hausted, that, on anchoring in Bombay harbour, they had only sufficient remaining for four days, at half allowance.
The Monmouth formed part of the squadron under Sir Edward Hughes, when that officer encountered Mons. de Suffrein, off Pondicherry, Feb. 17, 1782; but as the enemy never advanced beyond the centre of the British line, neither she, nor any other ship a-head of the Admiral, had any material share in the action.
On the 12th April following, another engagement took place, off the island of Ceylon, in which the Monmouth lost her main and mizen-masts, had her wheel shot away, seven guns dismounted, 45 men killed, and 102 wounded. Captain Alms also received two splinter wounds in the face; two musket-balls passed through his hat, his hair was on fire, and part of his coat shot away: in this situation he was left on the quarter-deck, with only his first Lieutenant, the Master, and Mr. Joyce, every other person quartered there having been killed or wounded.
The next battle between Sir Edward Hughes and Mons. de Suffrein, took place off Negapatnam, July 6, 1782, on which occasion the Monmouth had 12 men wounded, the greater part of them mortally. She also bore a share in the actions off Trincomalee and Cuddalore, Sept. 3, 1782, and June 20, 1783. Her loss on those occasions amounted to 2 killed and 22 wounded[1].
In Jan. 1784, the Monmouth being ordered home, Mr. Joyce was removed into the Sultan 74, bearing the flag of Sir Edward Hughes, under whom he continued to serve until that officer’s departure for Europe, when he followed Commodore Andrew Mitchell into the Defence 74, and returned to England with him towards the close of 1785.
The sanguinary contest in which Great Britain had been engaged with her revolted colonies and the great maritime powers of Europe, was succeeded by a peace of ten years duration; but Mr. Joyce, more fortunate than hundreds of his brother
- ↑ The particulars of the above action are given at p. 422 et seq. of our first volume.
