mounting seven guns; Fort Amsterdam, placed on the confluence of two rivers and armed with eighty-four pieces of ordnance; Fort Leyden, with twelve heavy guns, situated on the opposite bank to Fort Amsterdam; and two hundred yards lower down the river was the battery of Frederica, with twelve 36-pounders. In addition to these there was another, a little further on, mounting ten large guns, with its rear protected by impracticable marshes and woods; and the fire of all these batteries intersected the channel for ships going up the river.

The Pandour, Emerald, and Alligator, having the 64th Regiment on board, got under weigh to attack Bramspoint, which commanded the mouth of the Surinam. On pushing over the bar, a fire was opened on the ships, which was silenced by well-directed broadsides; and, the entrance being thus secured, a considerable part of the men landed the next day, and the ships of war proceeded up the river as far as the tide would admit. Captain Richardson and the colonel of the Engineers set out to explore the country, and procure intelligence respecting the possibility of reaching the forts by marching through the woods. They, fortunately, found some negroes, whom they engaged as guides, and reported, on their return to the general, that there was a practicable way by which troops might be conducted to the rear of Frederica and Leyden. The

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result was, that a detachment under Brigadier Hughes. and one hundred and thirty well-armed seamen under Captain Richardson, landed at half-past ten in the evening at Resolution, sixteen miles from the point of attack. A great quantity of rain having recently fallen, it was found that the path, at all times difficult, had become a swamp and almost impassible. But no obstacles could damp the ardour of our men, who, with persevering courage, pushed on in the darkness and pouring rain, and, after a laborious march of five hours, they arrived at the rear of Frederica battery.

Instant preparations were made to storm it; and the seamen, headed by their determined leader, Captain Richardson, sprung forward to the assault, supported by the troops with fixed bayonets. The garrison, deeming themselves impregnable on their rear, and, only expecting foes from the river quarter, were astounded on perceiving the tars climbing up their defences. Soon recovering their surprise, they attacked the sailors, who had hard fighting to maintain their ground, until succoured by the soldiers. The enemy, after a brief combat, fled to the neighbouring fort, (Leyden,) closely followed by the victorious English, who entered the place nearly on the heels of the fugitives. The Batavians found time to blow up the magazine, which exploded under the pursuers, and many of the British officers and men were severely wounded.

Notwithstanding this disaster on entering the works, the seamen and soldiery, without stopping a moment, rushed over a narrow causeway seven hundred yards long, in the face of five pieces of artillery, that showered grape-shot upon them; and so irresistible was the attack, that the enemy, after some firing, called for quarter. This was generously granted by the conquerors, although they were highly exasperated at the conduct of the Batavian troops in blowing up the powder magazine. By this brilliant affair a position was secured by which a heavy fire could be brought on New Amsterdam, which surrendered after some resistance, and this was immediately followed by the capitulation of the whole colony.

The night after Frederica was taken, an unexpected circumstance occurred which aroused the wearied British, and gave them reason to expect a fresh struggle with the enemy. Alligators were in the list of agreeable neighbours at the fort, as they abounded in the adjoining savannah; and in their journey down a small, muddy stream to the river, they often visited the fosse surrounding the place. Sometimes they were bold enough to ascend the works and peep like spies from the ramparts, but always retreated on the slightest alarm. On the night in question, one of these huge saurians suddenly approached a sentinel as he was standing at his post within the fort; the soldier, terrified at such a formidable visitor, in the impulse of surprise and fear,