by the Count d'Estaing, the centre by M. de Lovendahl, and the left column by the Marquis de Bouille, governor of Martinico. The remainder of the troops were kept to watch General Prescot's brigade, and to check any attempt they might make to succour General Meadows.

On the approach of the columns, they were enfiladed, with great effect, by the batteries on the south of the bay. Notwithstanding this, they charged with great impetuosity, and were suffered to advance close to the entrenchments without opposition. The British front line fired but once, and then received the enemy on the bayonet. The French, with great resolution, suffered extremely before they were entirely repulsed. As soon

Annual Register, 1779, p. 46.

by sea and land on our post at the Carenage, but met with a very severe check, having been repulsed with great courage by a small detachment of our troops under Brigadier-General Meadows.

"They have attempted nothing of consequence since, and what may be their future plan of operations I cannot conjecture; but their continuance at anchor has offered us an opportunity not only of getting in all the cruizers, except the Ceres, and all the transports except one (with only the baggage of the officers of three companies on board), which had fallen into the enemy's hands, but also of strengthening ourselves by warping the ships of war farther into the bay, and making the line more compact, removing the Venus astern of the Prince of Wales to flank that passage, and erecting batteries at each point of the bay, that to the northward under the direction of the Captains Cumining and Robertson, and that to the southward under Captain Ferguson.

"This being the situation of the squadron, and the army being in the possession of all the strong holds in the neighbourhood of the bay, such a spirit of cheerfulness, unanimity, and resolution actuates the whole of our little force, both by land and sea (notwithstanding the amazing fatigue they have undergone), that we are under no apprehensions from any attempts the enemy may meditate; and from the accounts which have been transmitted to me from Captain Linzee of the Pearl, who arrived at Barbadoes the 13th instant, that Vice Admiral Byron was to sail from Rhode Island for Barbadoes the 19th of last month, with sixteen

sail of the line and several frigates, there is every reason to hope he will soon be here, in which case affairs in this country must take a very decisive turn in favour of his Majesty's arms.

"Should any unforeseen accident, however, prevent the vice-admiral's arrival, their lordships will, nevertheless, be pleased to assure his Majesty, that every thing that can possibly be done by so small a body of troops and so few ships, against a force so very superior, will be effected.

"I cannot conclude my letter without acquainting you, that in all probability our operations here have hitherto saved the island of St. Vincent and Grenada, which we understand from some officers, who are prisoners, were the objects of Count d'Estaing's expedition, when a sloop that had escaped from this island falling in with him, and giving him notice of our being here, directed his attention towards us.-I am, &c.

"SAMUEL BARRINGTON.

"P.S. I have the satisfaction to add, that this morning the squadron got possession of an American privateer of eighteen guns called the Bunker Hill, which at daybreak was discovered within reach of our guns; and having struck upon finding she could not escape, the boats towed her within the line before any of the French fleet could get to her assistance. sailed from Salem the 2d instant, and was intended to cruise fifteen leagues to windward of Barbadoes, but had missed that island and fallen to leeward.

"SAMUEL BARRINGTON."

She

Naval Chronicle, vol. iv. p. 181.

as they could be formed again, the attack was renewed; they were again repulsed; and again, the third time, they returned to the charge. But the affair was now soon decided: they were totally broken, and retired in the utmost disorder, leaving their dead and wounded on the field. Four hundred were killed upon the spot, and 1100 wounded-a number considerably superior to the enemy they had attacked!

The loss of the victors was unusually small- - 10 killed and 130 wounded. General Meadows was wounded, but would not be persuaded by the surgeons to quit the field. Major Harris, who commanded the grenadiers, and Major Sir James Murray, at the head of the light infantry, particularly distinguished themselves.

M. d'Estaing having rendered himself accountable for the wounded as prisoners of war, he was allowed to have them, and to bury the dead. He remained for ten days afterwards upon the island, without making any further attempt by sea or land. On the 28th, at night, he embarked his troops, and on the following day abandoned the island. Before he was out of sight, the Chevalier de Micoud, and the principal inhabitants, offered to capitulate, and very favourable conditions were granted to them.'

Beatson's Memoirs, vol. iv. p. 399.

1 Translation of the Articles of Capitulation between Major-General Grant and the Honourable Rear-Admiral Barrington, Commander in Chief of His Britannic Majesty's Land and Sea Forces upon a joint Expedition, and the Chevalier de Micoud, Colonel of Foot, and LieutenantGovernor for His most Christian Majesty of the Island of St. Lucia.

"ART. 1. The commandant and his garrison shall march out of their posts with the honours of war, their arms and baggage, and shall be conveyed to Martinico in a vessel fitted out for that purpose.

"ANSW. The commandant and his garrison shall be permitted to march out with the honours of war, and to keep their baggage, but must deliver up their, arms, and shall be sent as prisoners of war to Martinico, not to serve till they are exchanged.

"2. The inhabitants who have taken arms shall march out of their posts, and shall return home thence to their habitations without suffering any molestation or impediment.

"ANSW. The inhabitants shall return to their habitations, in the possession of which they will be protected, after having delivered up their arms and having taken

the oath of allegiance to His Britannie Majesty.

"3. The inhabitants and curates shall be protected in their possessions, effects moveable and immoveable, privileges, rights, honours, and exemptions. The free people shall preserve their liberties.

"ANSW. The inhabitants and curates will be protected as British subjects. The free Negroes shall not be molested.

"4. The commandant, as an inhabitant, shall have liberty to remain some time upon the island to settle his affairs without being molested; and at the expiration of the time agreed upon he shall be provided with a good vessel, to convey himself and his domestics, and his effects, to Martinico; and he demands liberty to continue his service, as was granted to Mr. Stuart, commandant at St. Domingo.

"ANSW. The commandant, as an inhabitant of St. Lucia, may remain upon the island to settle his affairs, and shall, upon his requisition, be permitted to go with his family and baggage to Martinico upon his parole, but is to remain a prisoner of war, and not to serve till exchanged.

"5. The inhabitants of the island shall be protected in their religion, government, laws, customs, and ordinances;

The trade from Cuba was increased to require above two hundred vessels, and more than supplied the mother country with sugar.

Brougham's Colonial Policy, book i. sect. 3. p. 442.

The exports from Essequibo and Demerary employed 27 ships, and consisted of 6920 hhds. of sugar, 1839 tierces and 32,634 bags of coffee, and 1754 bales of cotton.

Jamaica, vol. iii. act 64. "No slaves, nor any persons in trust for them, to purchase any horse, mare, mule, gelding, or ass, under penalty of £20.

"5. Any slave having more than ten pounds of beef, veal, mutton, or goat, to be whipped in such manner as a magistrate shall direct; and if the quantity exceeds ten pounds, convicted, before two justices and three freeholders, to suffer such punishment as they shall think proper."

Captain Vincent, in his Majesty's ship Yarmouth, of 64 guns, on Saturday, the 7th of March, fifty leagues to windward of Barbadoes, fell in with an American squadron, consisting of two ships, three brigs, and a schooner. At nine P.M. the Yarmouth got alongside the largest and headmost vessel, which Captain Vincent hailed, and desired to hoist her colours. He was answered by a broadside, and the American flag was hoisted. In less than half

Bolinbroke's Voyage to Demerary, Appendix. Report of the Lords of the Committee, 1789.

Beatson's Memoirs, vol. iv. p. 383.

Naval Chronicle, vol. xvii. p. 367.

shall be permitted to claim from the government such particular indulgencies as are necessary to their situation.

"ANSW. As the cattle have been killed by the French troops and not by the British, they cannot expect redress from their new sovereign. Suspension from the payment of debts due to the French subjects till the peace allowed; but with regard to the inhabitants of the island, the power of giving time to people in distressed circumstances is reserved to the commander-in-chief of the island.

"17. The curates of every parish shall be protected; and when the curacies become vacant, the inhabitants of the parishes shall be provided with curates, on requiring them from the superiors of the missions of Martinico.

"ANSW. The curates shall remain in their parishes during their good behaviour: when vacancies happen, curates will be named by the commander-inchief.

"18. There shall be an account drawn up by the keeper of the magazine of artillery, of every piece of artillery, as well battering as field-pieces, and other warlike stores; and with regard to provisions, magazines, and, in general, every thing belonging to His most Christian Majesty, the commissary shall cause an

account to be made out of them by the keeper of the magazine; and as an inhabitant, Monsieur Raulin de la Mothe, commissary of the marine and of the classes, desires to have time allowed him in like manner as the Chevalier Micoud, to settle his affairs.

"ANSW. All stores of ammunition and provisions, and every thing which is considered as the property of His most Christian Majesty, together with all deserters and prisoners belonging to the British army, are to be delivered up, upon honour, to the British commissaries. The request of M. Raulin de la Mothe is granted.

"Concluded and agreed upon by me, colonel of foot and lieutenant-governor for the King of the island of St. Lucia, this 30th day of December, 1778; who have put the seal of my arms to these presents, which are countersigned by my secretary, Le Chevalier de Micoud. By the lieutenant-governor, "A. REGNAULT. "Granted and agreed to at St. Lucia, this 30th day of December, 1778. "JAMES GRANT.

"SAMUEL BARRINGTON." Fifty-nine guns were found in the different batteries.

Beatson's Memoirs, vol. vi. p. 116.

an hour afterwards, the American vessel blew up; large fragments of the wreck fell on board the Yarmouth, and an uninjured American ensign. The rest of the squadron stood different ways, and easily escaped. The Yarmouth had five killed and twelve wounded.

:

On the Thursday following, five men were seen standing, as it were, upon the water, making signals for assistance. The Yarmouth made sail for them, and with a boat took them off their raft they were the only survivors of the crew of the Randolph, of 36 guns and 315 men, the ship which had engaged the Yarmouth on the preceding Saturday. They had been five nights on the raft-young and hardy men. When they came on the quarter-deck, they said they were thirsty and sleepy, but not hungry. Some tea and a hammock was given to each. When they awoke their feet were swoln, which seemed to be the only injury they had received. They had been quartered in the captain's cabin, and thrown into the sea unhurt, but could not tell by what accident the ship blew up. They were good swimmers, and had made the raft on which they were found, by fastening some spars together with their rigging. A blanket was of great service to them-sucking out the rain water which fell upon was their only sustenance. The other ship was the General Moultrie, and three armed brigs. They sailed from Charleston

about a month before.

it

Saving these men gave the Yarmouth £1575 head money as from their depositions the force of the vessel she had destroyed was ascertained.

The object of the American squadron was the capture of Tobago, in which, if they had succeeded, they could not have hoped to keep it.

The French general and intendant, on the 31st August, 1778, issued an ordinance concerning the administration of the church establishment in the parishes.

"Art. 5. Each curé ordered to keep two registers, in which to be inserted the baptisms and marriages of slaves.

"The registers to contain at least six cahiers (say six quires) large paper, for the purpose of serving several years, and to be less exposed to the risk of being lost. Curés not allowed to baptize children of colour, without having previously examined the acts of liberty of their fathers and mothers, as is prescribed by the edict of 1736, which orders, that the children of slaves baptized as free, shall be confiscated to the crown and sold, and the masters condemned to the payment of a fine.

14. Curés ordered in the month of January of each year, to

Parliamentary "Further Papers," 1826, p. 55.