Page 123 - Reading Mercury

The severe shock of an earthquake was lately felt all over the island of Jamaica. It
lasted about half minute but did no material damage

Mon 18th April
NOTICE to DEBTORS
Samuel Trash, late of Wokingham, in the county of Berks, linen draper, having
quitted his shop and business there, desires all persons who stand indebted to him will
pat their respective debts to Mr. John Roberts, of Wokingham, aforesaid, on or before
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the 31 day of May next , or they will immediately afterwards be sued for the same.

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Mon 25 April
LONDON, THURSDAY, April 21
EAST INDIA INTELLIGENCE
Yesterday morning the Purser of the Princess Amelia, Capt. Millet, arrived at the
East-India-house, with intelligence of the safe arrival of that ship on Tuesday, off the
Isle of Wight, from Bengal.
She brings intelligence that a detachment from Gen. Meadows’s army under the
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command of Colonel Floyd had engaged that of Tippoo Sultan, on the 13 and 14 of
September last. The action took place on the Bowanni River; and the following are the
particulars:--
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On the morning of the 13 , the piquets went out to reconnoitre, and about ten miles
from the camp, fell in with a patrole from Tippoo’s grand guard, who had crossed the
river with a large body of cavalry in the night. The piquets attacked the patrole, and
drove them into the river.
Major Darley, with his regiment of cavalry, had been ordered to support the piquets,
but from the close ground and high hedges, he was surrounded by 3,000 of Tippoo’s
horse before he was aware of their numbers. He took post in the angle of an inclosure,
which covered his rear and flanks with impenetrable hedges.: in that situation he
received and repelled repeated attacks for two hours, without the enemy being able to
gain any material advantage; and whenever they attempted to break in upon him, they
fell in such numbers, as to prevent their own rear from advancing. The line is now
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under arms, and Col. Floyd with the 19 regiment, and Major Stephenson, with the 3d
of native cavalry, came up to Darley’s support. Major S. resolutely cut his way
through the angle, while Col. Floyd, with the dragoons, under cover of the dust, got
round unperceived and charged the enemy’s rear, who immediately fled, but were cut
down in great numbers. The country was so close, that it was impossible for our
cavalry to follow in line. The troops were however detached after them into the lanes,
where they made a great slaughter, according to the most moderate calculation
amounting to 400; several horses, and two standards marked with the name of the
Prophet, were taken.
After this rout of the enemy’s cavalry, Col. Floyd returned to camp, but he had
scarcely dismounted before the enemy’s line appeared close to our grand guard, and
about ten o’clock they began firing across the river, and continued until dark.
Col. Floyd exposed himself during the whole day with the infantry; the olderly
horses were killed by his side, and the Quarter-Master Crooke, who attended the
Colonel had his horse’s head shot off close to him.
Tippoo’s force consisted of 14,000 of his best cavalry, 20,000 infantry, and a
formidable train of artillery of 30 guns. As it was impossible for so small a
detachment as Col. Floyd’s, not exceeding 4,000 men, to contend with such numbers

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