our people; and at the gates of the fort lay a heap of slain, who had died by the sword or the bayonet. Within the fort lay a multitude of miserable wretches, expiring of their wounds, and many of our own people in the same situation. In the midst of this, his excellency was writing his despatches, on a table on which lay an artilleryman sleeping, being overcome with fatigue, and the general would not allow him to be disturbed." In the midst of these sufferings, it is pleasant to record traits of this kind, of heroes who, when the fury of battle has subsided, have human feelings and sympathies.

His Royal Highness Prince Edward, afterwards Duke of Kent, and father of our most gracious Queen, was present at this action, as were also Colonels Symes and Cradock. By the capture of Fleur d'Epée and its dependencies, Grandterre, or the larger part of the island of Guadaloupe, was wrested from the enemy. Basseterre, from which it is divided by the little river Sallee, or a narrow arm of the sea, was next to be attacked.

Garrisons having been left in the captured forts, the general, with the remainder of the army, embarked on board the respective ships; and the Seaflower brig, commanded by Captain W. Pierrepoint, was sent home with despatches.

Prince Edward accompanying the commander-in-chief, they landed with the troops at Petite Bourg, and the enemy immediately retreated to the strong post of Palmiste. The Boyne, with the admiral's flag, anchored, in the mean time, in Ance de Bailiff. On the night of the 17th, the enemy set fire to the beautiful town of Basseterre, and consumed the whole of the west end of it. At one o'clock on the morning of the 20th, the commander-in-chief advanced with all his forces to attack the heights of Palmiste, consisting of a chain of batteries. At dawn of day, the light infantry, commanded by Colonel Coote, and the grenadiers, by Prince Edward, attacked the uppermost fort and carried it, putting 30 of the enemy to death. This post commanding all the other three, our guns were turned upon them, and they surrendered without much farther opposition; in consequence of these losses, the governor of the island, M. Callet, sent out a flag of truce, with proposals to deliver up the island to the British forces. Guadaloupe was ultimately given up to us on the same terms which had been granted to Martinique and St. Lucia.

As soon as the conquest of these islands was completed, Prince Edward returned in a frigate to North America.

An error was committed here, but perhaps it was unavoidable: we left too many French troops on the island. A body of 1500 men from France landed shortly after, during the absence of our ships; and the island was retaken by the French, when scenes of the utmost barbarity ensued.

I have related how that event was brought about, as well as the more serious misfortunes which befel the other conquests in the Carribee Islands, owing to the neglect and misconduct of one or two of our naval officers on that station. (See Naval History, 1st and 2d editions.)* It is painful to recur to these subjects, but justice demands that we state nothing which is false, and conceal nothing which is true.

Victor Hugues having regained possession of Guadaloupe, was enabled from thence, with the aid of the forces which were subsequently allowed to enter his ports unmolested, to spread desolation round those unfortunate settlements.

The exertions of Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey to regain possession of Guadeloupe, were infinitely more arduous than the

* This refers to the recontre between the two British ships, Bellona and Alarm, and the French squadron and convoy to windward of Deseada, after Sir John Jervis had quitted the West Indies.

Prince Edward accompanying the commander-in-chief, they landed with the troops at Petite Bourg, and the enemy immediately retreated to the strong post of Palmiste. The Boyne, with the admiral's flag, anchored, in the mean time, in Ance de Bailiff. On the night of the 17th, the enemy set fire to the beautiful town of Basseterre, and consumed the whole of the west end of it. At one o'clock on the morning of the 20th, the commander-in-chief advanced with all his forces to attack the heights of Palmiste, consisting of a chain of batteries. At dawn of day, the light infantry, commanded by Colonel Coote, and the grenadiers, by Prince Edward, attacked the uppermost fort and carried it, putting 30 of the enemy to death. This post commanding all the other three, our guns were turned upon them, and they surrendered without much farther opposition; in consequence of these losses, the governor of the island, M. Callet, sent out a flag of truce, with proposals to deliver up the island to the British forces. Guadaloupe was ultimately given up to us on the same terms which had been granted to Martinique and St. Lucia.

As soon as the conquest of these islands was completed, Prince Edward returned in a frigate to North America.

An error was committed here, but perhaps it was unavoidable: we left too many French troops on the island. A body of 1500 men from France landed shortly after, during the absence of our ships; and the island was retaken by the French, when scenes of the utmost barbarity ensued.

I have related how that event was brought about, as well as the more serious misfortunes which befel the other conquests in the Carribee Islands, owing to the neglect and misconduct of one or two of our naval officers on that station. (See Naval History, 1st and 2d editions.)* It is painful to recur to these subjects, but justice demands that we state nothing which is false, and conceal nothing which is true.

Victor Hugues having regained possession of Guadaloupe, was enabled from thence, with the aid of the forces which were subsequently allowed to enter his ports unmolested, to spread desolation round those unfortunate settlements.

The exertions of Sir John Jervis and Sir Charles Grey to regain possession of Guadeloupe, were infinitely more arduous than the

* This refers to the recontre between the two British ships, Bellona and Alarm, and the French squadron and convoy to windward of Deseada, after Sir John Jervis had quitted the West Indies.