am informed, by the captains of the squadron, that we must attribute the saving her (apparently without farther damage) to the uncommon exertions and professional abilities of acting lieut. Willoughby, with the boats of the Hercule, who, I trust, will be honoured with their lordships' protection. Capt. Loring, after seeing the generality of the prizes taken possession of, left the Theseus and Hercule to fix a temporary rudder to the frigate, and bring the remainder with them, bearing away for the Mole, and on the 2d summoned the general of brigade, Noailles, who commanded there, to capitulate: this he declined doing, asserting he had provisions for five months; and herewith I transmit a copy of his letter. The numerous and crowded state of the prisoners on board all the prizes, and their being without provisions, making it necessary for capt. Loring to proceed to Jamaica, he arrived here the 5th, with the Elephant and Blanche, also the Surveillante and Vertu 38 gun frigates, and various other prizes, leaving the Pique to blockade the Mole, who anchored in this port the 8th, and acquainted me that gen. Noailles had evacuated the night he refused to capitulate, bringing in with her 5 out of the 6 vessels in which the garrison had embarked, a brig with the general on board only escaping. I send a vessel of war to England, with gen. Rochambeau, and those officers who are said to have participated in his crueltics at the Cape. I am, &c. J. T. Duckworth, Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c. Shark, Port Royal, Jamaica, Sir, Accompanying this, you will receive, for the information of the lords commissioners of the admiralty, copies of various letters, &c. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, relative to the proceedings of capt. Loring, of his majesty's ship Bellerophon, while senior officer of the squadron blockading Cape François. J. T. Duckworth. Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c. Bellerophon, off Cape François, Sir, Having received information that gen. Rochambeau's intentions are to endeavour to make his escape in a schooner, and observing, yesterday afternoon, several boats pass and repass between the Surveillante and an armed schooner laying in the Carocal Passage, I made the signal for the launches armed to assemble on board the Blanche, and ordered capt. Mudge to proceed with them of the entrance of the passage, to intercept her, should she attempt to come out. I directed the launches to act under the command of lieut. Pilch, of the Bellerophon, and at 2′ A. M. she was very judiciously N n boarded boarded and taken by the launches of the Bellerophon and the Ele phant, without the loss of a man killed or wounded, though, for a short time, under a very smart fire from the enemy's great guns and small arms: she proves to be the French national schooner La Decouvert, commanded by Monsieur Froyan, enseign de vaisseau; she had mounted six six-pounders, and six brass swivels, and 52 men: the enemy had two men wounded.The officer commanding the Desirée's launch, being anxious to secure the passage, got so far to the eastward of the entrance, as not to observe the motions of the other boats, that he unfortunately could not join them, or get near the schooner till daylight, or, I am sensible, from the character he bears, would have been as vigilant as the other boats. mit, as well as a copy of mine to him, the indefinite mode of expression he makes use of. I therefore sent capt. Bligh to explain with him. On his arrival at the Cape, he met, on the part of Rochambeau, a strong desire to agree for the surrender of the ships and vessels, which, from his declaration to destroy them, I had no reason to expect. The articles of agreement which were entered into I herewith inclose, and hope they will meet your approbation. Capt. Bligh immediately made known to Dessalines the surrender of the frigates and merchant-vessels to his Britannic majesty, and requested he would give orders to prevent firing on them, which till then was his intention: and, after some hesitation, gen. Dessalines reluctandy complied. This morning the Surveillante, Cerf brig, an hospital ship, and three or four neutral schooners, came out; the whole were under weigh in the harbour, but, owing to the sudden change of wind, they Bellerophon, off Fortuda, were prevented from proceeding.I am sorry to say, the Clorinde is on shore under Fort St. Joseph, and I fear will be totally lost. I have taken possession of the vessels that are out, and left capt. Bligh with the Herculé, Desirée, and Pique, to complete the evacuation of the Cape and Monte Christie.When the Elephant joins with the Vertu and merchant-vessels I left in the Cape, I shall proceed with her and prizes to Port Royal, leaving the Tartar to blockade the Mole. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) Sir J. T. Duckworth. Sir, Nov. 30. J. Loring. I have to inform you of the surrender of Cape François to the gen. Dessalines, on the 18th inst. when he attacked it at the head of the army, and agreed with the general in chief, Rochambeau, for ten days to complete the evacuation. Not having received a second proposition from Rochambeau, during the sus pension of hostilities between the two parties, I endeavoured, if possible, to learn the disposition of Dessalines, seeing his tiag displayed on the forts, as to the ships of war and other vessels in the harbour; and you will see, by his letter to me of the 27th, which I herewith trans ceive your answer to my letter of yesterday, I beg to represent, that, from the tenor of yours of the 22d, I did hope to see your flag flying this morning at Fort Picolet. As I have full confidence you will not rescind the agreement with general Rochambeau, who intends, if possible, to have more time granted him to escape, and that you will have possession of the town, and its forts, this afternoon; I shall then be much obliged if you will send me some experienced pilots, to conduct a part of my squadron into the harhour, to take possession of the shipping. [TRANSLATION.] LIBERTY OR DEATH. Head-quarters, 6th Frimaire, The General in Chief of the Indige. nous Army to Capt. Loring, commanding the Naval Forces of his Britannic Majesty before the Cape. Sir, I am accused by you of the receipt of a letter which I never had the honour to receive. You may be as sured that my favourable disposition towards you, and hostility towards general Rochambeau, are unalterable. I shall enter the Cape tomorrow morning at the head of my army. It is a matter of great regret to me I cannot send you the pilots which you require. I presume you will have no occasion for them. I shall force the French ships to quit the road, and you will do with them as you may judge proper. Dessalines. Here follows the capitulation From general Rochambeau's extraordinary conduct on the public service, neither captain Bligh nor myself have had any thing to say tó him farther than complying with his wishes in allowing him to remain on board the Surveillante until her arrival at Jamaica, which I very readily agreed to, as also the commodore. I have general Boyer, with about 22 officers, and 190 soldiers and sailors, on board the Bellero phon, and 50 more on board the Hercule that were taken out of the Surveillante; the Blanche has on board all the crew of the Cerf. I had began this letter yesterday, to have dispatched the Blanche early this morning, but, seeing the Desirée coming down with six sail, waited until she joined, and am happy to inform you, that, through the exertions of lieut. Willoughby, the Clorinde is afloat again with the loss of her rudder, and captain Bligh is preparing a temporary one to bring her down; the Vertu and other ships are out, and I am in hourly expectation of seeing them with the Elephant. I have sent captain Ross into the Mole, to summon that garrison to surrender; and shall dispatch the Blanche immediately I have general Noailles's answer. Half past four. Captain Ross has this instant returned with the inclosed answer; and I dispatch the Blanche in consequence, and shall follow soon after. The Elephant, Nn 2 Vertu, Vertu, and ten sail of various descriptions of vessels, are now joining. I am, &c. John Loring. Rear-admiral sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B. commander in chief, &c. Shark, Port Royal, Dec. 20. Sir, Feeling that the lords commissioners of the Admiralty would wish to be acquainted with the articles of capitulation between the general Rochambeau and Dessalines, for the surrender of the Cape, and having just obtained a copy thereof, herewith transmit the same for their lordship's information. I am, &c. J. T. Duckworth. Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c. [TRANSLATION.] FRENCH AND INDIGENOUS ARMIES. 27th Brumaire, Anno 12, 19th November. Adjutant commander Duveyrier, charged with due powers by general Rochambeau, commander of the French army, to treat for the surrender of the Cape, and J. Jacques. Dessalines, general in chief of the indigenous army, have agreed to the following articles: I. The town of the Cape, and the forts which belong to it, shall be surrendered in ten days, from the 28th of the present month, to the general in chief Dessalines. II. The ammunition and warlike stores in the arsenal, the arms and the artillery which are in the town and in the forts, shall be left in their present state. III. All the ships of war, or others, which shall be judged necessary by general Rochambeau for transporting the troops, and the in habitants who may wish to depart from the island, shall be at liberty to sail on a day to be appointed. IV. The officers, civil and mili tary, the troops composing the garrison of the Cape, shall depart with the honours of war, carrying with them their arms, and the effects belonging to their demi-brigade. V. The sick and wounded are especially recommended to the humanity of gen. Dessalines, who engages to embark them for France on board neutral vessels. VI. Gen. Dessalines, in giving the assurance of his protection to the inhabitants who may continue in the country, relies on the justice of gen. Rochambeau to set at li berty all men belonging to the country, of whatever colour they may be; and that none of them shall, under any pretence, be compelled to embark with the French army. VII. The troops belonging to the two armies shall remain in their respective positions until the tenth day fixed for the evacuation of the Cape. VIII. Gen. Rochambeau shall send, as a security for the fulfilment of the present convention, -the adjutant-commandant Urbain de Vaux; in return for whom, gen. Dessalines shall send an officer of equal rank. Done in good faith, at the headquarters of Haut du Cap, the same day, month, and year, above stated. lords commissioners of the Admiralty, an account of vessels captured and destroyed by his majesty's squadron under my command, since the return made in November last. I am, &c. J. T. Duckworth. Sir Evan Nepean, bart. &c. &c. [Here follows a list of 37 ships and vessels captured, detained, and destroyed, by his majesty's squadron employed at Jamaica, the Bahama islands, under the orders of sir J. T. Duckworth, K. B.] N. B. There has been destroyed since last return 30 sail of small craft of various descriptions at Cape François, Monte Christe, and the Mole, &c. &c. Extract of a Dispatch from Governor the Hon. Frederick North, to the Right Hon. Lord Hobart, one of his Majesty's Principal Secretarics of State, dated Columbo, 8th July, 1803. I inclose to you the deposition of a person, stating himself to be an eye-witness of one of the most atrocious acts of perfidy and cruelty ever committed. Every particular of the narration may not be true; but it appears that Candi was at tacked in the midst of a truce, by the first Adigaar, on the 23d (or I rather believe on the 24th) ultimo; that major Davie, commanding the garrison there, capitulated on the following day; and that, after he left the fort, all the English soldiers who accompanied him were treacherously murdered in cold blood. I cannot believe that major Davie would have consented to evacuate, on any terms less favourable than those stated in the deposition; viz. of being allowed to proceed with arms and ammunition, and without molestation, to Trincomalée, and that care should be taken of the sick whom he left behind; for the fort was rendered, in the opinion of most military men, tenable against any force that was likely to be brought against it, and large supplies of provisions had been sent thither, in` addition to those which licut. colonel Barbot declared to be sufficient for six months' consumption, 2 months ago. Lieut. Husskisson was also on the road from Trincomalée (as major Davie must have known) with 100 doolies, under an escort of 150 Malays; and when I heard of the breach of the truce, I ordered lieut. col. Hunter to proceed from Trincomalée with 200 of his majesty's 9th regiment, and 50 Malays, to secure the evacuation, which (had it been delayed for a fortnight) would have been safely effected. But what I can still less account for is, that major Davie, having obtained such terms, should have consented to lay down his arms, when he must have felt that the person who insisted on such an infraction of agreement could have no other design but that of murdering him and his men, and when he must, in common with all the army, have known that a corps of forty Europeans in good health, and of 200 Malays, might cut their way through any army of Candians to any part of the island. Indeed, captain Mudge, late com. mandant of Fort Macdowall, brought off his men in circumstances of as great difficulty; and a small detachment of 22 invalid Malays, 14 convalescents of the 19th regiment from Candi, and 60 sepoys under lieut. Nixon, ensign Grant, and ensign Smellie, defended themselves in a miserable little fort of fascines at Dembadenia, for more than a week, Nn 3 against |