a communication could be had with the commander of the naval forces. In consequence of bad weather, the answer was not received until the 6th inst. which perfectly coincided with my opinion as to the only terms that could be granted to the enemy. I was also informed that the river Huna had overflowed its banks, and we were thus separated from the greater part of the ordnance stores and our provisions, which further determined me to bring the matter to immediate issue, "s I stated to captain Cumby, and requested that co-operation in armed seamen, ammunition, and provisions, which I found him ever ready most cordially to afford.

With humble submission to the Almighty Disposer of events, full confidence in a just cause, and British hearts to maintain it, I wrote a letter to be delivered to general Barquier, on the garrison again refusing to lay down their arms, and immediately made the following disposition:

The first brigade, under the command of lieut.-col. Horsford, who preferred that command to the duty of deputy-adjutant-general.

this body had sufficient cover, as long as the walls of the church and my quarters remained, upon which above 20 guns and one mortar hore at the distance of 338 yards; I directed Brigadier-General French, a most active and zealous officer, to take up a position at a hollow, about 150 paces distant in my rear; and should the garrison attempt a sortie upon the reserve, to wait their close approach, charge bayonets, and follow them into the city. Had the enemy remained within the gates, false attacks and feints at different points were to be made during the night; and, scaling ladders being prepared, a general assault was to take place in open day, the first favourable opportunity; a lodgment effected upon the bastions; but the troops not to enter the streets until further orders.

During this hour of suspense under arms, the only sensation perceptible was impatience for attack, and the countenance of every British soldier at that interesting period depicted a resolute determination to plant the glory of England with the pots of their bayonets upon the fortified walls of St. Domingo. The hour having expired, I sent my militray secre tary, Capt. Twigg, to know the reason the white flag was continued after the time had elapsed, and not any answer returned to my letter? He met at the gate Lieutenant❤ Colonel Myers, announcing that the ultimatum had been agreed upon, and the garrison consented to lay down their arms as prisoners of

war.

I also detached Major Walker, of the Royal Irish, with the three light companies of the Royal Irish, 54th, and 55th regiments of foot,

to

to Fort Jerome, a very strong fortress, about two miles west of the city, with orders, on the commencement of the action, to force the gate with a field-piece, and to storm by the sally port, the walls being too high for escalade. Upon his summon, Captain Gillerman, who had no provisions but biscuit left, gave the answer of a brave soldier-that he would abide the fate of the city.

The honour of his majesty's arms, my Lord, has been maintained without the loss of one British soldier, by shot or sickness, or having recourse to that glorious, but at the same time deplorable resource, the assault of a populous city, When it is considered the courage and persevering fortitude of the French garrison, with their superiority of position and numbers, I trust his majesty will not disapprove of the measures taken for the reduction, the magnitude of the object obtained, and the terms granted to the enemy; and which will be delivered to your lordship by my military secretary Captain Twigg, of the 54th regiment, to whom I beg leave to refer for further information, and earnestly recommend him as an officer deserv ing such mark of favour as his majesty may be graciously pleased to confer.

I have, my lord, now a further most gratifying duty to perform that of making known to his majesty the most zealous and indefatigable exertions of the following of fiers-Brigadier-general French, second in command; LieutenantColonel Hosford, commanding the first brigade; Lieutenant-col. Sunith, commanding the royal artillery, whose abilities and unwearied at

tention surmounted uncommon difficulties; Lieutenant-Col. Myers, Deputy Quarter-Master-General, and Commissioner to arrange the Articles of Capitulation.

The prominent situation of those Officers afforded me a constant experience of their zeal, abilities, and anxiety for the most honourable termination of the enterprize; and which sentiments, I can assure your Lordships, actuated every Officer, non-commissioned Officer, and soldier upon the expedition.

It would be ingratitude in me, my Lord, were I to omit stating, in the strongest possible terms, the cordial co-operation, as I have already noticed, and efficient aid the army received from Captain Cumby, commanding his majesty's squadron before the city, who also landed two officers, Lieuts. Deuman and Sheriff, with a detachment of seamen, who were of infinite service, and cheerfully underwent the most severe fatigue and labour.

It is impossible for me to pass over in silence the very great assistance I received from William Valton, jun. esq., an English geutlemen, who formerly resided in the island, and whose acquaintance with the country, inhabitants, and languages, rendered his voluntary and able services of the most essential benefit, as private secretary to me during the expedition.-I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) H. 1. CARMICHAEL, MajorGeneral, Commanding his Britannic Majesty's Forces at the City of St. Domingo.

From the London Gazette, August 5.-Copy of a Letter from Vice Admiral Sir James Sauma

rez,

P. S. Since writing the above, Lieutenant Hawkey has returned with three vessels, captured by the boats of the Implacable, Melpomene, and Prometheus, under his comniand, and he reports eight sail of gun-boats protecting some ships in shore, and is very desirous of attacking them, which shall be done,

der his orders, to cruize to the eastward of Nargen Island, I herewith inclose a list of vessels which he has captured for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the admiralty; several of them being laden with naval stores belonging to the Emperor of Russia, and which cannot fail proving a valuable acquisition in England.

I also inclose, for their lordships' information, copies of two letters I have received from Captain Martin, of yesterday's date. Extract of two letters from Capt. Martin, dated off Percola Point, July 6, 1809, to Sir James Saumarez, and by him transmitted to the Lords of the Admiralty. The Implacable and Melpomene having stood into the Gulph of Narva, captured nine sail of vessels, laden with timbers, spars, and cordage, belonging to the Emperor of Russia, and which I doubt not will prove a valuable acquisition to our own dock yards.

The boats of the ships under that active and valuable officer, Lieutenant Hawkey (of whose enterprizing spirit I had occasion to speak so highly when off Dantzig) have looked into every creek along, the south coast of the Gulph, without finding any vessels whatever, and he is now on the opposite with the same view.

1

The position taken by the Russian flotilla under Percola Point, seemed so much like a defiance, that I considered something was necessary to be done, in order to impress these strangers with that sense of respect and fear, which his majesty's other enemies are accustomed to shew to the British flag; I therefore determined to gratify the anxious wish of Lieutenant Hawkey to lead the boats of the ships named in the margin,* which were assembled by nine o'clock last night, and proceeded with an irresistible zeal and intrepidity towards the enemy, who had the advantage of local knowledge, to take a position of extraordinary strength within two rocks, serving as a cover to their wings, and from whence they could pour a destructive fire of grape upon our boats, which, notwithstanding, advanced with perfect coolness, and never fired a gun till actually touching the enemy, when they boarded sword in band, and carried all before then.

I believe a more brilliant achievement does not grace the records of our naval history; each officer was impatient to be the leader in the at

tack,

tack, and each man zealous to emulate their noble example, and the most complete success has been the consequence of such determined bravery; of eight gun-boats, each mounting a thirty-two; and twentyfour pounder, and 46 men, six have been brought out, and one sunk; and the whole of the ships and vessels (12 in number), under their protection, laden with powder and provisions for the Russian army, brought out, and a large armed ship taken and burnt; I have deeply to lament the loss of many men killed and wounded, and especially that most valuable officer, Lieutenant Hawkey, who, after taking one gun-boat, was killed by a grapeshot, in the act of boarding the second. No praise from my pen can do adequate justice to this lamented young man; as an officer, he was active, correct, and zealous, to the highest degree; the leader in every kind of enterprize, and regardless of danger; he delighted in whatever could tend to promote the glory of his country; his last words were "Huzza! push on! England for ever!"

Mr. Hawkey had been away in the boats on different services, since last Monday, accompanied by Lieut. Vernon, whose conduct in this affair has been highly exemplary, and shewn him worthy to be the companion of so heroic a man; but while I am induced to mention the name of Mr. Vernou, from his constant services with Mr. Hawkey, I feel that every officer, seaman and marine, has a claim to my warmest - praises, and will, I trust, obtain your favourable recommendation to the lords commissioners of the admiralty. Lieutenaut Charles Allen, of the Bellerophon, was the senior of ficer after Mr. Hawkey's death.

I have just been informed, that Lieutenant Stirling of the Prometheus, who was severely wounded, is since dead; his conduct in this affair was very conspicuous, and Captain Forest speaks highly in praise of the zeal and activity of his services on every occasion. I am sure you will readily believe that Captain Forest did not witness the preparation for this attack, without feeling an ardent desire to command it, but I was obliged to resist his pressing importunity, as a matter of justice to Mr. Hawkey.

The Russians have suffered severely in this conflict, the most moderate statement makes it appear that two thirds of them have been killed and wounded, or jumped overboard. Inclosed is a list of killed and wounded, the names of the officers employed, an account of vessels captured, and number of prisoners.-I have the honour to be, &c.

T. B. MARTIN.

Dispatches from Sir Arthur Wellesley, K. B.

Placentia, 15th July. My lord,-After I had written to your lordship on the 1st instant, Joseph Buonaparte crossed the Tagus again, and joined Sebastiani with the troops he had brought from Madrid, and with a detachment from marshal Victor's corps, making the corps of Sebastiani about 28,000 men, with an intention of attacking Venegas's corps. Venegas, however, retired into the mountains of the Sierra Morena, and col. Larey with his advanced guard attacked a French advanced corps in the night, and destroyed many of them. The French troops then returned again to the Tagus,

which river Joseph had crossed with the reinforcement which he had taken to Sebastiani's corps; and this last corps, consisting of 10,000 men only, was on the left bank of the Tagus, about Madrilejos, in front. of Venegas, who was again advancing. The last accounts from this quarter were of the 8th. The French army under Victor, joined by the detachments brought by Joseph from Sebastiani's corps, and amounting in the whole to about 35,000 men, are concentrated in the neighbourhood of Talavera, and on the Alberche; gen. Cuesta's army has been in the position which I informed your lordship that it had taken up, since I addressed you on the 1st instant. The advanced guard of the British army arrived on the 8th, and the troops which were with me on the Tagus arrive ed by the 10th; the 23d light dragoons and the 48th arrived yesterday; the 61st regiment will arrive to-morrow. I went to gen. Cuesta's quarters at Almarez on the 10th, and stayed there till the 12th, and I have arranged with that general a plan of operations upon the French army, which we are to begin to carry into execution on the 18th, if the French should remain so long in their position. The Spanish army under general Cuesta consists of about 38,000 men (exclusive of Venegas's corps), of which 7000 are cavalry. About 14,000 men are detached to the bridge d'Arzobispo, and the remainder are in the camp under the Puerte de Mirabete. I have the pleasure to inform your lordship, that the seven battalions of infantry from Ireland and the Islands, and the troops of borse artillery from Great Britain, arrived at Lisbon in the beginning of the

Downing-street, Aug. 26.--The following dispatch has been received from Major Maxwell, of the royal African corps, addressed to Viscount Castlereagh.

Senegal, July 18.

My lord,-When I had last the honour of writing to your lordship, I communicated such information as I had received concerning the situation of the French colony of Senegal, and my opinion of the practicability of reducing it with a small force: I also mentioned the annoyance we had received at Goree and its vicinity, from their privateers, during the absence of ships of war from that station. On the 24th June, commodore Columbine arrived at Goree with the Solebay frigate, and brig Tigress, having the colonial schooner George, Agincourt transport, and several merchant vessels under convoy: and having communicated to him what intelligence I had lately obtained, we thought the reduction of Senegal practicable with the force we possessed, provided no obstacles should prevent our being able to pass the bars at the mouth of the river. To this attempt I was induced by considerations which I trust your lordship will conceive to be of weight. I was of opinion that the colony of itself would be an acquisition of importance to the nation, from its commerce: that by the French government, as it had always been much valued, its loss would be proportionably felt; and that by

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