I shall now proceed to their March to Pondicherry, which is but a few Leagues from the forementioned Place; they encamped within about three Miles from the Town, Boscawen being then both Admiral and General, and Major Mount Pleasant informed them with their Intention, which was to storm the Place, which Attack was began by the Ships firing at the Fort, some of which Time they lay Middle-deep in Water in their Trenches: This Attack continued eleven Weeks, part of which Time they had no Bread, most of their Food being Rice; and the many Bombs and Shells thrown among them, killed and wounded many of their Men. During this Space of Time, she behaved with the greatest Bravery and Intrepidity, such as was consistent with the Character of an English Soldier, and though so deep in Water, fired 37 Rounds of Shot, and received a Shot in the Groin, six Shots in one Leg, and five in the other.
The Siege being now broke up, by reason of the heavy Rains, and violent Claps of Thunder, it being the Time of the Year when the Monzoons (for so they are called in that Country) happens, she was sent to an Hospital at Cuddylorom, under the Care of two able Physicians, viz. Mr. Belchier and Mr. Hancock; but she, not willing to be discovered, extracted the Ball out of her Groin herself, and always drest that Wound; and in about three Months was perfectly cured; but most of the Fleet being sailed before her Recovery, she was left behind, and sent on board the Tartar Pink, which then lay in the Harbour, where she remained, doing the Duty of a Sailor, till the Return of the Fleet from Madrass when she was turned over to the Eltham, Captain Lloyd Commander, and sailed for Bombay, where they arrived in about ten Days, being scarce of Hands, having only eight in a Watch, of which she was one; and what made their Fatigue still more, was their being obliged to keep continually at the Pump, the Ship having sprung a Leak in her Larboard Bow.
At Bombay they were obliged to heave the Ship down in Order to clean her Bottom, which kept them there about five Weeks, and then they sailed to Monserrat, to take the Royal Duke Indiaman under Convoy, to bring her to Fort St. David’s where she was gone for Provisions.
At Bombay her Master being on Shore, she was obliged to watch in her turn, as is usual on such Occasions; but being one Night on Duty, Mr. Allen, who then had the Command of the Ship, being on Shore, desired her to sing for him, which she begged that he would excuse, as she was not very well; but he being proud in this his new Employ, as Commander, absolutely commanded her to sing; which she refused to do, as she did not think it any incumbent Duty for a Soldier to sing when commanded so to do, and that by one who was not an Officer in their Core, or had she any Obligations to him; however this Refusal proved of fatal Consequence to her; he ordered her immediately into Irons, which accordingly was done, and continued for the Space of five Days, and then ordered her to have a dozen Lashes, which she had at the Gang-Way of the Ship, and after that sent to the Foretop-mast-head, for four Hours; such is the Cruelty of those that are invested with Power, and do not know how to use it. However, this Man’s Cruelty did not go unpunished; for after there Arival in England, as they were unriging the Ship, one of the Sailors let a Block fall on his Head, which hurt him greatly.
They now, with the Royal Duke, sailed from Montserrat to Fort St. David’s, and was there at the Time of the great Hurricane, when the Namur and Pembroke, and other Ships were lost: The Eltham, of which she was on board, had some Share in the said Hurricane, for she broke her Cables, and was forced to Sea; but happily returned in again to the Port without receiving any great Damage.
Now during her stay here at Fort St. David’s, she had frequent Opportunities, and Causes for Reflection: She went on Shore sundry Times along with some of the Men, where her Ears and her Eyes were often affected with the disagreeable Sound of horrible Oaths, and many lewd Actions and Gestures, such as stripping themselves naked, when they went to swim, a Sight, which however disagreeable it might appear to her, yet she was forced to make a Virtue of Necessity, by openly conforming herself to those rude, indiscreet, and unwomanly Actions, which she silently disfavoured and contemned. But here the unpolished Tars had not Opportunities of extending their Wickedness to such a high Pitch as they would have done, had they had Objects to satiate their brutish Appetites; for there were but a few white Women in the Place; however she saw too much not to be afflicted, lest her Sex should by their impudent, and unlimited Behaviour, be discovered, and her Virtue sacrificed to their rapacious, boundless and lustful Appetites; but Innocency and Virtue is the safest Protection in the worst of Times; and this was what sheltered her from the much dreaded Calamity that threatned her.
On the 19th of November last, the Eltham sailed with the rest of the Fleet from Fort St. David’s, and kept Company till they came to the Cape of Good Hope; when the Eltham had Orders to make the best of her Way to Lisbon, to take in Money for the Use of the Merchants of London.
The Day after they left Fort St. David’s, her Master Lieutenant Wyegate died, in whose Death she lost the only Friend she had on board, and where to find such another, she knew not: This brought afresh into her Mind the Remembrance of her faithless Husband, whole Villainy and Cruelty had drove her to all the Straits, Hardships and Dangers she endured both by Sea and Land, and had reduced her to the wretched State she was then in. These Reflections were sufficient to have sunk the Spirits of the most hardy Hero; but she bore them with a becoming Resignation. She was distinguished amongst the Ship’s Crew for her Ingenuity in washing and mending of Linnen, but as it is common on board of King’s Ships to have some Men who are dexterous at such Performances, she was not suspected upon that Score.
Some Time after the Death of Lieutenant Wyegate, she was taken into the Service of Lieutenant Kite, second Lieutenant of the Ship, and continued so about two Months; when he getting a Boy, he recommended her to Mr. Wallace, third Lieutenant of the Ship, who proved also a very good Master to her. But now she was laid open (though contrary to her Inclination) to the Company of the Sailors, for they were used, when she had her Head shaved, to enquire why she did not shave her Beard; her Answer was, that she was too young. Upon which they used to damn her, calling her Miss Molly Gray, she used to return the uncivil Compliment, by damning them, and telling them, that she could prove herself, as she had always done, during the Voyage, as good a Man as any Seaman on board, and that she would lay them a Wager upon that Point.
During this long Voyage, they often used, as I have just said, on account of her smooth Face, to burlesque her, by swearing she was a Woman. This Expression, however indifferently they meant it, gave her abundance of Trouble; she foresaw what the Consequence would be, in case this Joke was carried too far; to prevent which, she with a masculine but modest Assurance, told them, that if they would lay any Wager, she would give them ocular Demonstration of her being as much a Man as the best in the Ship; which Reply had the desired Effect, seeing it put a Stop to their further Suggestions: Next, they began to declare her to be a Woman on account of her smooth Face, seeing she had no Beard; but she told them that she was so very young, that it could not be supposed she should have a Beard so soon; however, she could not prevent their calling her by the Name of Molly Gray, which Appellation she went by during the Voyage, until they arrived at Lisbon.