this forenoon to affemble the Council to allit you in the determination. The reasonableness of the request induces us to grant it; but you will be aware, that if an answer is not returned on or before that time, no further delay can be made, and you alone must be anfwerable for the confequences; and you will pleafe alfo to oblerve, that from the very liberai terms offered, no deviation whatever can be admitted. We have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) JOHN WHYTE, Major-General. THOMAS PARR, Captain Royal Navy, To bis Excellency the Governor of Demerary. Fort William Frederick, Demerary, 2nd April, 1/96. GENTLEMEN, WE, the Governor, Members of the Council, and Commanders of the military and naval forces of the Colony, in Council of War aflembled, having attentively perufed the funmons, dated of yesterday, and add effed to us by your Excellencies, demanding the furrender of faid Colony to his Britannic Majesty's forces, allo the terms thereunto annexed, have, after mature deliberation, reloved to accept faid terins,, and on them to furcender faid Colony and its dependencies as demanded, whereof we hereby give you notice; alfo, that our colours will be truck on the landing of your forces. It will depend on the lever al Officers and the troops to decide for themfeives as to the offers made them, and we have the honour to fubfcribe durfelves, &c. (Signed) ANTHONY BEAUJON, Governor. J. FRAN. WELL, Major. C. FIZICHER, Com. P. P. LUYHEN. THO. CUMING, A. MEEXIENS. By order of the Council, M. SINNE, Sec. at Int. To their Excellencies Gen. Whyte, and Commodore Parr, Commaniers of his Majesty's Britannic Forces off Demerary. Head-Quarters, St. Lucia, May 2, 1796. Laforey still retaining the command. On the 24th, Sir John refigned the command to Rear-Admiral Sir Hugh C. Chriftian, K B. and on the evening of the 26th we faile I for St. Lucia. The difpolition for landing was arranged in the following manner Major-General Campbell was ordered to difembark with 1700 men at Longueville's Bay, which he accordingly effected without oppofition, except fome fhots fired from Pidgeon Ifland. In the morning of the 27th, he advanced to Choc Bay. As foon as the head of the column began to appear, the center divifion of the army dilembarked near the village of Choc, upon which about 500 men, who had faintly oppofed MajorGeneral Campbell on his march, retired from Angier's Plantation to Morne Cha bot. This Morne is one of the ftrongest and. most comman ling pots in the neighbourhood of Morne Fortuné, and as it was. abfolutely neceffary to occupy it to be able to invelt Morne Fortuné on the North fide, two detachments from the army, un der the command of Brigadier-General Moore and Brigadier-General Hope were ordered to march that evening to attack it on two different fides. Brigadier General Moore marched at twelve that night, by the molt circuitous road, with feven companies of the 53d regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Abercrombie, and 100 of Malcolm's Rangers, with 50 of Lewenitein's. Bugadier-Ge neral Hope, with 350 men of the 57th, 150 of Malcolm's, and 50 of Lewenitein's, took the fhorter road. From the mifcalculation of time, ari fing from the information of guides, Brigadier-General Moore's division fell in with the advanced picquet of the enemy an hour and a half eriier than was expected. Finding that his march was difcovered, and that it was impoffible to halt the troops, who, from the narrowness of the path, were obliged to marca in ingle hles, the Brigadier inftantly decided to rifk the attack with his own divifion, in which he was well feconded by the fp.rit of the troops, who formed with all the expedition which the ground would admit of, and, after a confiderable refultance, carried the poft. Brigadier-General Hope's divifion marched with fo much precifion, tha. they arrived exactly at the hour appointed; and if fortunately the attack could have been executed as was ducted, the whole force of the enemy would have fallen. Brigadier-General Moore peaks handfomety of the behaviour of the troops T under under his command. A return of the lois is herewith inclofed. From 40 to 50 of the enemy were found killed, and 200 ftand of arms, with fome ammunition, taken. The next day Brigadier-General Moore occupied Morne Duchaffaux, in the rear of Morne Fortuné. The divifion under the command of Major General Morfhead, which was defined to land at Ance la Ray, did not compleat their difembarkation for fome days, owing to their thips falling to leeward. They are now in poffeflion of the Bar of the Grand Cul de Sac, and inveft Morne Fortuné on the South fide. It is impoffible to describe the difficulty of communication in this country; and as Morne Fortuné is now in a respectable state of defence, it will require time and much labour to erect the neceffary batteries to reduce it. Yesterday the enemy attacked the advanced poft of the grenadiers, who are commanded by Lieutenant Colonel MacDonald, of the 55th regiment, but were repulfed with confiderable lofs, though I am forry to add, that we had feveral Offcers and 40 or 50 men killed and wounded, the return of which I herewith inclofe. The only Officer killed was Captain Kerr of the York Rangers: the rest are flightly wounded, among whom is Major Napier, of the 63d. From the best information I can obtain, the enemy have a garrifon of about 2000 well difciplined Black troops, fome bundred Whites, and a number of Black people who have taken refuge in the for trefs. Sir Hugh Chriftian has, upon every occafion, exerted himself to afford me every poffible affiftance from the Royal Navy. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) RA. ABERCROMBIE, Lieutenant-General. P. S. I fhould be guilty of a great omiffion, if I did not particularly mention the zeal and intelligence of Lieutenant-Colonel Rufs, of the 21st Infantry, in Brigadier General Moore's attack on the 28th of April, at Morne Chabot. To this Officer I am under great obliga. tion. The Right Hon. Henry Dundas, &c. &c. &c. Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Miffing, of his Majefly's 53d Regiment of Foot, on the 28th of April 1796. 1 Drummer, 12 Rank and File, killed; 1 Captain, z Lieutenants, 2 Serjeants, 44 Rank and File, wounded; 1 Drummer, 8 Rank and File, mifling. Return of the Killed and Wounded at the Out-pafts ander the Command of Licutenant Colonel Mac Donald, May 1, 1795. General Battalion. 5 Rank and File killed; 2 Officers, 15 Rank and File, wounded. 48th Foot. 1 Rank and File killed; 1 Officer, Serjeant, 10 Rank and File, wounded. York Rangers. 1 Officer, 4 Rank and File, killed; 1 Officer, 1 Rank and File, wounded. Names of Officers Killed and Wounded. Major Napier and Lieutenant Tonins, of the Battalion of Grenadiers, wounded. Captain Coghlan, ift Weft-India Regiment, attached to the 48th Regiment, wounded. Captain Kerr, York Rangers, killed. DONALD MACDONALD, Head-Quarters, St. Lucia, May 4, 1796. It having been part of the original plan for the investment of the Morne Fortuné to drive the enemy from the batteries they had on the bafe of the mountain on the side of the Grand Cul de Sac, and by that means to open this bay to the ships of war, it naturally fell to the fhare of Major-General Morfhead to execute that fervice. To render the fuccefs more secure, Brigadier-General Hope was detached from the fide of Morne Chabot with 350 men of the 42d regiment, the light company of the 57th regiment, and part of Malcolm's corps, on the night of the zd of May, fupported by the 55th regiment, which was posted at Ferrands; and yef. terday morning Major-General Morfhead was ordered to march in two columns, the right to cross the river of the Grand Cul de Sac, at Cools, and the left at the mouth of the fame river, where it falls into the bay of the Grand Cul de Sac. Major General Morfhead being taken ill, was obliged to refign the command to Brigadier General Perryn. Brigadier-General Hope carried the battery Seche, within a fhort distance of the works of the Morne Fortune, with an inconfiderable lofs, had not the brave Colonel Malcolm unfortunately fallen upon this fpot. Colonel Riddle, who commanded the column on the left, got puffethion poffeffion of the lower battery, called Chapuis, and remained poffeffed of it for a confiderable time; but the column under the command of Brigadier-General Perryn never having croffed the river at Cools, Lieutenant-Colonel Riddle remained unfupported, and Brigadier-General Hope's divifion alfo became unconnected, and confequently placed in a very critical situation. From thefe untoward circumstances the plan failed in the execution, and the troops retired to their former polition. The hips of war which were deftined to enter the Cul de Sac returned to their anchorage. Brigadier General Hope has mentioned to me the very gallant behaviour of Captain Weft, commanding the Light company of the 57th regiment. I have the honour to inciofe herewith a return of the killed, wounded, and miling. From the intricate nature of this country, and the difficulty of approaching the Morne Fortuné on any fide, except by Morne Duchaffaux, I have been ob liged to undertake a laborious, communication from Choc Bay to that Morne, and to form a road capable of allowing the tranfportation of heavy artillery. I have the honour to be, &c. RA. ABERCROMBY. Right Hon. Henry Dundas, &c. &c. Sc. Return of the Killed, Wounded, and Miffing, in the Attack made on the Enemy's Batteries, May 3, 1796 14th Regiment, 1 Captain, Serjeant, wounded; 5 Rank and File miffing. 27th Ditto. None killed, wounded, or milling. 28th Ditto. 3 Rank and File killed; 3 Lieutenants 15 Rank and File, wounded. 42d Ditto. 1 Lieutenant, 4 Rank and File, wounded; 2 Rank and File milling. 44th Ditto. 4 Rank and File killed 2 Captains, Lieutenant, 17 Rank and File, wounded; Lieutenant, 16 Rank and File, miffing. 57th Ditto. 2 Rank and File killed; 1 Serjeant, 8 Rank and File, wounded. Malcolm's Ditto. 3 Rank and File killed; 2 Rank and File wounded; 2 Captains, Lieutenant, 7 Rank and File, mifling. Names of the Officers Killed, Wounded, and Mifing. Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm dead of his wounds. Captain H. Coxe, of 14th Regiment, wounded. Lieutenants Dalton and Irving, of 28th Regiment, wounded. Lieutenant Grady, of 28th Regiment, wounded and miffing. Captains Johnstone and Tuffie, and Lieutenant Gregory, of 44th Regiment, wounded. Lieutenant Ogilvey, of 44th Regiment, wounded and miffing. Lieutenant Frafer, of 42d Regiment, wounded. The names of the Officers of Mal colm's, returned miffing, not known. JOHN HOPE, Adj. Gen. ADMIRALTY-OFFICE, JUNE 21, 1796. DISPATCHES, of which the following are copies, have been received at this Office. by Evan Nepean, Efq. Thunderer, Choc Bay, St. Lucia, May 4, 1796, SIR, I Tranfmit a duplicate of my letter of the 21ft of last month, by which their Lordfhips will have been informed of my arrival that day at Barbadoes. The iquadron and tranfports weighed on the next day, and on the 23d, at feven P. M. anchored in Marin Bay, Martinico, The day following Admiral Sir John Laforey refigned the command of the fquadron, and failed with the Majestic, I made the gnal to prepare to fail early the next morning, and quitted Marin Bay with his Majefty's fquadron and the troops about the clofe of day. The time for preparation was but short, the Admiral having propofed to make his arrangement for the expedition in Marin Bay; but I felt the neceffity of prompt exertion, and therefore ventured upon a hafty arrangement rather than delay the ardour of the troops, or lofe time in fo advanced a feafon. The general plan of attack required fupport in three separate divifions by fhips of force; the first was to take place in Longueville Bay, at Ance du Cap and Ance Bequene; the fecond in the Choc Bay; and the third at Ance la Raye, fome diftance to the Southward of the Cul de Sac. The first point of landing was com marded by a battery of five guns, placed on the low point of Pigeon Iland; and it was fuppofed that another battery com manded the Bay of Longueville. I therefore directed the Vengeance, Ganges, Hebe, and Pelican brig, to cover this, landing, with inftructions for the Hebe to lead into Ance du Cap, the Ganges to fupport her, and the Pelican to anchor in the Ance Bequene. The Vengeance I kept upon the weather-beam of the Aftrea, T 2 ia in order that he might, if neceflary, cover the Ganges, by anchoring in the angle of Pigeon Island Battery. The polition was taken by the three fhips with great fpirit and judgment: the fire from the hips kept the battery at check, difmounted one of the guns, and the troops landed without opposition. The fecond divifion was directed to he led by the Alfred, to the anchorage, of Choc Bay; the third by Capt. Dilkes, of the Madras, fupported by the Beanlieu. A trong lee current had driven the body of the tranfports fo far to leeward, that it was not pollible to effect the landing in Choc Bay, and the one intended. for Ance la Raye was, for the jame reafons, deferred: but the Vengeance, Are. thufa, and Victoricufe brig, were ordered to take the feveral covering ftations in Choc Bay, at break of day on the 27th, when the landing was effected at half past ten A. M. and equally without oppofition. The fignal was made at the fame time to Captain Dilkes to put his orders into execution, but this division did not land until the 28th. The enemy retreated from their diftant ports, and have entered the Morne For tune, which height the General is fur. rounding and preparing to attack; to aflift the meature, I have, in confequence of the General's requifition to that effect, landed 300 feamen, under the command of Captain Lane, of the Aftrea, and Captain Ryves, of the Bull Dog. The General directe, on the 2d inften, an at ack to be made against the bacterics on the Northern fide of the Grand Cad de Sac, with a view to obtain that anchorage, and thereby facilitate the Janing artillery and erecting batteries: the arck was propofed to take place at day-break on the 3, by three columns, commanded by Major-General Morthead; two of the columns reached with iuccefs the direted ftations, but the centre column, having met with fome unexpected difficulty, did not effect their junction. The Madras, Beaulieu, Pelican, and Victorieule were to fupport this attack; the Beaulieu had thice teamen flightly wounded, and the head of her fore-malt injured. The attack on hore not having been fuccefstul, the Madras and Beau hieu have returned to Marigot des Rouf feaux, to co-operate with Major-General Morihead. It would be unjut to the merit of Captain M'Doual, of the Ganges, and the Officers acting under him at Bay Longueville, were I to omit reporting their juft claim to my commendation; Captain Rvves, of the Bull Deg, and Captain Meares, of the transport department, commanded the divifion of boats at Longue. ville Bay. Captains Evans of the Fury; Dobrie, of the Woolwich; and Captain Hill, and Lieutenant Skipley, of the tranfport fervice, commanded the feveral divifions of flat boats at the Choc and Ance La Raye landing, and I had good reason to be fa. tisfied with their affiduity and proper exertions. The natural strength of this country is fuch that time and great exertion will be neceffary for is reduction. There exifts the most perfect delire on the part of the Officers and Seamen of the fquadron, to fhare the fatigue and hazard with the army; and I trust that this defire kept awake to effential advantage. may be I am, SIR, Your moit obedient humble fervant, (Signed) H. C. CHRISTIAN, Thunderer, Choc Bay, St. Lucia, May 4, SIR, 1796. Captain Parr, of the Malabar, having, by orders from the Admiral Sir John La forey, been detached to Demerara with. the Malabar, Undaunted; Pique and Ba bet, to protect a detachment of troops under the command of Major-General Whyte, whofe instructions were, in conjunction with Captain Parr, to take the colonies of Demerara and Berbice under the protection of his Majetty's Governmen, has reported is compleat fuccels at the fettlement of Demerara; a copy of his letter, relative to his conduct, and the papers to which it refers, are incloled for their Lord hips information. I am, &. HUGH C. CHRISTIAN. Evan Nepean, Efq• His Majefty's Ship Malabar, off Denierara, April 24, 1796. SIR, In pursuance of your orders I arrived off Demerara, with his Majesty's thips La Baber, Undaunted, and La Pique, with the Grenada and other tranfports; and having, in conjunction with Major General Whyte, commanding the land forces, prepared for the attack of that. place, I proceeded over the bar with La Babet, Captain Lobb, and La Pique, Captain Milne, followed by the land forces in foine fraall craft, and all the buara boats of the fquadron, on the evening of the gift, and came to an anchor one mile and a half from the fort. The tide falling out fo late prevented our further proceeding until the morning of the 22d, when the incloted fummon was fut in by Lieutenant-Colonel Hiflop. It produced the accompanying anfwer, &c. which will inform you of the capitulation of Fort William Frederick, with the co-, lony of Demerara and its dependencies, including Efequeba, together with a frigate of 28 guns, and a cutter of 12. There being a French privateer up the River, I have fent the cutter, with the boats of the fleet, up the river for her, and to take poffeffion of fuch thips as appear to be lawful captures. On the night of the 21ft, I was joined by his Majesty's thip Scipio, Captain Laforey, whofe boars and men we hould have found indifpenfably neceffary, had the fummons been refufed. In confequence of a requifition from Major General Whyte, I ventured to retain the Undaunted, whofe men, marines, and boats, were alfo neceffary: my compliance in this I hope will meet your approbation, as I agreed in opinion with the General in the neceffity of her affittance. General Whyte having orders to reduce the fettlement of Berbice, we mean to attack that place as foon as pilots and proper information can be obtained, which, when reduced, I thall return to you with all poffible dispatch; and as the Scipio is neceffary for this fervice, I venture to detain her, and affure you, Sir, this fhall not be a moment after the can be difpenfed with. Having occafion for La Pique to go againfi Berbice, I have ordered Captain Lobb to arm the captured frigate with what men he can fpire, as he will be neceflary as a guard-ship. I am, &c. THOMAS PARR. Sir John Laforey, Bart. Admiral of be Blue, and Commander in Chief of his Majefty's fhips and ifels at Barbadoes,&c. &c. Copy of a Letter from Captain Winthorp, of bis Majefty's floop Albacore, to Evan Nepean, Elq. dated Carlifle Bay, Barbudoes, May 19, 1796. SIR, 1 Beg you will be pleafed to acquaint my Lords Commiffioners of the Admi ralty, that I arrived here on the 9th of May; and on my paffage from Madeira, lat. 41 deg. 43 min. long. 47 deg. 39 min. Barbadoes bearing S. 83. deg. W. difiance 233 leagues, I fell in with, and after a chace of fix hours, captured, L'Athenien French national corvette, mounting 14 four pounders and 83 men, commanded by M. Jervais, Lieutenant de Vaiffeaux. She is a new veffel, fitted out at Guadaloupe, and has done much mischief in thofe feas. I am, Sir, Your moft obedient humble Servant, R. WINTHORP. Extra& of a Letter from Captain Cochrane, of his Majelly's Ship Toetis, to Mr. Nepean, dated St.George's, Bermuda, May 16, 1796. tion of the Lords Conimitioners of the I Beg leave to inclofe, for the informaAdmiralty, a Copy of a Letter from Captain Evans, of his Majefty's floop Spencer, giving an account of his hav ing captured, on the 4th inftant, the French corvette La Volcan, from Charlestown, bound to Guadaloupe, after an action of one hour and a quarter. tain Evans, lus officers, and thip's comMuch praife feems to be due to Cappany, for their very iteady conduct. The very great fuperiority of the enemy in the number of men, and the Spencer having three guns difmounted action from being brought to a close so on the fide the engaged, prevented the foon as it other wife would have been. Spencer, St. George's, Bermuda, May 10, 1796. SIR, I Have the pleafure to acquaint you, that on the morning of the 4th inft. being in company with his Majefty's hips Bonetta and L'Etperance, in latitude 28 deg. N. and longitude 69 deg. W. our signal being made to chace, we purfued, and at twelve o'clock came up with and captured the French corvette La Volcan, after a ciofe action of one hour and a quarter, with the loss of one. feaman killed and one wounded. The above-mentioned thips having chaced two veffels ftanding a contrary way, we loft fight of them about ten o'clock. My officers and hip's company deferve the higheft credit for their conduct on this occafion, evincing a coolnefs and obedience very meritorious. I am more particularly indebted to Lieutenant Lennox, and Mr. Harriden the matter, for their affiftance. * Inferted in Pages 136, 137. I cannot |