The following extract from General Abercrombie's dispatches contains the particulars of his attack upon Puerto Rico: Annual Register, 1797, p. 97.-Abercrombie's Dispatch. habitants once in every year, for the purpose of raising a sum for the maintenance of Negroes, who have been left by the deaths or removals of their proprietors, or who have been manumitted without any suitable provision being made for their maintenance. "Every master or owner of slaves shall give them two suits of clothes every year, under penalty of 50l., and shall instruct them in the Christian religion. "No slave to be mutilated. "No court or justice to pass any sentence whereby any slave shall be directed to be mutilated. "Any person killing a slave, or causing the same to be done, shall be considered murderers. "Persons anywise ill-treating slaves subject to be indicted in the general court, &c. "No slave shall receive more than twenty lashes at any one time, or for any one crime, &c. "Owners of slaves committing them to gaol, the provost-marshal authorised to receive them, and to have four shillings a day for his trouble. 66 Affixing iron collars, with projecting bars, on the necks of slaves, unlawful. "Christmas Day, and the two following days, to be allowed every slave as holidays. "Overseers absenting themselves on Christmas holidays, without leave, to forfeit 51. per day. "An account of the deaths and births of slaves on each plantation to be given in upon oath to the churchwardens annually. "If neglected, the penalty of 50l. to be stopped out of his wages. "No slave shall leave his owners plantation without a ticket from him. "No Negro shall hunt cattle or other animals with cutlasses, guns, or other arms. "Free Negroes giving false passes to or harbouring slaves, to suffer loss of freedom or other punishment. "White persons guilty of the same offence, to suffer fine and imprisonment. "No ticket to be granted to a slave for more than one month. "Slave absconding, notice thereof to be given within fourteen days. "Runaway slaves not to be bought or "The punishment of slaves, who shall run away for six months, not to extend to life or limb. "If they are absent more than that time, to be transported for life, or suffer other punishment, not extending to life or limb. "Slaves harbouring runaways, to suffer fine and imprisonment. "Slaves taking up runaways, to be rewarded, not exceeding three pounds. "Slaves being ten days absent, and found eight miles from their plantation, to be deemed runaways. "Free persons apprehending runaways, to be entitled to twenty shillings, over and above two shillings a mile for the first five miles, and one shilling per mile afterwards. "Slaves taking or killing another in actual rebellion, to be rewarded with five pounds for killing, or ten pounds for taking any such slave; and also with a blue cloth coat, with a red cross on the right shoulder. "Persons killing slaves in the execution of this act, to give immediate information, under a penalty of one hundred pounds. "Persons apprehending slaves, to send them to proper places. "The gaoler to advertise once a month the names of runaway slaves in his custody. "Gaolers to provide good and wholesome provisions for the slaves in their custody, under the penalty of ten pounds. "Runaway slaves, after being advertised twelve months, to be sold at public auction. "Gaoler not to work or lend any runaway slave. "Slaves making their escape from confinement, to be punished by whipping, not exceeding fifty lashes. "If the slave escapes through the gaoler's neglect, the gaoler or other officer to forfeit twenty pounds. "The owner to be paid the full value for any slave killed in defence of his country. "Any person that shall suffer more than twelve strange slaves to assemble, and beat their drums, or blow their horns upon his land, to forfeit fifty pounds, if he does not endeavour to prevent it. Civil and military officers may enter into any place whatever, to disperse such assembly. "Slaves concealing arms or ammunition "On Monday the 17th of April, we made the island Puerto Rico, and came to an anchor off Congrejos Point. The whole north side of this island is bounded by a reef, that it was with much difficulty that a channel was discovered, about three leagues to the eastward of the town, through which his Majesty's sloops Beaver and Fury, with the lighter vessels, passed into a small bay, in which the troops on the next morning were disembarked, with little opposition from about 100 of the enemy, who were concealed in the bushes at the landing place. In the afternoon of the same day, the troops advanced, and took a position very favourable for our numbers, with our right to the sea, and our left to a lagoon, which extends far into the country. The artillery was brought up. without loss of time, and every preparation made to force a passage into the island on which the town of Puerto Rico is situated.' Annual Register, 1797, p. 97. "Slaves striking, or offering any violence to any white person, to suffer death. "Slaves mixing any poison, with intent to give it, shall suffer death. "Slaves, having fraudulently in their possession fresh meat, or above five pounds of horse or mule's flesh, to be whipped, not exceeding thirty-nine lashes; if more than forty-eight pounds of such flesh be found in their possession, the punishment not to extend to life or limb. "Slaves stealing cattle to be punished with death. "Any free Negro aiding any slave to escape, to be transported. "White persons to forfeit one hundred pounds for the same offence. "No slave to carry about for sale any dry goods. "No slave to retail any spirituous liquors. "No slave to play dice, cards, or other gaming. "Upon complaint made of any rob beries, &c. to any justice of the peace, to issue his warrant. "Not less than two justices and five freeholders shall constitute a court for the trial of Negroes. "All executions to be performed in some public place, and the mode to be, hanging by the neck, and no other. "Slaves giving false evidence, to suffer the same punishment as the person convicted "The gaoler to receive all his fees from the public treasury. "A record of the trials of slaves to be kept by the clerk of the peace. "Constables to attend trial of slaves, Abercrombie's Dispatch. "Jurors summoned to forfeit six pounds for non-attendance. "No trial to be had until notice be given to the owners, &c. of slaves. "Slaves sentenced to death to be valued by the jury, and paid for out of the public treasury. "Slaves returning from transportation to suffer death. "When any slave cannot be taken by warrant, a copy thereof to be served on the owner, who shall forfeit one hundred pounds for detaining or concealing such slave. "All persons that have been slaves and made free, to be tried in the same manner as slaves. "Offences committed by slaves, below felony, to be determined before two magistrates. "Runaway slaves to be committed to goal. "In all cases where power is vested in the justices and vestry, such power shall be executed by justices where no vestry on the out islands, or by the vestry, if no justices thereon. "Forfeitures and penalties, not being otherwise directed, if not exceeding twenty pounds, to be recovered in a summary way, before two magistrates, and if above twenty pounds, in the general court. "This act to be in force two years from the passing thereof, and from thence to the end of the next session of the general assembly, and no longer. "Assented to the 11th May, 1797. "JOHN FORBES." Parl. Papers, B. pp. 3. 6, 7. 10. 12. "It is necessary here to observe, that as the Moro Castle completely commands the passage into the harbour, the enemy kept open their communications with the southern and western part of the island, and even teazed and harassed our left flank with their numerous gun-boats; the only point, therefore, on which we could attack the town, was on the eastern side, where it is defended by the castle and lines of St. Christopher, to approach which it was necessary to force our way over the lagoon which forms this side of the island. This passage was strongly defended by two redoubts and gun-boats, and the enemy had destroyed the bridge which connects, in the narrowest channel, the island with the main land. After every effort on our part, we never could sufficiently silence the fire of the enemy, (who had likewise entrenched themselves in the rear of these redoubts,) to hazard forcing the passage into the island with so small a force; and this, indeed, would have been in vain, as the enemy could support a fire ten times more powerful than we could have brought against them. The only thing left was to endeavour to bombard the town from a point to the southward of it, near to a large magazine abandoned by the enemy; this was tried for several days, without any great effect, on account of the distance. It appearing, therefore, that no act of vigour on our part, nor that any combined operation between the sea and land service could in any manner avail, I determined to withdraw, and to reimbark the troops, which was done on the night of the 30th of April, with the greatest order and regularity; all our artillery and stores were brought off, except seven iron guns, four iron mortars, and two brass howitzers, which were rendered unserviceable, it being impossible to remove them. Not a sick or wounded soldier was left behind, and nothing of any value fell into the hands of the enemy. During the whole of our operations, I have experienced from Admiral Harvey the most cordial co-operation, and every act of personal kindness. At my request he landed 300 seamen, under Captains Toddy and Brown, of the royal navy, to whose exertions while on shore we are under the greatest obligations. From the arrangements of the admiral, the landing and reimbarking of the troops were conducted in the best order. To Captain Renou of the royal navy, principal agent of the transports, I desire to express the sense I have of his good conduct upon all occasions." Four Spanish brass field pieces were brought off. The British loss in killed, wounded, and missing, was 225. Extract from a dispatch from Lieutenant-Colonel Simcoe, commanding the British troops in St. Domingo, to the British government, dated Port-au-Prince, May the 8th, 1797. "In my letter of the 13th of April, I have done myself the honour of informing you, that the army of the enemy under Toussaint, after the unexpected evacuation of Mirebalais, has possessed itself of Grand Bois; while the division of their forces on the side of Leogane continued to fire with cannon against Grenier. "The preservation of these posts was an object of considerable moment; every method was taken, in case of their loss, to guard the mountain, and to dispute the ground on which the enemy could place their howitzers for the destruction of Port-au-Prince, the object which was supposed to be in their contemplation. But, as it was evident that the army of Toussaint could not be prevented from crossing the plain, and, under this impression, the Baron Montalembert had obtained my permission to evacuate the post of Thomazeau, at the foot of the mountains of Grand Bois, I determined to take the guns in the battery against Grenier, that in case the armies of Toussaint and Leogane should join, they might be totally without cannon, which could not be well brought across the plain of the Cul de Sac; and, without cannon, the junction or separation of their armies was equally indifferent. Colonel Dessources was therefore placed at the head of 2000 troops, and such preparatory arrangements were made, as provided for the protection of L'Arcahaye, and were well calculated to mislead the enemy; and such feints were directed as might distract their attention. "The attack was intended to have taken place on the 15th of April, but the wind did not permit the arrival of Colonel Dessources with his regiment until the 26th, when he marched early in the morning from Port-au-Prince to Tourmier. The enemy, as was their custom, placed some troops in ambuscade, who were soon dispersed, and the King's forces arrived at Tourmier with little loss. The enemy had occupied two posts on the crest of the mountain of L'Hospitre, on each side of Tourmier, and nearly at two miles distance from it, at the habitations of Boutillier and St. Laurent. It was necessary to dislodge them from these positions; Colonel de Peyster was therefore detached to Boutillier, from which, with his usual gallantry and good conduct, he drove the enemy. The post of St. Laurent was more obstinately defended; and, by the unfortunate loss of Major Pouchet, who was killed in leading on the Jeremie troops, they were thrown into confusion, nor was the post taken till a greater force, with cannon, appeared against it. The delay occasioned by the defence of St. Laurent induced Colonel Dessources to postpone the attack of the battery till the next day; and that intelligent officer employed the remainder of the night in making such preparations as were necessary to insure the success of this enterprise. The defence of the Cul de Sac was entrusted to the Baron Montalembert, who made a considerable detachment to the pass, where the road from Leogane by Grenier enters the plain. This detachment was skilfully conducted by Major O'Gorman. It attracted the notice of considerable bodies of the enemy, and, on its return to the Croix des Bouquets in the evening, was attacked on all sides by small parties, who were repulsed. Toussaint entered the plain in the course of the day, and marched to the side of the Croix des Bouquets, actuated, as it is said, by some vague report of that important post being to be abandoned on his first appearance. His cavalry fell in with the advanced posts of the Baron Montalembert's cavalry, under the command of Captain Comte Manoux. That officer collecting his troops, immediately charged the enemy with great vivacity, when they fled, and withdrew with the utmost expedition to the mountain. In the mean time, Captain Conchet, of his Majesty's ship Abergavenny, with some armed vessels, proceeded off Leogane, which place has been effectually blockaded since my arrival at Port-auPrince, and made various demonstrations to draw the enemy's attention to that side. I am happy in this opportunity to express how much I am beholden to the zeal and promptitude with which Captain Conchet has assisted me in promoting his Majesty's service. "On the morning of the 17th, Colonel Dessources, having made his dispositions, marched in two columns, the left to Grenier, under the direction of Colonel De Peyster, in which was the British detachment commanded by Major Clay. The right column, under the direction of Colonel Vicomte d'Alzune, descended from St. Laurent. Upon the division of the left arriving in the bottom which separated the post of Grenier from the enemy's battery, it turned to the right and joined the column that had marched from St. Laurent. The fog and haze in the bottom prevented the enemy from seeing this movement. It was also concealed by the judicious manner in which Captain Spicer of the royal artillery threw shells from the heights of Fournier from an howitzer and carronade, directing them against the various ambuscades and defences which the enemy had thrown up to protect their battery from attack in its front or on its right. any "On the junction of this division to one column, Colonel Dessources proceeded through a most difficult and inaccessible country to turn the left of the enemy's battery and the works which supported it, having left troops on the heights of St. Laurent to secure his retreat, and Major Clay to protect him from any attack made by the road from Leogane. As the colonel approached the flank of the battery and that of the breastwork which defended it, he successively broke his troops into divisions, which kept the enemy's force in check and suspense, until another division under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Dessources had, to their great surprise, possessed themselves of the heights considerably beyond them; when, |