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Carnation at Marin, and a corvette at St Pierre's. The report of Captain Beaver, of the Acasta, to whom was intrusted the disembarkation of the troops,, which was effected with the utmost expedition, and in the most regular order, is also given. Captain Beaver bestows great praise on all who were concerned with him in this arduous business, especially Captains Cochrane of the Ethalion, and Bradshaw of the Eurydice, and Capt. Withers, principal agent for transports.

Head-quarters, Martinique,
Feb. 15, 1809.

My LORD,

I have the honour to submit for your Lordship's information the details of our taking possession of St Pierre on the 9th, the occupation of the French hospitals in the town of Fort Royal on the roth, and the surprise of a French picquet close to the Bouille Redoubt upon the night of the 11th. In my general report of the action of the 2d, time did not admit of my expressing my regret at the loss of Capt. Sinclair, of the 25th light infantry, a very respectable officer, who fell at the head of his company in the course of duty, and Ensign Adamson, of the 2d West India light infantry, was entitled to be included in the list of the wounded.-I have, &e.

G. BECKWITH, Com. Forces. Rt. Hon. Lord Castlereagh. [Here follows a letter from MajorGen. Maitland to Lieut.-Gen. Beckwith, enclosing a report from Lieut. Col. Barnes, who commands the third brigade, containing the particulars of his taking possession of St Pierre, with the capitu. lation agreed on between him and the Commandant of the National Guards. The troops of the line are prisoners.The militia and National Guards lay down their arms, and return to their occupations; fortifications surrendered as they now are; public property on shore and afloat is also surrendered; and the inhabitants to be protected by the Commanders of his Britannic Majesty's forces.] Head-quarters, Martinique, Feb. 28, 1809.

My LORD,

In my letter of the 15th inst. I had the honour to transmit to your Lordship the details of our operations to the 11th preceding; from that period until the 19th, we were incessantly employed

in the construction of gun and mortar batteries, and in the landing cannon, mortars, and howitzers, with their ammunition and stores, in dragging them to the several points selected by the engineers, and in the completion of the works, and in mounting the ordnance. The exertions of Commodore Cockburn, and other naval officers under his orders upon the right, and of Captains Barton and Nesham of the navy upon the left, in forwarding these services, were most conspicuous, The enemy during the interval fired upon our encampments with shot and shells, but fortunately with little effect, and his picquets, when pressed, constantly fell back under the protection of his works.

On the 19th, at half past four in the afternoon, we opened from six points upon the enemy's fortress, with 14 pieces of heavy cannon, and 28 mortars and howitzers, and the cannonade and bombardment continued with little intermission until noon of the 23d, when the French General sent a trumpet with a letter to our advanced posts, near the Bouille Redoubt, in the front of attack. In this communication Gen. Villaret proposed, as the basis of negotiation, that the French troops should be sent to France, free from all restriction as to future service; but this being inadmissible, the bombardment recommenced at ten at night, and continued without intermission until nine o'clock of the 24th, when three white flags were discovered flying in the fortress; in consequence, our fire from the batteries immediately ceased.

It is with the most heartfelt satisfaction I have now the honour to report to your Lordship, for his Majesty's information, that, supported by the talents of the General Officers, and in particular of Lieut. Gen. Sir George Prevost and of Major Gen. Maitland, the experience and zeal of all the other officers, and the valour and unremitting labour of this army, strengthened by the indefatigable exertions of Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane and the squadron, this campaign, notwithstanding incessant rains, has been brought to a glorious conclusion in the short space of 27 days from our departure from Barbadoes.

The command of such an army will constitute the pride of my future life.

To

To these brave troops, conducted by Generals of experience, and not to me, their King and country owe the sovereignty of this important colony; and I trust that, by a comparison of the force which defended it, and the time in which it has fallen, the present reduction of Martinique will not be deemed eclipsed by any former expedition.

I have the honour to enclose the ar ticles of capitulation, as originally pro posed by the French Commissioners, in consequence of Gen. Villaret's application to me for that purpose during the forenoon of the 24th, and acceded to by Lieut. Gen. Sir George Prevost, Major. Gen. Maitland, and Commodore Cockburn, appointed by the Rear-Admiral and myself to meet them. This capitulation, which was mutually ratified the same night, will, I trust, be honoured with his Majesty's approbation. I enclose also a return of the French garrison, which it is supposed will be in a state to embark in the course of a few days; from which it will appear that I did not over-rate the original numbers of the enemy.

By the next conveyance, I shall have the honour to submit to your Lordship's consideration the various details which are now referred to in general terms, and to report the merits of the several corps; but the science of the officers of the Royal Artillery has been too conspicuous not to be particularly noticed, the interior of the enemy's fortress being torn to pieces by shells; his works have also been much injured by shot from the gun-batteries, manned by the seamen under the direction of Commodore Cockburn and other naval officers.

After the embarkation of the French troops, I shall have the honour to command the eagles taken from the enemy to be laid at the King's feet.

Captain Preedy, of the goth regiment, one of my Aides-de-camp, has the honour to be the bearer of this dispatch: he is an officer of service, and I beg leave to recommend him to his Majesty's favour, and to your Lordship's protection. I annex the following returns; ordnance, ammunition, and stores, taken from the enemy; provisions in the fortress, with the daily issues; and the King's hospitals.

I have the honour to be, &c.
G. BECKWITH, Com. Forces,

ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION.

Fort Desaix shall be given up to the troops of his Britannic Majesty on the following conditions:

The garrison shall march out with all the honours of war, but must ground their arms beyond the glacis. Officers shall keep their swords. The forces of France shall be embarked in proper vessels as prisoners of war; they shall proceed to Quiberon Bay, under guard There of some English ships of war. an exchange shall take place between the two nations, rank for rank; but from the high esteem with which his Excellency the Captain General Villaret Joyeuse is held by all, it is admitted that himself and his Aides-de-Camp shall be sent to France free from any restriction.

The garrison shall be embarked, at the expense of his Britannic Majesty, by battalions and companies, and shall be victualled according to the English ration.

[The other articles of the capitulation do not differ from those agreed to in similar cases. All the individuals, of whatever nation they may be, who are inhabitants of the isle of Martinique, are not to be molested on account of their political opinions; and the persons and property of the inhabitants are to be respected.]

Done at the advanced posts, Feb. 24. 1309.

Men capable of being embarked.— Total, 2 General Officers, 12 Superior Officers, 141 Officers, 1827 petty officers or soldiers, 242 marines.

Then follows a long and most minute list of artillery, ammunition, and stores in Fort Desaix. The cannon were 24 serviceable, brass, from 24 to 4-pounders; 64 iron do. 10 brass mortars, 12 iron do. 900 new muskess, 1730 barrels of powder, and large quantities of shot and musket cartidges. The other forts were equally well provid ed.

Of the provisions in Fort Desaix, there were 1300 barrels flour, 2500 pounds bisquet, 300 tierces salt beef, 98 barrels salt pork, 12,600 pounds sugar, 10,000 pounds coffee, 19,000 pints rum, 600 pints brandy, 2000 pints claret, 2000 pints vinegar, 1600 pounds salt, 500 pounds sweet oil, 150 pounds fish oil,

650 cords wood fuel, 1000 pounds can

dles.

Returns of sick and wounded in his

Majesty's General Hospital at Martinique, between 1st and 27th February.

Total-Gun-shot wounds 380, fevers 172, fluxes 244, ulcers 9, casualties 6, debility 4.-Total 815.

Discharged, cured of gun-shot wounds 121, fevers 30, fluxes 112, ulcers 2, casualties 5.-Total 320.

Died, of gun-shot wounds 20, fevers 5, fluxes 9.-Total 34.

Remaining, of gun-shot wounds 239, fevers 86, fluxes 123, ulcers 7, casualty 1, debility, 4.-Total 460.

The recoveries from operations have been very successful; the wounded men in general are doing well.

Eleven officers have been admitted into the hospital of wounds, two of whom were mortally wounded, Major Maxwell, 8th regt. and Captain Taylor, acting Quartermaster-General, and one has been discharged, Major Campbell; the others are doing well.

[The Extraordinary Gazette contains a letter from Admiral Cochrane, giving an account of the proceedings against, and the surrender of Fort Bourbon.

The exertions of the seamen were very great indeed, in getting the heavy cannon up to Mount Surirey. The service was one of the utmost labour and difficulty, owing to the rains and the deepness of the roads; but all those obstacles were overcome-for what obstacles cannot British seamen overcome? The Admiral says, that never did greater unanimity between the two services prevail than on the present occasion.] Return of officers and seamen killed and wounded whilst serving on shore under the orders of Commodore Cockburn, at the reduction of Martinique. Names of officers wounded.-Amaranthe, Mr Thomas Wickland, boatswain; Mr Thompson, gunner, slightly.-Pompee, Mr James Scott, master's mate, slightly; Mr Thomas Mills, midshipman, slightly; Mr John Edevearn, gunner, badly.

Names of men killed.-Pompee, Robert Rundle, carpenter's crew; Moses Butler, able; Pat. Mackay, landman. Amaranthe, John Kerr, coxswain; Wm. Roberts, boy.

G. COCKBURN, Commodore. Martinique, Feb. 27. 1809.

CONQUEST OF Cayenne. Admiralty-Office, April 15. 1809. Capt. Yeo, of the Confiance, has, with his letter, dated at Cayenne, the 9th of February last, transmitted to the Hon. W. W. Pole, copies of his letters to Rear Admiral Sir S. Smith, detailing his próceedings in the expedition against the

above settlement.

Having, in conjunction with the Portuguese land forces, under the command of Lieut. Col. Manuel Marques, taken possession, on the 8th December last, of the distract of Oyapok; and, on the 15th of the same month, with the Confiance, and a Portuguese sloop and cutter, reduced that of Approaque,-Capt. Yeo, together with the Lieutenant-Colonel, proceeded to the attack of the town of Cayenne, with the Confiance, ler vessels having on board 550 Portutwo Portuguese sloops, and some smalguese troops.

The following is Capt. Yeo's letter on this subject.

His Majesty's ship Confiance, Cayenne barbour, 15th Jan. 1809, On the 4th inst. it was determined to make a descent on the east side of the Island of Cayenne. All the troops were embarked on board the small vessels, amounting to 550, and eighty seamen and marines from the Confiance, and a party of marines from the Voador and Infanta brigs. On the morning of the 6th all dropt into the mouth of the river. In the evening I proceeded with ten canoes and about 250 men, to gain possession of two batteries; the one, Fort Diamant, which commands the entrance of the river Mahuree, the other, Grand Cane, commanding the great road to the town of Cayenne. The vessels, with the remainder of the troops, I entrusted to Captain Salgado of the Voa. dor, with orders to follow me after dusk, and on my making a signal he was to enter the river and disembark. I reached Point Mahuree at three o'clock next morning with five canoes; the others being heavy could not keep up. We then landed in a bay half way between the two batteries. The surge was so great that our boats soon went to pieces.-I ordered Major Joaquim Manuel Pinto, with a detachment of Portuguese troops, to proceed to Grand Cane; while myself, accompanied by Lieutenants Mul

caster,

caster, Blyth, and Read, (of the Royal Marines) Messrs. Savory, William Taylor, Forder, and Irwin, proceeded to the right with a party of the Confiance's, to take Fort Diamant, which was soon in our possession, mounting two twentyfour and one brass nine pounder, and fifty men. The French Captain and Commandant, with three soldiers killed, and four wounded. The Major had the same success: the fort mounting two brass nine-pounders and forty men: two of the enemy were killed. The entrance of the river being in our pussession, the signal agreed on was made, and by noon all were disembarked. At the same time, I received information of General Victor Hugues having quitted Cayenne, at the head of a thousand troops, to dispossess us of our posts. Our force being too small to be divided, and the dis tance between the two posts being great, and only twelve miles from Cayenne, it was determined to dismantle Fort Dia. mant, and collect all our forces at Grand Cane. I therefore left my first Lieutenant, Mr Mulcaster, with a party of the Confiance's, to perform that service, and then join me. On arriving at Grand Cane, I perceived two other batteries about a mile up the river, on opposite sides, and within half gun-shot of each other; the one on the right bank, called Treo, on an eminence commanding the creek leading to Cayenne; the other, on the opposite side, at the entrance of the creek leading to the house and planta tion of General Victor Hugues, and evi. Idently erected for no other purpose than its defence. At three o'clock, I anchored the Lion and Vinganza cutters abreast of them, when a smart action commenced on both sides for an hour; when finding the enemy's metal and position so superior to ours, the -cutters having only four-pounders, and many of our men falling, from the incessant shower of grape shot, I determined to storm them, and therefore directed Mr Savory (the Parser) to aecompany a party of Portuguese to land at General Hugues' battery; at the same time proceeding myself, accompanied by Lieutenant Blyth, my gig's crew, and a party of Portuguese troops, to that of Treo; and though both parties had to land at the very muzzles of the guns, keeping up a continual fire of grape and musketry, the cool bravery

At

of the men soon carried them, and put the enemy to flight; each fort mounted two brass nine-pounders and fifty men. This service was scarcely accomplished before the French troops from Cayenne attacked the Colonel at Grand Cane. Our force was much dispersed; I therefore, without waiting an instant, ordered every body to the boats, and proceeded to the aid of the Colonel, who, with his small force, had withstood the enemy, and after a smart action of three hours, they retreated to Cayenne. the same time, 250 of the enemy appeared before Fort Diamant; but perceiving Lieutenant Mulcaster prepared to receive them, and imagining his force much greater than it was, the y, on hearing the defeat of their General, followed his example. There was yet the strongest post of the enemy's to be taken, which was the private house of Gen. Victor Hugues; he had planted before his house a field-piece and swi vel, with 100 of his best troops. On the 8th I proceeded with some seamen and marines of the Confiance, and a party of Portuguese troops, with a field-piece, to take the said post; but as my only object was to take the troops prisoners, by which the garrison of Cayenne would be much weakened, I dispatched Lieutenant Mulcaster in my gig with a flag of truce, to acquaint the officer commanding, that my only object was to take the post, and if he made an useless -resistance in defending a private habitation, against which I gave him my ho-nour no harm was intended, I should consider it as a fortress, and would level it to the ground. The enemy's advanced guard allowed the flag of truce to approach them within a boat's length, then fired two vollies at them, and retreated. I then landed; but finding he had made several fosses in the road, and the wood being lined with musketry, not a man of whom we could see, and the field piece in front, I ordered ours to be thrown into a fosse, when our men, with three cheers, advanced with pike and bayonet, and took the enemy's gun; they retreated into the house, and kept up a smart fire from the windows; but on our entering, they flew through the back premises into the wood, firing as they retreated.-Every thing was levelled with the ground, except the habitations of the slaves. As we received in

forma.

formation that about four hundred of the enemy were about to take possession of Beauregard Plain, on an emínence which commands the several roads to and from Cayenne, it was determined between the Lieutenant-Colonel and myself to be beforehand with the enemy, and march our whole force there direct.

We gained the eminence before the enemy on the 9th, and, on the 10th, Lieut. Mulcaster and a Portuguese officer (Lieut. Barnardo Muskillis,) were sent into the town with a summons to the General. In the evening, these officers returned, accompanied by Victor Hugues's Aid du-Camp, requesting an armistice for twenty-four hours, to arrange the articles of capitulation. This being granted, and hostages exchanged, on the 11th, the Lieutenant-Colonel and myself met the General, and partly arranged the articles. A second meeting, on the morning of the 12th, finally fixed them; and, on the morning of the 14th, the Portuguese troops, and British sea. men and marines, marched into Cayenne, and took possession of the town. The enemy, amounting to 400, laid down their arms on the parade, and were immediately embarked on board the several vessels belonging to the expedition; at the same time, the militia, amounting to 600, together with 200 blacks, who had been incorporated with the regular troops, delivered in their

arms.

It is with pleasure I observe, that throughout the expedition the utmost unanimity has prevailed between the Portuguese and British, and I have myself experienced the most friendly intercourse with Lieut.-Colonel Manuel Marques.

It has always been with the highest gratification to my feelings, that I have had to mention the good conduct of the officers, seamen, and marines of the ship I have the honour to command, but during the whole course of my service I have never witnessed such persevering resolution as they have displayed from the commencement of the campaign to the reduction of Cayenne.

As to the seamen and marines, all praise I can bestow falls short of their merit; from the 15th December they never slept in their beds; the weather was constantly both boisterous and raihy the roads almost impassable; and April 1809.

from the time we landed until the surrender of the place they had not the least cessation from fatigue.

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It is but just that should take notice of the exertions of Mr J. Acott, acting master, who has passed for Lieut whom I left in charge of the ship, and who proved himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him. The Topazel French frigate appearing in the offing on the 13th, with a re-enforcement for the garrison, though with only 25 Britons and zo negroes, and no other offi cers than two young gentlemen, Messrs George Yeo and Edward Bryant, he contrived by his skilful manœuvres to drive her off the coast.

I have the honour to inclose a statement of the killed and wounded on board the Confiance (24); also a list of the returns of ordnance, stores, &c. The Portuguese land and sea forces, one killed and eight wounded. French, one Captain and fifteen privates killed, and twenty wounded.

I have now, Sir, the happiness to congratulate you on the final success of the expedition, and I trust the steps I have taken will ensure me your approbation. I am, &c.

JAMES LUCAS YEO. To Rear Admiral Sir W. Sidney Smith

The following is a list of the killed and wounded on the part of the Britsh:

Lieut. John Read, Royal Marines, mortally wounded; died Jan. 8. Lieut. Samuel Blyth, dangerously wounded. Jas. Thomson, Quarter-Master's Mate, dangerously wounded, and 23 seamen and marines wounded.

Articles of Capitulation.

The garrison shall march out with their arms and baggage, and all the honours of war; the officers shall retain their side arms, and those of the Staff their horses. The garrison shall lay down their arms, and engage not to serve against his Royal Highness and his Allies during one year. Vessels shall be furnished at the expense of his Highness the Prince Regent, to carry the garrison, officers civil and military, and all those employed in the service, with their families and effects, direct to France with as little delay as possible. A convenient vessel shall be furnished to convey to France the Commissioner

of

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