Gazette Intelligence Jan. 1796. fail from him. And in a fubfequent letter, dated the 15th, he informed me that he difcovered the fhip again to the lee ward of him, when he captured her, af ter an action of half an hour, with the lofs of one man killed, and several wounded in the Mermaid, and twenty killed, and several wounded, of the enemy: That both thefe veffels were Conventional corvettes. The ship, named the Republican, mounting 18 guns, had on board 250 or 260 men at the commence. ment of the action, with a French General and his ftaff, destined to command at Grenada. In a letter wrote the following day, he acquainted me, that, upon his return to Grenada, with his prize, he had the mortification to find that the important poft of Gouyave, or Charlotte, had been taken by the enemy the night before. and file, pofted on the hill, commanding the town of Gouyave; one fubaltern of which, with twenty men, were detached along the ridge, running weft about two hundred yards from Captain Hamilton's post, in order to prevent their approach from coming up a valley in their front, which had the defired effe&t, as Enfign Connor, of the 68th regiment, a very fteady and brave officer, checked a column, intended againit him, by the vigilance and fire of his advanced fentries. The column then (as he supposes) directed their route towards the Captain's poft, as a hot firing foon after commenced there, during a heavy fhower of rain. This circumftance induced Enfign Connor to march to the fupport of that poft; but on his arrival fell in with Captain Hamilton, who told him he had been furrounded with a very fupèrior body of the enemy, which had penetrated, and driven his party from the works; and that Lieutenant Carr, with feveral of his men, were badly wounded; all which circumftances were confirmed to me by the arrival of Captain Hamilton at Gouyave house, who made me a fimilar report. During this tranfaction a report prevailed that the infurgente were advancing from our rear, and the part of the works below; and I was confirmed in it by firing being heard from the latter mentioned place. This prevented me from calling up Colonel Webster's black corps, who had the defence of the town and the protection of the hofpital; as alfo Captain Angus's black corps; who had been pofted to defend the fugar works (and, as I had been informed, had perceived an enemy approaching) to make an attempt to recover the hill again. An attempt, however, was made by all the ment; but they were not able to admen I could muster of the 68th regivance further than the poft already mentioned, on the left of the ridge, which was gained with great difficulty, from the very fteep and flippery ftate, occa fioned by the conftant rains; and finding the enemy fo fuperior in numbers, and in poffeffion of a field-piece, from which they fired grape, as to make it too hazardous, and no probability of fuccefs. It was then the general sense of the officers under my command, whose opinions I feverally took, to retreat to Sau teur, but that afterwards being found I im greeing with me in the propriety of landing the troops, they were disembarked on the 3d, about four miles to the northward of Trincomale, without oppofition. Neither the garrison of Trincomale nor Ooftenburgh have hitherto given us any moleftation in the laborious fervice in which the troops have been employ ed, of conveying provifions, ordnance, and ftores, along a fteep fandy beech, from a distance of three miles; nor has any act of open hoftility taken place. We are ftill employed in the fame fervice, as well as in preparing materials for the conftruction of fuch works as may be neceffary to reduce the forts; and if the Commandant perfeveres in his refolution to refuse us admittance as friends, I hope to have in my power to begin our approaches againft the fort of Trincomale to-morrow night. Horfe-Guards, Jan. 6. Difpatches from Colonel Stuart, of which Camp before Trincomale, in the Island of The fleet arrived in Back Bay, to the northward of the forts of Trincomale and Ooftenburgh, on the 1ft instant; and as Commodore Rainier and I was particularly anxious that the commandant of thofe forts fhould not misapprehend the object of the armament under my command, every precaution was taken to prevent any mifapprehenfion upon that head, by explaining to him the nature of it; and two days were spent in communications between the fort and fleet for that purpose. As the commandant, however, did not think proper to accede to the requifitions made, in the name of the King, by the Commodore and me, and refufed obeying the commands of his fupeFior, Mr Van Angelbeck, the governor of Columbo, to deliver up the port of Ooftenburgh to a detachment of his Majesty's troops, on account of an informality in the order, the Commodore a I cannot too ftrongly exprefs my obligations to Commodore Rainier, for the readiness with which he has afforded every affiftance which could be given by the fquadron of his Majesty's fhips under his command, in conveying and landing the troops,, ftores, and provifions, and in every part of the fervice where his aid and co-operation could be of use; and his zeal has been ably feconded by the exertions of the officers and feamen employed in carrying his orders into effect. I have the honour to be, &c. J. STUART. Camp near Trincomale, August 30. 1795. SIR, Soon after I had the honour to addrefs you on the 17th inftant, informing you of my intention to begin our approaches against the fort of Trincomale on the following day, circumstances occurred which induced Commodore Rainier and me to detain the ships then under dispatch, in the hope of that fuccefs which I now have the honour to announce. We broke ground on the evening of the 18th, opened our battaries on the 23d, and before twelve o'clock on Wednesday the 26th, completed a practicable breach. Commodore Rainier and I then thought proper to fummon the garrison to furren. der, while preparations were making for the affault. Terms were demanded which could not be allowed, and fuch as we thought confiftent were transmitted in return: these not being accepted within within a limited time, our fire recommenced, and in a few minutes the white fing was displayed on the ramparts, the conditions we had offered were accepted, figned and tranfmitted to camp, with two Captains of the garrison as botages for their performance. I have the honour to inclofe a copy of the capitulation offered to the garrif, and accepted of by the Commandat, and of fome explanatory articleswhich were afterwards arranged, with a ftate of the garrison, return of ordnance and 2nd tores taken, and a lift of the killed and wounded of the forces under my command. This evening the prisoners taken here will embark for Madras. I fhall immediately take up a convenient pofition, and begin the neceffary preparations for the attack of fort Ooftenburgh, the commandant of that garrifon having refused to furrender when fummoned on the 17th inftant; and I have reason to hope that that fort also will be very foon in our poffeffion. His Majefty's and the hon. Company's troops, forming the force under my command, have fo uniformly diftinguifhed themfeires on every former occafion, that I need only fay their zeal and gallantry on the prefent fervice has been weil exerted to maintain the reputation they have fo juftly acquired. I am beyond measure indebted to Commodore Rainier for his cordial cooperations, and the active afsistance of the navy in every department of the public fervice; and I have particular pleasure in a Turing you, that from perfect harmoty fubfifting between all defcriptions of the naval and land forces employed here, every thing may be expected from this divifion of his Majefty's troops, which capable of being attained by their u sted exertions. I have the honour to *, &c. J. STUART. Taal-15 killed; four officers, and 50 men wounded. TERMS OF CAPITULATION. The garrifon of Trincomale, in conSderation of the defence they have made, vil be allowed to march out of the furt with the honours of war, drums beating and colours flying, to the glacis, here they will ground their arms, and arender themselves prifoners of war, the officers keeping their fwords. Private property will be secured to them; but all public property, papers, guns, fores, and provifions of every kind, must be delivered up, in their prefent condition, to the officers appointed by us to receive them. The garrifon to march out, and the British troops to be put in poffeffion of the fort, in one hour after this capitulation is figned; and two officers of the garrifon of the rank of Captain to be delivered immediately as hoftages for the performance of this agreement. Thefe are the only terms we the undersigned officers, commanding his Britannic Majefty's forces, can grant. Major Fornhauer, if he accepts the conditions, will fign this paper, and return it by the officers he fends as hoftages, within half an hour from the time he receives it. (Signed). Given under our hands, in camp, before Trincomale, this 27th day of August 1795. PETER RAINER. J. STUART. [The following articles of capitulation, and those of the capitulation of Fort Ooftenburgh, are faithfully translated from the French originals contained in the Gazette.] ·Explanatory Articles. Capitulation, according to which the fort of Trincomale will be furrendered to the troops of his Britannic Ma jefty: Art. I. The garrifon fhall march out to morrow at four in the afternoon by the breach, with the honours of war, drums beating, and colours flying,) the troops will lay down their arms on the glacis, All the officers, whether Europeans or Indians, fhall keep their fwords. The Creeffes of the Malays fhall be packed up in a cheft, to be delivered to them in cafe they should be fent back to their own country, as being weapons peculiarly belonging to them, which they will never confent to part with.-Anf. The garrison shall march out at fun-fet this evening in the manner demanded; but the redoubt, the cavalier on the flank of the breach, and the Zeeberg Bastion, must be immediately given up to the British troops. The Creeffes of the Malays fhall be difpofed of in the manner requested; and the whole of the officers and men fhall be confidered as prisoners of war. lo by II. All the ammunition and other ef fects of the company fhall be delivered to the perfons named on the part of his Britannic Majefty's commanders. A Granted.. III. The European officers fhall not be fent to Europe contrary to their own confent.-A. Granted. IV. The effects as well belonging to the garrison as to individuals shall be preferved for them.-A. Granted. V. The civil fervants of the company fhall be allowed to retire to another part of the island.-A. It is not in the power of the officers commanding the British forces to grant this article. VI. The fick and wounded fhall be properly taken care of.-A. Certainly. VII. The garrifon fhall not be subject to reprisals. A. Granted. The commandant demands permiffion to fend to the government of the ifland, by a civil agent of the company, the papers relative to the fiege. Copies of the papers to be fubmitted to the British commanders. Done at the Fort of Trincomale, Aug. 26.1795: (Signed) J. G. FORNHAUER. Signed by authority of Commodore Rainer and Col. Stuart. P. G. AGNEW, Dep. Adj. Gen. Camp at Trincomale, August 31. 1795. SIR, After clofing my dispatch of yesterday an officer was fent to me by the commandant of Fort Ooftenburgh, requefting that I would permit an officer to meet him this morning, for the purpofe of opening a negociation for the furren der of the fort. I accordingly fent Major Agnew, the Adjutant General of the forces under my command, and have the fatisfaction to inform you, that the garrifon this day furrendered themfelves prifoners of war, and that a detachment of his Majefty's troops took poffeffion of the fort, and the British colours were hoifted in it before fun-fet. I have the honour to inclofe the articles of capitulation, but have it not at prefent in my power to tranfmit the feveral returns which will be neceffary, as Commodore Rainer and I do not think it proper to detain the Indiamen any Tonger, particularly as the Commodore propofes recommending to the government of Madras to dispatch the John fchooner, in a few days, to Europe, as a more expeditious conveyance. I have the honour to be, &c. J. STUART. Follows the articles of capitulation which are nearly the fame as thofe granted to the garrifon of Trincomale.] Downing Street, Jan. 16. A difpatch, of which the following is an extract, has been received from Lieutenant Colonel Craufurd by the Right Hon. Lord Grenville, dated head quarters of Marshal Clairfayt's army, Creutzenach, the 21ft of December 1795. In confequence of the advantages obtained by Marshal Clairfayt, as ftated in my laft, General Jourdan, after having attempted in vain, by different manoeuvres, to fecure the right of his army, began his retreat from the Nahe on the 13th inft. and upon the 15th he took a pofition upon the Hunfruck, occupying all the principal paffes between Bafcharah on the Rhine, and Tarbach on the Mofelle. From the 15th to the prefent date feveral unimportant actions have taken place between the advanced corps of thefe two armies, and the Auftrian light troops have at different times fcoured the country from Birkenfeldt to Treves; but the ftrength of the enemy's pofition in the mountains, and the roads that lead to it being rendered fo bad by the late rains as to make the march of heavy artillery almoft impoffible, has prevented Marshal Clairfayt from undertaking any operation of confequence. His Excellency's line now extends from Dreyckhaufen on the Rhine, by Stromburg, Kien, and Oberstein, to Birkenfeldt, from whence the left of his army is connected by a chain of light troops with Marfhal Wurmfer's right, which occupies Kaiferflautern.-Marthal Wurmfer has drawn his line from Kaiferflautern, by Neuftadt, along the rivulet, called the Spirebach, to the Rhine. General Pichegru has made feveral attempts to oblige the Auftrians to abandon the poft of Kaiferflautern, and on the 20th inft. he attacked it with very fuperior numbers; but, after an action of feveral hours, he was completely repulfed, with the lofs of near two thoufand men and several cannon. The Auftrians had, on this occafion, twenty-nine officers, and between fix and seven hundred non-commiffioned officers and privates killed and wounded. The enemy fometimes make demonftrations from Duffeldorf, but the Auf trian corps ftationed upon the Sieg rivulet keep them completely in check on that fide. Part Part of Marfhal Wurmfer's army and the Prince of Conde's corps defend the right bank of the Rhine from Philipsbourg to Bafle. Downing Street, Jan. 26. By advices received from the Austrian army on the Rhine, dated December 30, it appears, that a fufpenfion of arms has been agreed upon betweenthe Austrian and French Generals in that quarter, with liberty to either party to put an end to it, on giving ten days notice. (End of the Gazettes.) LONDON. The maroons in Jamaica have received a very confiderable check from a force of militia and regulars, under the command of Major General Walpole. Their different parties, with the most deftructive fury, have deftroyed a number of plantations, burning the houses, and carrying off provisions and other articles capable of being transported to the huts, where they shelter themselves. In these depredations feveral white people have loft their lives; for putting an end to the ravages of thefe banditti, commiffioners have been appointed for burning and clearing the woods bordering on their cockpits. In the island of St Vincents, the British had not met with equal fuccels; although reduced to great ftraits from want of provifions and other neceffaries, the Brigands continued ftill formidable, and the utmost vigilance of the military force was neceffary to guard against their depredatory attempts. Jan. 1. Gen Paoli is arrived in this country from Corfica, and hath been prefented to his Majesty at the Levee. Mr Brichwood the agent fent to purchase corn at Canada, has written home, that the most he can obtain will amount to about 40,000 quarters. 2. Admiral Hervey with a fquadron of thips arrived at Spithead from Quiberon Bay, he had under convoy tranf ports with the troops from Iile Dieu. Early in the night the miffed the Commodore's lights, and by the fevere gale of wind which then raged, fhe was driven on the Hannoaux rocks, near Guernfey, where the ftruck on Tuesday morning at four o'clock; and having got off from thence, was driven upon the island of Alderney, and at half paft nine ran on fhore in the Bay of Praye, in that island. It was luckily near high water, and by waiting till the water was low; the crew was fafely landed without lofing a man. The three mafts and bowfprit are gone, but if the weather proves moderate the ftores will probably be saved. The people of Alderney were extremely earneft in carrying warps and meffengers to the fhip: but the fea ran fo very high that they could not get near her, except one boat, which got under her quarter, and near enough to catch a rope, but was unfortunately overfet, and two of the men drowned; the four others were faved by the great exertions of their friends on shore, who made a chain of perfons, through a moft tremenduous furf, to rescue them. The failors' cloathes and bedding are all faved, and having their pockets full of money, very little regulation can take place among them fo long as it lafts. The following afflicting intelligence was received from Cowes, Dec. 31ft. In the catalogue of human woes, which hiftory records from the earliest period of the creation, we do not remember to have heard of one, equal in mifery, to the following account, handed to us by a friend, on whofe veracity we place the stricteft reliance: On Sunday laft, 86 of the Somerfet fhire, and 29 of the Suffolk reduced Fencibles, with five women, were put, at Jersey, on board a small veffel of 35 tons burthen, called the John and Elizabeth, William Mitchell, master, belonging to Cowes, to return to England. In the paffage they had very tempeftuous weather, and on Tuesday night, being not far diftant from land, a moft violent hurricane came on, and continued with fuch force, that the mafter feeing inevitable destruction by running afhore if he fteered his courfe, put his veffel about and endeavoured to lay to. In this pofition, every fea paffing over the deck, he judged it expedient, for the fafety of the vellel and lives on board, to, batten down the hatches to prevent the water finking her. Dread |