When the republicans entered the fortress which General Prescott had evacuated, Victor Hughes ordered the monumental stone placed over the body of Major-General Dundas to be destroyed, and the body to be taken up and thrown into the river Gallion.

If the greater atrocities committed by the apt pupils of Buonaparte had not outraged humanity beyond all precedent, and in a variety of ways too horrible to relate, the character of Victor Hughes might have claimed pre-eminence of infamy; but bad and fiend-like as he was, subsequent events in Spain and Portugal have proved that even his atrocities could be surpassed.

Captain Faulknor's Letter to Prince Edward.

“SIR,

"In obedience to the commands of your R. H., I embrace the earliest occasion of transmitting, as well as I have had the power to collect, the several events which have occurred since your R. H. left the West Indies.

"The uncertain situation of a cruizing frigate, and my being dispatched a few hours after the Blanche's arrival to protect the north side of Guadaloupe, afforded me but little opportunity to make inquiry, and enables me still less to give a regular account, when such innumerable changes have arisen in so short a space of time. In reciting the unpleasant aspect of our affairs at this island, it will be impossible to prevent mentioning many painful circumstances; but when I contemplate the situation of this country in April last, where your R. H. had shone with such distinguished bravery and merit, and at the head of troops worthy of being thus led and inspired by the leader,-what a sad reverse now, to behold the havoc of mortality, and the fruits of one unfortunate military error, which happened at Point à Petre, soon after the reinforcement had landed from France.

"That I may not, however, have reference to this out of its place, I will return to the period of my leaving Halifax, from whence I went, in company with the Alarm, to Boston; and, being satisfied that the Concorde and Perdrix had not sailed, pursued my orders from Admiral Murray, and made all the expedition in my power to join Sir J. Jervis; but, owing to contrary winds and calms, did not arrive at Guadaloupe until the 20th of October, and found the Boyne and Terpsichore at Basse Terre, the latter having joined the admiral a short time before. The Alarm arrived two days after us, having parted company with the Blanche in the course of the

passage.

"I found the admiral in good health and spirits

*

"The admiral had frequently written to America for the different frigates to return; but as he always put his signature at the corner of the letters, it was enough for the friendship and sagacity of the Americans; and if they were not opened, they were at least never allowed to be delivered. The Terpsichore got some intimation of this treachery when she went into port, and the other ships will soon be here.

"A short time previous to the Blanche's arrival, our reduced camp near Petit Bourg was obliged to capitulate, after sustaining many attacks from the enemy. The terms of this capitulation were such, I believe, as are usually given, except for the royalists, for whom no proposition or alternative could be obtained, or even listened to.

"I pretend not to comment on these events; but I never understood that it was possible to extricate the small force Colonel had with him, from the superiority of numbers, the advantage of situation, and the constitutional strength of the inhabitants and Blacks, who are now become free and armed throughout the island. The new French citizens have all the enthusiasm of freedom; and, as if vindictive cruelty and savage ferocity were the consequences of a change of situation, these unhappy royalists, of whom I have before spoken, when they were delivered up, experienced the most studied barbarity, being thrust into a ditch, and murdered in cold blood! some were shot at, others staked, and the rest mangled in triumph and unfeeling horror! Here the guillotine would have been an instrument of mercy. Colonel Paterson, and some few artillery and seamen, were annexed to the army that surrendered. "Our misfortunes on this island seem to have originated at the unfortunate attack of Point à Petre. On that occasion we had plenty of troops, and had possession of every strong post, to have driven the enemy from the town, and to have recovered the Fleur d'Epée, almost without loss. But no fixed plan being given out for the attack, the successful fire and well-laid ambush of the French, which, by an encouragement to advance, ensured a repulse, and poor James being wounded, none knew the direct point for which the movement was intended-confusion and carnage ensued, and the bugle sounded in vain.

"At that season of the year, and thus situated, your royal highness must know the impossibility of another effort; and I conclude, in proportion as our abilities became enfeebled, the spirits of the enemy became elated; which, together with the mortality occasioned by the climate, and the depression mostly accompanying defeat, have produced the consequences I have already stated, in the recent surrender of our camp in the vicinity of Petit Bourg; and left us no other possession in Guadaloupe than the fort at

Basse Terre (Fort Matilda,) commanded by General Prescott, with a garrison of about 400 men; the Palmiste being entirely destroyed, and the guns and mortars burst, and rendered useless. The enemy opened their first battery of two guns and a mortar from Morne Houel, the day after the Blanche's arrival, and others were constructing on the hill which so immediately commands it."

Fort Matilda surrendered on the 10th of December, 1794.

Captain Faulknor, on the 30th of December, cut out a corvette from under a battery at Deseada: he had two men killed and five wounded. The next day he captured an armed schooner laden with gunpowder, near Fort Louis, Guadaloupe.

On the 10th of May, General Prescott, the governor of Martinico, under the orders of Sir Charles Grey and Sir J. Jervis, issued a proclamation to the inhabitants of that island: they were required to choose representatives, who were to fix, in an equitable manner, a general contribution (the amount of which (it said) shall be made known to them), to be paid by all who possess property in the colony-the commander-in-chief having decided that such an arrangement would be more convenient than a general confiscation.

Another proclamation was issued upon the 20th of May, in which it was said, that no attention having been paid to that of the 10th, requiring representatives to raise a sum of money adequate to the value of the conquest destined to reward the valour, to compensate the fatigue, and its consequences, sickness and mortality, and to make good the heavy expence incurred by the British officers, &c. who, with matchless perseverance, &c. had achieved the conquest of the island, subjected it to the British government, rescued from a wretched exile the greatest number of its inhabitants, &c., the procrastination of this arrangement having prevented several of the inhabitants from carrying their commodities to market ;- the commanders, in order to remove an evil of such importance, do enact and ordain

1. The civil commissaries, in their respective parishes, to deliver an exact list of the inhabitants, with the number of slaves, cattle, acres of land, &c. and a specification of all productions made and gathered on such estate, wherein ought to be distinguished those made and collected before the 23d of March.

"2. The civil commissaries in towns and boroughs to deliver a list of the houses, slaves, &c. enumerating all sorts of property. "3. The civil commissaries were required to demand all accountbooks, &c. belonging to French captains or agents, and an exact account of all property falling under the description of vacant succession in the colony, with a correct inventory of all the goods, &c. belonging to such as had been captured in arms, killed during the

siege, or banished the island, and a specification of the property of all persons resident in France.

4. The commissaries were to name all persons who appeared not disposed to fulfil the purpose of the proclamation.

"5. The reports were to be made with the utmost expedition, as it was the firm resolution of the commanders to have the present measure fully executed, or, on failure of it, to enforce a general

confiscation.

1795.

The naval store-keeper at Jamaica was concerned in supplying Martinico with a counterfeit coin called stampees: they were made at Birmingham, and sent over by the gross. The affair was represented to government by Admiral Sir H. Parker, and an inquiry instituted. The profit upon the stampees, to the issuer, was estimated at 500 per cent. Joes and johannes, and two-sous pieces, were offered to be supplied from the same mint, by Mr. Bullock, the maker-the base metal joes at four shillings and sixpence; gold ones at one pound three shillings and nine-pence; two-sous pieces at three shillings per gross. A joe is an eight dollar piece.

Mr. Bullock, in his letter, September 1795, says-" I have had application from St. Kitt's, Tortola, and Martinico, but not liking the mode of payment, have not executed these orders."

At Grenada, a detachment of French troops from Guadaloupe joined the insurgents. After some checks, the British compelled their enemies to take refuge in the mountains.

Victor Hugues sent another detachment of troops from Guadaloupe to Dominica; who, assisted by some runaway Negroes and disaffected inhabitants, committed great devastations. The exertions of the English inhabitants, who assisted the regular troops, obliged the enemy to submit. Several were executed as traitors, and about 600 French inhabitants sent to England.

At daylight upon the 4th of January, Captain Faulknor, in his Majesty's ship Blanche, discovered a French frigate at anchor outside the harbour of Point à Petre, in Guadaloupe: he immediately stood in within gun-shot of Fort Fleur d'Epée; but finding that the Frenchman did not appear inclined to come out from under the batteries, Captain Faulknor made sail after a schooner, which he detained, and stood over to Dominica with her in tow. At eight P.M. he observed the frigate about two leagues astern, and immediately tacked and made sail for her. At a quarter past midnight, Captain Faulknor passed under her lee, on the starboard tack: both ships exchanged broadsides in passing upon opposite

Report of Commissioners of Naval Inquiry, Naval Chronicle, vol. ix. p. 456.

tacks, and Captain Faulknor tacked. When within musket shot, the French wore; the Blanche did the same, and engaged her nearly aboard. At one A.M. the Blanche ran across her stern, and soon afterwards, Captain Faulknor himself lashed the French ship's bowsprit to the capstern of his own ship. At a quarter past two, La Pique dropped astern: at this time Captain Faulknor was killed, and the Blanche had lost her main and mizen masts. The English now, with a hawser, lashed La Pique well fast, with her bowsprit on the Blanche's starboard quarter, and shot away all her masts. In this situation they towed her, running before the wind, and firing into her bows until a quarter past five, when the French hailed that they had struck.

Lieutenant Milne and ten men then swam on board, and took possession of La Pique, of twenty-six twelve pounders, eight nine, and four thirty-two pound carronades, and 400 men, of whom seventy-six were killed, 110 wounded, and thirty lost with the masts. The English had eight killed, including Captain Faulknor, and twenty-one wounded.

Admiral Jervis and General Sir C. Grey, in vindicating their conduct in the West Indies, pleaded their secret instructions to consider the French government, having no legal authority, as an usurpation, and its supporters as rebels and traitors. In conformity to this policy, the subjects of the national convention were in many instances sent away, their estates sequestered, and receivers appointed for the benefit of the government; the captors, in no one instance, deriving any emolument from them.

The property of republican agents in the towns of St. Pierre and Fort Royal, which were both taken by assault, they considered as unquestionable booty; it was there in order to be shipped to France, on account of the republic. The planters resident on the island had likewise sent produce to St. Pierre's, to be shipped or sold; and this was considered lawful prize, because the proprietors either resisted his Majesty's forces, or declined accepting the terms of the proclamation of the 1st of January. No other private property of any description was molested; and although St. Pierre was taken by storm, the shops were open next day, and the inhabitants transacting business as usual. The provisions and necessaries supplied to the navy and army were regularly paid for.

These commanders asserted, that the complaints against them were made by British adventurers, who were disappointed of getting the prize property cheap, many of whom had been long in the habit of carrying on commerce with the French islands, and were deeply concerned with the planters in Martinico. The commanders designate the memorials from the merchants and agents as "equally unfounded in fact, and destitute of candour;" and, in support of their assertion, published a letter from a merchant at St. Vincent's, Memoirs of Sir J. Jervis, Naval Chronicle, vol. iv. p. 15.