directed the disembarkation, fhewed all the zeal and intelligence which I have experienced from him on former occafions. To lord Craven, who begged to attend the expedition, I am indebted for great zeal and exertion.

Lieutenant-colonel Soter, who is intimately acquainted with this country, has been, and continues to be, of very great ufe to me. I I thould not do juftice to his general character, if I did not take this opportunity to exprefs it. My aidde-camp, captain Drew, 'of the 45th regiment, will have the honour to deliver this letter: he has ferved long in this country, and is capable to give fuch further information as may be required. I humbly beg leave to recommend him to his majefty's favour.

I have the honour to be, &c.

R. ABERCROMBY, K. B. Articles of Capitulation for the furrender of the Island of Trinidad, between his Excellency Sir Ralph Abercromby, K. B. Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majefty's Land Forces; his Excellency Henry Harvey, Efq. Rear Admiral of the Red, and Commander in Chief of his Britannic Majefty's Ships and Veffels of War; and his Excellency Don Jofef Maria Chacon, Knight of the Order of Calatrava, Brigadier of the Royal Navy, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Inland of Trinidad and its Dependencies, Infpector-General of the Troops of its Garrifon, &c.

&c. &c.

Art. I. The officers and troops of his Catholic majefty, and his allies, in the island of Trinidad, are to furrender themfelves prifoners of war, and are to deliver up the territory, forts, buildings, arms, am

munition, money, effects, plans, and ftores, with exact inventories thereof, belonging to his Catholic majetty; and they are thereby transferred to his Britannic majefty, in the fame manner and poffeffion as has been held heretofore by his faid Catholic majesty.

Art. II. The troops of his Catholic majefty are to march out with the honours of war, and to lay down their arms, at the distance of three hundred paces from the forts they occupy, at five o'clock this evening, the 18th of February.

Art. III. All the officers and troops aforefaid of his Catholic majefty are allowed to keep their private effects, and the officers are allowed to wear their fwords.

Art. IV. Admiral Don Sebastian Ruiz de Apodaca, being on fhore in the island, after having burnt and abandoned his hips, he, with the officers and men belonging to the fquadron under his command, are included in this capitulation, under the fame terms as are granted to his Catholic majefty's troops.

Art. V. As foon as fhips can be conveniently provided for the purpofe, the prifoners are to be conveyed to Old Spain, they remaining prifoners of war until exchanged by a cartel between the two nations, or until the peace; it being clearly understood that they fhall not ferve against Great Britain or her allies until exchanged.

Art. VI. There being fome officers among his Catholic majesty's troops, whofe private affairs require their prefence at different places of the continent of America, fuch officers are permitted to go upon their parole to the faid places for fix months, more or lefs, after which period they are to return to Eu rope; but as the number receiving (D 4)

this

this indulgence must be limited, his excellency Don Chacon will previously deliver to the British commanders a lift of their names, rank, and places which they are going to.

Art. VII. The officers of the royal adminiftration, upon the delivery of flores with which they are charged to fuch officers as may be appointed by the British commanders, will receive receipts, according to the cuftom in like cafes, from the officers fo appointed to receive the ftores.

Art. VIII. All the private property of the inhabitants, as well Spaniards as may fuch as have been naturalized, is preferved to

them.

Art. IX. All public records are to be preferved in fuch courts or offices as they are now in, and all contracts or purchases between individuals, which have been done according to the laws of Spain, are to be held binding and valid by the British government.

Art. X. The Spanish officers of adminiftration, who are poffeffed of landed property in Trinidad, are allowed to remain in the island, they taking the oaths of allegiance to his Britannic majefty; and they are further allowed, fhould they pleafe, to fell or difpofe of their property, and to retire elfewhere.

Art. XI. The free exercife of their religion is allowed to the in

habitants.

Art. XII. The free-coloured people, who have been acknowledged as fuch by the laws of Spain, fhall be protected in their liberty, perfons, and property, like other inhabitants; they taking the oath of allegiance, and demeaning themfelves as become good and peace

able fubjects of his Britannic ma jefty.

Art. XIII. The failors and fol diers of his Catholic majesty are, from the time of their laying down their arms, to be fed by the British government, leaving the expence to be regulated by the cartel between the two nations.

Art. XIV. The fick of the Spa. nifh troops will be taken care of, but to be attended, and to be un. der the infpection, of their own furgeons.

Art. XV. All the inhabitants of Trinidad fhall, within thirty days from the date hereof, take the oath of allegiance to his Britannic majefty, to demean themfelves quietly and faithfully to his government, upon pain, in cafe of non-compli ance, of being fent away from the island.

Done at Port d'Espagne, in the ifland of Trinidad, the 18th day of February, 1797.

RALPH ABERCROMBY.
HENRY HARVEY.

JOSEPH MARIA CHACON, Return of the Spanish Garrifon of the Ifland of Trinidad made Prifoners of War, Feb. 18, 1797.

Royal artillery.-1 captain, lieutenant, 43 non-commiffioned officers, drummers, and privates.

Engineers.1 brigadier, 2 cap. tains, 1 fubaltern.

Trinidad regiment.-2 lieutenantcolonels, 2 captains, 15 fubalterns, 1 adjutant, 2 enfigns, i furgeon, chaplain, 504 non-commiffioned of ficers, drummers and privates.

French officers. I lieutenantcolonel, 3 captains, 1 fubaltern, 2 engineers.

Fifty men fick in general hofpital.

JOHN HOPE, Adj. Gen.
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