directed that officer to proceed with the detachment to Betteah, where further orders will await -him.

I marched last night nine miles, -till my progress was stopped by a considerable nulla, which it was impossible to have crossed in the dark without great confusion and risk. This morning I again marched,and am now encamped on the high road from Betteah to Persah, which completely covers the advance of the battering train, which marched from the former place on the 1st, agreeably to the orders I had sent Major Mason, as soon as his letter, reporting the arrival of the battering train, reached

me.

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very severe and well-directed fire from about twenty pieces of cannon (as well as could be judged). Captain Blackney, and all the officers of the wing did their utmost endeavours to bring on our sepoys to the charge, which failed in every attempt,from the very destructive fire which opposed them. It is with the utmost sorrow I am to mention that after the action had continued about ten minutes with equal ardour on each side, we were deprived of the directions and assistance of Captain Blackney and Lieutenant Duncan, who, I fear, are both killed, having been severely wounded and disabled. On the fall of these two gallant officers, the sepoys became quite dispirited, and began to retire with some confusion, upon which the enemy advanced upon and destroyed our tents by fire. The village of Summunpore, in which was the commissariat depèt, was burnt in the commencement of the action by the enemy. Finding that the detachment had suffered most severely, added to the great numbers and strength of the enemy, it was judged most prudent to retire; and as the enemy had taken possession of the road to Barra Ghurrie, we directed. our course to this place, at which we have just arrived. I am unable to state the exact loss of the detachment, as the stragglers are coming in every moment. It is my intention to march to-morrow morning towards the head quarters of the army, when I shall have the honour to state the particulars more fully to the MajorGeneral. I cannot conclude without paying the tribute so justly due to the merits of the two brave and valuable officers who fell this

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morning, and of all the officers composing the detachment, who left no exertions untried towards the success of the day. It is impossible to judge correctly of the strength of the enemy, but it is supposed to be about two thousand men. I have, &c.

E. STRETTELL, Lieutenant, commanding the detachment. Gorauh Sahun, Jan. 1, 1815. Captain Watson, A.A.G.

Sir, I am sorry to acquaint you, that the post of Persa Ghurrie commanded by Captain Sibley, was this morning attacked by an overwhelming force of Goorkahs, who, I regret to say, carried their point after an hour's hard fighting, which ended in the repulse of our troops there, the loss of the gun, and every kind of baggage.

At break of day, when I was about to march for that post, we heard a heavy firing in that direction when I pushed on with all possible speed; but within three miles of the place I met a vast number of wounded, and immediately afterwards some of ficers, who informed me, that any attempt on my part to recover the fortune of the day must be unavailing, as the enemy's force was computed at full ten thousand. I am now halted on the eastern bank of the Seressowah, giving protection to the wounded who are coming in; and intend, as soon as possible, to move in the direction of Betteah, unless I shall receive other instructions from you. I have, &c.

J. GREENSTREET, Major, commanding 2d Batt. 15th Regt. Nat. Infantry.

Sir,-In my hurried report of yesterday I omitted to state the particulars of Major Greenstreet having been detached from the camp at Lewtun on the 31st, at three in the morning, for the purpose of reinforcing the post of Persah, with four companies of the 2d battalion 15th native infantry, in consequence of information that the Nepaulese were in some force, and intended to attack that post, though the letter received by me from Captain Sibley, dated so late as the 30th, makes no mention of any thing extraordinary. This will account for Major Greenstreet's reports of yesterday forwarded.

I have received reports, dated 2d instant,from Lieutenant Strettell, stating that he had been joined at Gerasahunby two companies of the Chumparun light infantry under Ensign Watson, who had effected a timely retreat from a post five coss to the right of Barra Gurhee; and that he intended to march to join Captain Hay at that place immediately.

I trust that these detachments will have joined Captain Hay, and that the Ramghur battalion, under Captain Roughsedge, will also have made a junction, which will make them equal to sustain and repulse any attack the Nepaulese may attempt, as they will have five guns, besides the defences of the fort of Barra Gurhee having been made strong.

Lieutenant Strettell reports that he had one hundred and eighty seapoys fit for duty, and fortyone wounded, inclusive of native commissioned and non-commissioned officers.

I have this morning received reports from Major Mason, an

Bouncing his arrival on this side of the Sukrance river, on the 2d; his arrival here may therefore be reasonably expected in the course of to-morrow or the day following. I have, &c. (Signed) B. MARLEY, Major-Gen. commanding. Camp, Serissowah, Jan. 3, 1815.

Return of killed, wounded, and missing, of the detachments at Persah and Summunpore, on the 1st of January, 1815. Total-123 killed; 187 wounded; 73 missing.

FOREIGN OFFICE.

August 26, 1815.

Lord Bathurst, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, has this day notified, by command of his Royal High ness the Prince Regent,to the Mi nisters of friendly Powers, resident at this Court, that, in consequence of events which have happened in Europe, it has been deemed expedient and determine ed, in conjunction with the allied Sovereigns, that the island of St. Helena shall be the place allotted for the future residence of General Napoleon Buonaparte, under such regulations as may be necessary for the perfect security of his person; and for that purpose it has been resolved, that all foreign ships or vessels whatever shall be excluded from all communication with, or approach to that island, so long as the said island shall continue to be the place of residence of the said Napoleon Buonaparte.

COLONIAL DEPARTMENT.

Downing Street, Sept. 16. Captain Leith Hay, aide-decamp to Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith, G. C. B. commanding his Majesty's forces in the Windward and Leeward Islands, arrived this afternoon with a dispatch, addressed to Earl Bathurst, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, of which the following is a copy:

Basseterre, Guadaloupe, Aug. 12, 1815.

My Lord,-Having concerted with the Commander in Chief the necessary naval arrangements, Rear Admirál Sir Charles Durham was so obliging as to receive me, with the head-quarters, on board his Majesty's ship Venerable, bearing his flag.

The fleet, consisting of the vessels of war, such parts of the troops as had been assembled from the South American Continent, and from the Windward Islands, sailed from Carlisle Bay, Barbadoes, on the 31st of July, whilst the land-force destined to proceed from St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominique, were di rected to rendezvous without delay at the Saintes.

Your Lordships will have al ready been apprised, by a former dispatch,that the important post of the Saintes was already garrisoned by British troops, and placed in a state to have resisted all attacks of the enemy, while the expedition was not yet in a state of preparation.

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It was important to keep the attacking force to windward of Guadaloupe as long as the hur

ricane season (already begun) might permit.

The 1st division from Barbadoes anchored in the bay of St. Louis, Mariegalante, on the 2d August, and from thence were ordered to threaten a landing to windward off Point-a-Pitre and Fort Fleur d'Epée, where the enemy was in force.

The 2d or leeward division as sembling (but were not yet collected) at the Saintes, threatened the whole coast from St. Marie to Basseterre and Baillif.

It was deemed advisable to accompany the demonstration of a landing in force from Gosier, by a summons to surrender the forts Point-a-Pitre and Grande-Terre. It was the Rear Admiral's intention and mine to have met the 1st division in the Venerable, which sailed from the Saintes for that purpose; calms and currents, however, prevented the Venerable from reaching the coast, and obliged the 1st division to anchor.

The appearance of the atmosphere denoted the approach of a hurricane; it became therefore necessary to give up secondary objects and to embrace the first favourable moment for getting the fleet into the Saintes, for which the commander in chief made the necessary dispositions.

It was not until the night of the 7th that the whole force was assembled at the Saintes.

I had previously reconnoitred the coast, in the Barbadoes brig of war, which Rear admiral Sir Charles Durham had sent with me for that purpose.

The internal state of Guadaloupe and the season were both so critical that not a moment was

to be lost; I determined therefore: to attack the enemy on the morn ing of the 8th instant.

. Having made the necessary arrangements with the naval commander in chief, the whole fleet got under weigh at break of day, and stood towards the Ance St. Sauveur, where the landing most to windward was to be effected.

I had received information that the troops of the line and militia under arms, altogether amounted to 6,000. I determined, therefore to throw my principal force between that of the enemy in Grande-terre and Basse-terre, where it was his intention to have assembled nearly the whole of his force, immediately after our demonstration to windward had of necessity terminated. My plan was to attack in three columns; the scarcity of boats and the surf, required that the whole should assist in each disembarkation, which was therefore effected successively. The first was made at the Ance St. Sauveur, where a detachment of the enemy about 500 strong, moving from Grande-Terre to join Admiral Linois and General Boyer, shewed a disposition to oppose the landing.

The brigs of war and gun boats, however, soon scoured that point, and eight hundred and fifty of the Royal York Rangers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Starck, disembarked (notwithstanding a heavy surf) without the loss of a

chun, Petit Carbet, and looking towards Trois Rivieres; to threat en the left flank and rear of the enemy, posted to oppose the landing at Grande Ance, and to drive him from the important communication of Pautrizel, which leads to turn the strong post of Dolé and Morne Palmiste, the latter being one of the principal keys to Basseterre.

Meanwhile the fleet dropped down to Grande Ance, to effect the principal landing, where the enemy was in force, and possessed a strong position, with batteries commanding the landing place, which was susceptible of obstinate defence. The brigs of war and a gun-boat placed to enfilade, soon obliged the enemy to abandon his guns, one of which only, a long twelve-pounder, was found mounted.

The surf was very great, and one of the gun boats was lost, but the exertions of the navy, and the steadiness of the troops, surmounted every difficulty.

The 15th and 25th regiments, with the remainder of the 1st and 2nd brigades, under Major-Generals Sir Charles Shipley and Stehelin, were safely disembarked.

I immediately moved forward the troops to drive the enemy; but if he had before any hopes of maintaining his position for the night, a sharp fire of musquetry, by which we speedily drove him from Pautrizel, placed his left flank en l'air, and obliged him to

retire.

The approach of darkness left no farther means of attack that night, and I placed the troops in their bivouac.

At break of day on the 9th,

the troops were put in motion in two columns; the 1st brigade, under Major-General Sir Charles Shipley, moved upon, and occupied Dolé; the 2nd under MajorGeneral Stehelin, marched upon the left of the Morne Palmiste, by Pautrizel. It appeared that Comte de Linois, and General Boyer had evacuated Dolé in the night. The enemy, however, shewed himself in considerable force on the left of the Morne Palmiste, and on the face of that mountain, commanding the main road to Basseterre; his advance occupied Petit's plantation.

Captain Leith Hay, my aide-decamp, was ordered to gain the top of Morne Boucanier, by a difficult detour, with a rifle company of the Royal West India Rangers and light company of the 6th West India regiment, to alarm the enemy's right flank and rear, which being accomplished, obliged him to withdraw; his posts were every where driven, and he retreated to the Morne Palmiste.

I determined to push the enemy as rapidly as was possible, considering the nature of the country, of which every part is not only susceptible of defence, but is even difficult of access without resistance, especially under the heat of a tropical sun.

A heavy cannonade now announced the disembarkation of the 3rd brigade, under MajorGeneral Douglass, in the vicinity of Bailliff, and to leeward of Basseterre. I had instructed him to seize the Batterie des Trois, to occupy the capital, to mask, or if practicable, to take Fort St. Charles by a coup-de-main, to