by a story entitled "Frederic de Bosenberg The Exile of Underwald", describing the life of a Swiss boy whose father has gone to fight in America under French service, written in another hand, 23 pages; also with, written from the reverse, "Log Book of His Majesty's Armed Transport Manilla", in Alms's hand, 14 pages, 30 September - 13 October 1781, altogether 221 pages, plus blanks, 4to, parchment-backed boards, title in ink on upper cover

James Alms (1728-91) had taken command of HMS Monmouth, a Third Rate ship of the line with 60 guns, in 1780 and sailed to the East Indies early the following year. At the Battle of Providien on 12 April 1782 he sustained the concentrated attack of five French ships, leaving 147 of his crew killed or injured and his ship a wreck. The following year he participated in the Battle of Cuddalore, an inconclusive engagement between the British and French, who were then struggling for supremacy in southern India. The war that had begun with the Declaration of Independence had now spread into a wider conflict between the colonial powers, but just a few days after the battle came news of a preliminary peace.

PROVENANCE:

James Alms; by descent to his great-grandson Frederick H. Alms (ownership inscription dated 9 December 1896); by descent to J.F. Duckworth, RN (provenance note loosely inserted, dated 25 April 1954)