YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

The
EDWIN J. BEINECKE, '07
FREDERICK W. BEINECKE, *ooS
WALTER BEINECKE, '10
FUND

CONQUEST ©F BOURBON.

C Governnvent Souse
D Guard. Room
E Church/
"E Governors Garden,
& Burial Ground.
Tr\fii*mLrctli>iibt mounting 4 Guns uvine- Gfva
IPomfr3£aaaziru*
~KArxmaI-
$f°lJtoyal Mattery of 31 Guns and 1 Mortar
ZBattery of 5 Guns
£ Battery Scftedoubt of '4 Giois 2pmnnng toward 4
\Bcatery of 3 Guns
6 Some smalt Iron/Guns St -held, pieces to defind 6
1 Battery of 5 Guns andiMrrtar
6 Battery of 4 Guns
SButor Redoubt
101 n V Deriiu-es lately erected
13)

Jfrele /'¦¦"¦'/: Strand .

[„¦„,/,¦„ /;,/./,.:/,,;/ JmyirfhglLlyTXtrernin CJimrn./ Ihifs

AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
CONQUEST OF
THE ISLAND OF BOURBON;
WITH
A PLAN,
EXPLANATORY OF THE MILITARY OPERATIONS ;
AND
AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING
OBSERVATIONS ON THE STATE OP POPULATION, AGRICUL
TURE, COMMERCE, AND FINANCE OF THE ISLAND;
/-
INTENDED AS
A BASIS FOR ESTIMATING ITS VALUE,
AS A
TERRITORIAL, ACQUISITION.

BY AN
OFFICER OF THE EXPEDITION^

ILonoon:
PRINTED FOR T. EGERTON, AT THE MILITARY LIBRARY,
WHITEHALL.

1811.

ADVERTISEMENT.

Unaccustomed to write for the public eye, the Author
of the following pages has little to say, as an excuse for
the rashness of his attempt. His are merely the records
of the day, minuted during the time of their execution.
His object was to commemorate facts, while he was a
spectator of them, and to stamp them with the senti
ments they excited ; and his approbation of the con
duct of the expedition, expressed in unformity to his
own conviction, proceeds from the pen of no servile
encomiast. The valour and discipline of the forces, are best
evinced by their achievements, and require not the
feeble testimony of his humble pen to place them in the
foremost ranks of British heroism.
The statements in the A ppendix may be confidently
relied on, having been drawn from the purest sources of
official communication, and scrutinized with no slight
severity.

ERRATA.
Page 4, for Rodriques, read, Roderigues.
Page 6, Dit.o.
Page 7, Ditto.
Page 8, Ditto.
Page 9, after strike the first blow, read, at the -very heart of the
enemy.
Page 19, instead of this kind of auxiUaries read, and such auxiliaries
Page 38, for Rodriques read Roderigues.
Page 40, for Benart, read Benoit.

AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
CO JY QUEST
or THE
JJLAMB OF BOURBON,
Sec.

X O those who are competent to carry their
researches beyond the immediate appearance
of events, and to speculate on their probable
consequences, there has not, perhaps, dur
ing the present war, happened any colonial
capture so replete with important political
consequences as the Conquest of Bourbon.
Among the frequent failures of our military
expeditions, to record the progress of one
so completely successful, to develope the
B

causes which accelerated its execution, and
to point the homage of our country to the
spirit of enterprize which dictated, and the
valour which led to its achievement, after
having remained an object of apprehension to
the government of India, and a perpetual
drain upon its commerce for the last eigh
teen years, will be no unpleasing task.
An island so peculiarly favoured by nature,
blest with the happiest climate, enriched with
the choicest productions of a luxuriant soil,
placed in the centre of the commerce of India,
uniting in itself every advantage which nature
can bestow> or industry procure, with a nume
rous and well-disposed population, is an ac
quisition of no common value at any period ;
but in the present state of the war, it ac
quires a new and extraordinary estimation ;
and it may he affirmed, that since the con
quest of Seringapatam, no acquisition has been
made to the eastward of the Cape of Good

Hope, of equal importance for the preserva
tion of our Indian empire. ,
The apparently reluctant and sluggish dis
inclination of the Indian government to resent
and to put an end to the depredations committed
on their trade, during a long series of years,
when compared to th,e energy and decision of
the vigorous line of conduct which has now
been adopted, is a contrast sufficiently flat
tering to their present councils, and will be
appreciated in the opinion of their country.
To Lieutenant Colonel Keating, England is
indebted for this change. Ardent, eager, per
severing, and indefatigable, by incessant exer
tions he made himself master of every informa
tion necessary to ensure success ; attracted to
the subject that degree of attention from the
government of India, which was proportioned
t© its vast importance ; shewed by experience
i2

4
the practicability of his plans, and was en
trusted with the execution of them.
The accomplishment of these plans has not
only added to the lustre and glory of the British
arms, but also tends to secure, on the most per
manent foundation, the dominion of England
against thehostile attempts of France, and to de
stroy the last remnant of her influence fn India.
The force entrusted to the commandant for-
this purpose, was the largest ever given to
an officer of his rank in India. But, in
the conquest of St. Paul's, at the close of the
last year, he had displayed a courage so deli
berate and persevering, a fertility of inven
tion, variety of stratagem, and celerity of
movement so admirable ; and had so formed
his force at Rodriques into men like himself,
impetuous, swift, and silent in execution ;
invincible to hardship, and intimately ac
quainted with the nature of the country.

intersected by ravines and precipices, , that it
would have been difficult for auy other leader;
to have inspired a confidence equal to what the
troops reposed in him.
There was, besides, every reason to suppose,
that he was admired and esteemed by the inha
bitants of the island ; and the event has proved
the supposition well grounded. In fact, the
Creoles calculated, with a well-founded hope,
on the return of Col. Keating and the English;
and the treatment they had experienced at St.
Paul's, gave confidence to their expectations.
They saw, on that occasion, a memorable
example of magnanimity, which scorned the
contamination of plunder, or dishonourable
excess. They saw their town stormedwithout
a single individual having cause of complaint,
either for the security of his person or pro
perty; and they could not fail to contrast
this conduct with the behaviour of the French

force in the destruction of Tappanooly, where
nothing was left but the remembrance of
horror, and the tracks of unprovoked, unre
sisted, and desolating vengeance ; where all
the laws, established by civilized nations, were
violated with every aggravating circumstance
of duplicity, insolence, and cruelty; while every
tie of domestic charity was abruptly broken
by the merciless hand of atrocious perfidy,
and savage war.
This appointment does equal honor to the
government of India, and to Lieutenant Col.
Keating, who is indebted for such a command
entirely to his merits in the field.
The detachment embarked at Madras, on
the 4th of May, 1810, and sailed on the 8th,
in the Dioniede, of fifty guns, the Doris and
Ceylon frigates, and twelve transports ; and
after a favourable passage, arrived at Rodri
ques, (which is four hundred miles to wind'
ward of Bourbon) on the 20th of June,

It consisted of the following corps : — A
flank battalion, composed of the flank com
panies of the 12th and 33d Regiments, and
a small detail from the 14th and 89th
Regiments, the 69th and 8.6th Regiments, a
detachment of Madras Artillery, the 1st hat-
talion of the 6th Native Infantry, 2d battalion
12th Native Infantry, detachment of Pioneers,
&c. &c. making, with the troops already at
Rodriques under Colonel Keating, and the
Royal Marines of# the squadron, altogether
a force consisting of 2000 European, and
1850 native troops.
The brig that brought the dispatches to
Rodriques, announcing the time which this
force was supposed to sail from Madras, was
unable to proceed to Colonel Keating, who
was then on board the Boadicea, reconnoitring
Port Louis and the coasts of Mauritius. They
were therefore taken out of her, and brought
down by the Cornelia frigate.

Commodore Rowley and the Commandant
of the forces then concerted measures for the
disposition of the squadron, and dispatched
the Nereide with an engineer officer to recon
noitre St. Denis, and immediately made sail for
Rodriques, having sent back the Cornelia to
India. At Rodriques they arrived on the 24th of i
June, and a few days afterwardsj instructions
to the following effect were issued by the Com'-
mandant of the forces.
After having declared the destination of the
expedition, and described the nature, numbers,
uniforms, and disposition of the force we had
to expect against us, he proceeded to give
the strongest reasons for attempting to take the
island by a coup-de-main*, instead of the regu
lar plan of approach which the enemy reckoned !
upon."

* We wish this principle had been acted upon in Walcheren.
Sed aliler voluere DU!

9
Had we landed at any distance from the capi
tal, he was well aware, that our loss must neces
sarily have been severe, and success very doubt-
ful,arising from tlie great natural strength of the
country, intersected by almost impassable ra
vines, and the exposure of our force to the fire of
their sharpshooters, who are excellent marks-
men,without the possibility of returning a shot.
But these were not the only advantages the
enemy would have reaped from such a measure ;
they woyld have had time to collect and con
centrate their force in strong positions, and
thus protract the war, for a considerable time.
To avoid this, and to ensure his object,
with the least possible loss to the forces,
and with a view to having them in the
most effective state towards the ulterior
views of .the expedition, Colonel Keating'
determined to strike the first blow ; and, having
dispossessed him of his capital, to he guided,

10
as to future operations, by his discomfiture
and dismay.
For this purpose he divided the force into
four brigades, and, in concert with Commo
dore Rowley, distributed them in His
Majesty's 'frigates, Boadicea, Sirius, Iphi-
genia, Magicienne, and Nereide, for the
purpose of accelerating their debarkation.
The 1st Brigade was commanded by Lieu
tenant Colonel Fraser ; 2nd Brigade by Lieut.
Colonel Drummond; 3rd Brigade, or Reserve,
by Lieutenant Colonel Macleod ; 4th Brigade,
or Advance, by Lieutenant Colonel Campbell.
It was intended that the landing should be
effected during the night, if possible, between
the Butor and Ste Marie, at the nearest prac
ticable point to .the enemy's Capital.
The Europeans of the 1st Brigade, were t*

II
be in readiness to embark on board His Ma
jesty's ship Sirius, to proceed to Grande Cha-
loupe, and the remainder of this brigade was
to be moved on aboard the two fastest sailing
transports, which were to follow the Sirius.
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond's brigade was
to embark on board His Majesty's ship Magi
cienne, and support Lieut. Colonel Fraser in
his attack on the western side of St. Denis. .
The orders of the latter were to push on
immediately from Grande Chaloupe, and to
gain the prison redoubt, the guns of which he
was to turn upon the enemy should they at
tempt to retire from the town. He was then
to take and spike the guns on the two batteries
to the westward of the River Saint Denis, and
secure his position on the western side of the
town. The remainder of the force was to land b«-

%

IS
tweenSte Marie and the Butor,from which point
the grand attack was to have been made. Plans
of the defence of St. Denis were furnished to
the officers commanding brigades, and to the
principal officers of the staff. Two guides also,
of tried fidelity, were attached to each column.
The troops were ordered to land with one
day's provisions ; the men not to load upon any
account, without orders from the officers com
manding brigades, and every thing, before
daylight, was to be carried by the bayonet.
The enemy were trained to a different system
of defence, by firing from behind walls and
houses, and from the opposite sides of impas
sable ravines, and were not expected to stand
the English bayonets.
Such are the mere outlines of the plan of
attack ; but these were in the general orders,
filled up with incredible minuteness, and formed
i body of instructions so clear, well digested,

13
and full of decision, that they evinced at once all
the characteristics of an ardent and daring spirit.
Thus were the final arrangements adjusted
and determined ; and on the 3d of July, the
fleet weighed anchor and stood towards the
rendezvous, which was twenty five leagues to
windward of Bourbon. Here the frigates
xjoined on the 6th, and the European troops
were embarked on board of them.
At night the whole squadron made sail for
the island, and at ten o'clock in the morning
ths Boadicea, Iphigenia, Magicienne, and
Nereide, were at anchor within musquet shot
of the shore, between the Butor River and Ste
Marie, and were joined, in the course of four or
five hours, by the majority of the convoy, which
had been in some measure dispersed by the
darkness of the night. The Sirius had gone
down to Grande Chaloupe, to land Colonel
Fraser's brigade to leeward of 8aint Denis.

14

The debarkation of the troops immediately
commenced from the Boadicea, Iphigenia, and
Nereide. Lieutenant Colonel Macleod and
450 men were pushed on shore through a tre
mendous surf; but the sea was so high, that it
was impossible to hold any further communi
cation with them. A small schooner and three
boats were dashed to pieces, and a transport
which was run on shore, as a break-water, shared
the same fate. The beech, was too steep to
allow her to ground at a sufficient distance to
he of any use. As the plan of operations was
altered by this event, it was necessary to con
vey to the force, that was landed, fresh instruc
tions how to act. Lieutenant Foulstone, of
the 69th Regiment, volunteered to convey these
on shore, and succeeded in the perilous at
tempt, by diving through the surf, from
whence he was dragged b}1, a boat-hook.
In consequence of these orders, Colonel
Macleod marched his small force to Ste Ma-

15

rie, which he carried with the bayonet in the
most gallant manner during the night. He
then published a proclamation in French, to
the following effect :

" Inhabitants of Bourbon ! '
" We appear before you in the name of our
King. The force we have brought, leaves to.
resistance no chance of success. We are not
come to harass, but to preserve, Bourbon, and
are anxious that its acquisition should be un
stained with the blood of its inhabitants.
" Resistance must inevitably be followed by
disaster and defeat, and will only serve to
plunge this beautiful island into all the horrors
of war and bloodshed, and all the misfortunes
inseparably connected with hostilities.
'' What can compensate the calamities which

16

menace, and must inevitably afflict those who
oppose us ? not the incapacity of France, which
has'so long oppressed and left you defenceless
and unprotected ! i
" You all know, that this island, so pecularly
favoured by nature, has remained torpid and
oppressed through the insatiable exactions, and
ruinous oppression of its government. It is time
that it should emerge from this state of depres
sion, weakness, and insignificance, and occupy
its natural pre-eminence among the islands of
India. " The colonies of France and Holland have
already successively submitted to our power.
There remains now but the Isle of France ;
which, abandoned to its own internal capa
cities of defence, awaits, with solicitude, . our
meditated approach.
" The indulgence of England to the colonies

17
which she has acquired from other powers, has
been so uuequivocally demonstrated in the last
and present war, that it is unnecessary to ex
patiate on the advantages they obtained in riches
and value, while they were so fortunate as to
remain under a government which' united a
vigorous protection, with the most religious.
adherence to national faith, and to every prin
ciple of sound and generous policy.
" Your tranquillity, secured by the vigilance
and activity of Britain, will leave you at
leisure to cultivate those blessings which
nature has lavished so profusely. Your com
merce, agriculture, and manufactures will
expand ; and new and unexplored paths to
wealth will be open to the spirit of a discern
ing and adventurous people. Your1 religion
shall be venerated and preserved, and your
municipal immunities, liberties and privileges
confirmed and extended.

18
" No new taxes or contributions shall he
levied. All unjust, burthensome, and oppres
sive imposts and exactions shall be abolished,
Not only the internal commerce of the island
shall be free, but the inhabitants shall be per
mitted to trade with all. the ports of India,
under the same regulations as British subjects.
" Remain then quietly in your homes ; their
sanctity shall be inviolable. Receive the
English as friends, and do not be tempted
to an ineffectual and unequal struggle, which
must produce evils and calamities to which
this island is yet a stranger.
" You are not ignorant, that the seeds of
dissatisfaction were sown long ago among the
Blacks, by your Qwn government, and that
they have since been slowly ripening. And
it is known to some among you, that proposals
have been made from them, which would
soon overturn tive very elements of order an

19
government, stain your island with blood, and
menace the extinction of property, personal
security, and every thing dear to mankind.
" But this mode of warfare, and this kind of
auxiliaries, are equally incompatible with the
spirit and sentiments of Britons.
" Remain then quietly in your houses ;
receive us as friends. Your internal tran
quillity shall be secured by your own laws ;
your external, by fleets and armies accustomed
to conquest; and your shores, no longer
threatened and insulted, shall be strangers
to hostile invasion."
Such was the teuour of the Proclamation.
The force which was thus in possession of
Ste Marie's, kept in check all that part of
the island, and prevented the junctiou of
eight hundred men, that were already on their
march to St. Denis.

20
By this time Lieutenant Colonel Eraser's
brigade had landed at Grande Chaloupe, and
pushed forward a party over the heights above
it, to drive away the enemy's riflemen who
kept up a harassing fire. This service was
gallantly performed, and the body of the bri
gade moved forward rapidly over the moun
tains towards St Denis. On these mountains
they halted during the night. At four o'clock, on
the morning of the 8th, it began to descend, and
was no sooner discovered by the enemy's sentries,
than they commenced a heavy fire of cannon,
shells, and musketry ,upon Col.Fraser's column.
He still continued to descend, and found the
enemy at the bottom of the hill, drawn up in
two columns, with a field-piece attached to
each, and supported by the -heavy cannon
mounted on the redoubt, ready to receive him
on the plain.
He immediately ordered a charge ; when his
brigade rushed on the enemy, who remained

21
firmly at their guns, until they were driven from
them by the bayonets of the granadiers. Col. St.'
Susanne escaped with difficulty, and the second
in command was wounded and taken prisoner.
The enemy still undismayed,attempted to form
under the parapet of the redoubt, but were ob
liged to abandon it, leaving a brass six poundeT
which was immediately turned against them.
The four twelve pounders in the redoubt were
found spiked, but two of them were soon ren
dered serviceable by the exertions of Lieutenant
Abdy of the artillery. The batteries to the
west of the river St. Denis were then immedi
ately stormed by the grenadiers, and their guns
spiked. The Magicienne had weighed anchor and
set sail for Grande Chaloupe on the preced
ing night, and arrived at that place, about
day-break, on the 8th ; and in less than an hour,
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond's brigade was

22
landed, and proceeded up the precipice, to the
rOad leading to St. Denis, with little oppo
sition; a party of about 100 chasseurs having
fled at their approach.
The Boadicea and Nereide followed the
Magicienne into Grande Chaloup*e, and landed
the remainder of the force, which proceeded
on the same route as Colonel Druramond's
brigade. About 2 o'clock this brigade, after a severe
march over rugged and lofty mountains, ac
companied by the enemy's chasseurs, who
hung upon their flanks, halted in sight of St.
Denis, which lay in the plain, at the bottom
of the cliff on which they were posted.
There are few instances of a march so
arduous, over a country of precipices, sur
rounded by a harassing enemy, being perform
ed with more exemplary order, firmness, dis
cipline, and alacrity.

23

From this elevated station the prospect was
enchanting; St. Denis and the gardens around,
with its river winding down from the moun
tains behind, appeared like a beautiful map,
spread out beneath, where each object could
be traced with scrupulous exactness. There
was little time allowed to contemplate the
beauties of this landscape.
The besieged had, an hour before, made a
vigorous sortie in hopes, of re-taking the
redoubt; but Colonel Fraser advancing with
that gallantry, his situation irresistably in
spired, led his men to the charge, and the
enemy fled to the town, broken and dismayed;
leaving him in possession of some prisoners. r
Colonel Drummond now led his forces
down the mountain, exposed to a heavy fire
from the cannon, grape, shell, and musquetry,
of the Town, which it was impossible to re-

24
kept up a brisk fire upon the enemy, till he
was joined by Colonel Drummond's brigade.
There was now a respectable force in
the plain, under cover of the redoubt, and a
small hill in its rear, and preparations were
made for storming the town.
At this period the Commandant appeared on
the heights ; and, after having ordered the
detachment of the 56th Regiment to proceed
to La Possession, for the purpose of prevent
ing any reinforcement arriving from Saint
Paul's, was proceeding down the precipice,
with his usual impetuosity, when a Flag of
Truce was sent out to treat for the capitulation
of Saint Denis, and the whole island of
Bourbon, and hostilities ceased *.

* For the terms agreed to by the contracting parties, see the
conclusion of this narrative.

25
On the morning of the 9th our troops marched
into St. Denis, and occupied the different posts
with as much regularity, decency, and order,
as if they had been at quarters in any town of
England ; and such was the confidence of the
inhabitants in the British character, that they
were found quietly in their houses, busied in
their different occupations.
This is a circumstance equally honourable'
and propitious to our interests in these islands,
where Britain has been consecrated by the
conduct of her sons, as the most humane and
generous of nations.
Thus, with a force comparatively small, at a
trifling expence of blood and treasure, by a
well combined plan of operations, executed
with promptitude and vigour, has an acquisi
tion been made, which has deprived the enemy
of the means of disturbing our possessions, or
impairing the stability of our Indian empire ;

26
and thus have the Commanders of this expedi
tion wrested from the vindictive hand of France
one great instrument with which she proposed
to strike at the vitals of Britain.
The eyes of Europe and of India have long
been fixed on this spot, which at times had me
naced the existence of the latter; and its
present conquest, able in conception, and bold
in execution, will be regarded as long as mili
tary enterprize and valour are revered among
men. The success of this enterprize must be attri
buted, in a great measure, to that cordial spirit
of co-operation which existed between the
army and' navy; which was cherished with
ardour by the respective commanders, and ani
mated both services with one spirit.
Commodore Rowley's complete local know
ledge, derived from the unremitted services of

27
years upon the blockade of these islands, facili
tated the execution of each plan. Affable and
humane, yet intrepid and decisive, his high cha
racter among the inhabitants, and the personal
attentions which many of them had experi
enced from him, while they were his prisoners,
contributed to endear the British name, and to
render submission less reluctant.
When we view the natural strength and the
fortifications of St. Denis, and consider its
powers of resistance, it is evident, that the town
was competent to hold out against a numerous
enemy. Nor was there any deficiency of
valour in its garrison and inhabitants. The
military organization of the island was well
adapted to call forth the whole energies of its
population. No degree of rank or wealth ex
empted from military service.
The governor St. Susanne is ranked by the
consenting voice of the French military as their

28
ablest officer in India; and among the most
accomplished commanders of the age. He
would not have yielded so easily had his rein
forcements arrived, which were cut off by the
force sent to St. Marie, and the detachment
dispatched to secure the pass of St. Paul's.
By these passes alone could the corps of the
enemy unite and become formidable,- and these
passes were, by the happy foresight of the com
mandant, in our possession, thus cutting off the
possibility of aid, and rendering escape imprac
ticable. Had the governor escaped into the country,
with the resolution of meeting the storm, and
trying the fortune of war, it might evidently
have been protracted, as he was still possessed
of great resources and had the means of averting
any desisive action ; but its event was inevitable ;
no combination of talent or ability could have
long sustained the influence of France, when all
opinion of her principles, and respect for her
character, had ceased to exist.

29 *
To the eye that can look into futurity, and
develope the darkness which surrouods it, the
future situation of this colony must present a
most interesting picture. Shaken and con-
yulsed during the calamitous period of the
revolution, and agitated by the internal
struggles of faction, it had suffered more than
almost any other of the French possessions, by
the hostilities of England.
It had been kept in a state of perpetual alarm
during the last two years, and was harassed by a,
war which operated in every direction. A squad
ron, which was to-day on the west, would on the,
next day make its appearance on the opposite ex
tremity of the island. Arts and manufactures
were neglected and abandoned, and cultivation
and agriculture were languishing. The inhabi
tants had no temptation to bestow more culture
on their fields than was absolutely necessary for
subsistence. Free persons of every class were
obliged to associate in arms for the defence of

30
the island. The precious metals had disappear
ed*. Every thing was declining into savage
neglect. Its inhabitants, were obliged to be
content with the produce of their fields, as in
the first ages of the world;, ere Fancy had con
founded her wants with those of Nature ; while,
from the absence of external resources, dearth
and famine were the successors of each hurri
cane. This general suspension of commerce, and
the consequent national insolvency, had filled
the island with discontent, and fitted the inha
bitants for any change that held out the
promise of better times ; every month brought
accounts of the diminution of the colonies of
France, and the dilapidation of her naval re
sources, and the people, anxiously waiting for
the favourable occasion which should liberate
* This sentence must naturally create a fellow-feeling in.
every Englishman's breast, when he looks at the state of
bullion in his own country.

31

them from her influence, were ready tp hail, as
deliverers, those brave men, who were already
endeared to them by their exemplary modera
tion and forbearance.
From the gloomy and dejecting picture, of
their present state, let us return to the more ex-
hilerating scene of promised prosperity. The
banner of British commerce will re-call the
verdure of their fields, blighted by the blasting
wand of French despotism. The spirit of in
dustry will again revive ; the continual influx
of money will give new alacrity to the opera
tions of traffic, and diffuse prosperity and
happiness over every part of the island. The
benignant influence of a British government,
mild and temperate in its genius, and widely
different from the rapacious and arbitrary prin
ciples which had rendered the former univer
sally odious, will soon be felt, aud the people
will bless the sceptre under which they
share such benefits. Ardour and Hope will

32
succeed to dejeetion and Indolence, and Labour
with her companions, Plenty and Contentment,
will scattef blessings through the land.
Bourbon furnishes various articles for con
sumption and exportation ; of these the staples
are coffee, cocoa, wheat, cloves, nutmegs, cot
ton, and indigo. It will serve as a wide market
for British manufactures, which bear the most
extravagant price. By its proximity to Ma
dagascar, where the French have some small
commercial establishments, a lucrative branch
of trade may be opened with the natives,
and a whale fishery may be established with
every prospect of success, from the number of
those fish that swarm, during the wet season,
on the Eastern coast of Madagascar. To the
westward of this island are situate the establish
ments of Zanzibar and Mozambique, and the
vast continent of Africa; opening a field to
commercial activity and research in which
the imagination itself is lost. Here is

33
a field of enterprise which is calculated to
enlarge the sphere of industry, extend the
limits of the human mind, and immortalize
the nation that first laid it open.
The population of Bourbon consists of 16400
Europeans and Creoles, 3496 free Blacks, and
70450 Slaves ; and it is rapidly increasing.
Mildness of climate; fecundity of soil, variety
and abundance in the necessary articles of life,
procured with little labour, the salubrity of the
air, and verdure of a perpetual spring, are fa
vourable to" animal re-production and general
longevity ; but perhaps the increase of population
has also been influenced by the agitations of the
political world during the last twenty years. In
the wreck of institutions and kingdoms, many fled
before the storm, to the colonial establishments,;
as places of temporary resort : here they soon
became attached to the soil ; a mild and happy
calm smoothed the troubled waves, and recon-
9

34
ciled them to the privations of luxury, byi their
exemption from danger.
The fall of Bourbon is but a prelude to that
of Mauritius, to which it is so intimately linked,
that the one cannot subsist without the other.*
The capture of the Isle of France must be an
object of no common, accomplishment : the
task is not to be executed by a feeble hand ;
many trying difficulties and dangers are, per
haps, to be overcome ; but however arduous
the contest, an array, inspired by its past
achievements, by tbe prospect of the glorious
prize for which they contend, and by confi
dence in a commander, who, by his genius,
abilities, and address, has gained their un
bounded attachment, will surmount difficulties
which troops, under other circumstances, or a
less favoured leader, or led on only by a frigid
* We sincerely hope the author may be prophetic with res*
pect to the first position, or mistaken in the second ; for the
retention of the island of Bourbon must be advantageous to
tiar settlements in India.

35

sense of professional duty or mercenary neces
sity, might shrink from with dismay. With
such men, it is prudence to attempt the boldest
and most adventurous designs.
They possess those qualities which, in the
most perilous emergencies, render the heart
impregnable to fear, and arrest the mutability
of fortune.
We may look forward, therefore, with confi
dence to the speedy fall of Mauritius, if no un
seasonable and fatal delay give the enemy time
to re-inforce it from France ; and then will our
dominions in Hindostan be put entirely out of
the reach of European hostilities. The estab
lishment of a line of naval stations from the
Cape of Good Hope to Ceylon has been held
out, by the politicians of France, as the means
of infallibly crushing the British power in the
East ; and with reason, for had Ceylon and the
Cape remained under her influence, the colossus
d2

36
of our Indian empire must have staggered be
fore now, under the accumulated blows which
could thence have been aimed at our commerce,
if we may judge by the incalculable mischief
which has been effec ted by the French in this
Island, the most enterprising of their colonies.
We now want but one link of that chain,*
and by its acquisition we shall convert into the
most powerful source of security, an instrument
we have, by experience, found incomparably
adapted to the purposes of annoyance and
destruction. It would be presumptuous, in the limited
eye of man, to attempt to scan the term of the
stability and duration of our dominion in Hin
dostan. Its permanence depends on causes
which we cannot calculate with exactness.
From the genius or talents of any of the
Dresent race of native warriors, or from any
• * The author alludes to the probable capture of the Mauritius,

37
union of the native powers, we have little to
dread. India must now depend upon the
subordination, and freedom from faction, of
British soldiers themselves*
From the nature of things, it is not probable >
that those myriads, whom the inscrutable
dispensations of Providence have placed under
our government in the remotest regions of the
earth, can remain for any great length of time
dependant on the British empire ; but human
policy can see but little into futurity, and he
whose conquest has divested these possessions
of their most formidable enemy, has performed
no mean achievement ; not only by the advan
tages which are secured to the present genera
tion, but also in the benefits to be derived hy
posterity from the capture of so important an
Island. * Perhaps the only secure way of effecting this object would
be to draw the Native Army into a closer connection with tha
marching army of the line ; in other words to make the Com
pany's troops, like the militia of these islands, younger of their
rank with the King's, and both establishments subservient to
the Crown.

38

General Instructions and Directions to Offi
cers at the head qf Brigades, issued by
Lieut. Colonel Keating, commanding a
detachment of Troops proceeding against
the Island of Bourbon.
Camp at Rodriques, July 1, 1810.
The present armament is directed towards
obtaining possession of the Isle of Bourbon,
in the name of his Gracious Majesty, King
George III.
The enemy's force on the Island is as fol
lows :
Artmer^ue  jugular Troops of the Line, hf.
Troops of the line— Green J including Artillery  J
/-A new raised Corps of Rifles
Blue  J Men composed of young >4 17
(. Creoles  J

89

Blue  Garde Nationale  900
{Militia and Creoles, men")
/>/-. i >2300
of Colour  j

Total 4193

The distribution of the above force is as
follows : fTroops of the Line  190
J Garde Nationale  39*.
At St. Denis,,,.,,.,.. S 1 Creole Riflemen „  286
^¦Mounted Men  25
892

At St. Paul's  ^ I

f-Troops of the Line  1 10
I Garde Nationale  250

Creole Riflemen...'.  131
LCreole Militia  350

841

40

The remaining 2460 are detached in the nine
following- Districts, viz.
St.Leu.  487
St. Louis  168
St. Pierre—now called Riviere D'abord  437
St. Joseph  264
St. Rose  340
St. Benart  „"  417
St. Andre....  ¦.  204
St. Susanne  _,  ....~.  86
St. Marie.  57

2460

The enemy reckons upon our landing in the
South, or East side of the Island, and making re
gular advances against St. Denis and St. Paul's.
Were such a measure pursued in the reduc
tion of the Island, our loss must be very severe
and success very doubtful, arising from the
natural strength of the country, and the ex
posing our force to the fire of their marksmen,

41

without being able to return a shot. B ut these
are not all the advantages which the enemy
would derive, and no doubt, reap from our
landing at any distance from his capital'; such
a measure would give him time to collect and
concentrate his , force; which at St. Denis he
can, in two days, reinforce to 2317 men, leav
ing St. Paul's and the South West side of the
Island secure and garrisoned with 1876 men.
In order to ensure the object of this Expe
dition, with the least possible loss to the force
which has been placed under my orders and
direction, and with a view of having it in the
most effective state towards the ulterior object of*
(he expedition ; it is my determination to strike
the first blow at the very heart of the enemy,
aud having dispossessed him of his capital, our
further operations must be guided by his future
discomfiture and disposition.
The following plan of attack is laid down

42
for the guidance and regulation of the officers
commanding brigades ; from whose tried zeal,
experience, and judgment, I trust that His
Majesty's and the Honorable Company's arms
will be crowned with the most complete suc
cess. I expect as much from the discipline of
the troops, as I do from their known bravery
and courage.
By the orders of the 26th ultimo, the force
is told off into four brigades, and, in concert
vith Commodore Rowley, apportioned to His
Majesty's Frigates for the purpose of accele
rating their debarkation.
The 1st Brigade commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Fraser ; 2nd Brigade by Lieutenant
Colonel Drummond ; 3rd Brigade, or Re
serve; hy Lieutenant Colonel Macleod; 4th
Brigade, or the advance, by Lieutenant Col.
Campbell.

43
It is intended, that the landing shall be
effected during the night if possible between
St. Marie and the Butor, at the nearest prac
ticable point to the enemy's capital.
The 4th Brigade, or / the advance,, under
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, is first to land
from His Majesty's Ship Nereide ; the 3rd
Brigade, or the Reserve, under Lieut. Col.
Macleod, is next to land from His Majesty's
ships Boadicea and Iphigenia; the 1st Bri
gade, under Lieutenant Colonel Fraser, on
board His Majesty's ship Magicienne, is to
land and form the rear column; the 2nd
Brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Drum
mond, on board His Majesty's ship Sirius, is
to land at Possession.
The defences of St. Denis, down to the 3rd
of June last, are clearly laid down in the plan
of the town; a copy of which is to be furnish
ed to the officers commanding brigades , and

44
to the principal staff officers ; in addition to this
plan, there are two guides, of tried fidelity,
attached to each column.
When the 4th Brigade is landed, Lieutenant
Colonel Campbell will order his light troops,
with half the artillerymen, to move forward,
left in front ; detaching a subaltern and 20
men in their front, until they arrive ' near
the Butor, when they are to take a direction
towards their left, crossing the Butor half a
mile to the southward of the road, higher up,
which will bring, them in the rear of the Butor
redoubt of 4 guns, marked No. 9 in the plan of
the town — 6 artillery-men, with a small cove
ring party, are to occupy this work ; pointing
and working the guns toward the rear and west
of the town, as occasion may require. — The
post where there are two guns, marked No. 10
in the plan of the town, is to be occupied by
one subaltern and 16 men. — The remainder of
the light troops are to proceed by the rear and

45
south of the town; they are to occupy the
house of the Commandant, marked L in the
plan of the town, with 1 subaltern and 20 men,
which commands the rue artillerie ; the light
infantry are then to proceed towards the west
of the town, crossing the River St. Denis, about
half a mile to the southward of the bridge,
and to spike the guns on the batteries, num
bered 7 and 8, on the plan of the town.— The
officer commanding the light troops must at
tend particularly to the prison, marked H on
the plan of the town,^ where there are 2 guns,
and a guard of 20 men ; the light troops are
then to take up a position west of the River St.
Denis, fronting the town, with a view to . pre
vent the enemy from reinforcing Possession of
St. Paul's, or escaping from the town.
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, after crossing
the Butor, will leave the Butor redoubt upon
his left, detaching small parties to spike the
guns upon the batteries No. 4, and 3. The

46
commanding officer recommends, that the guns
upon battery No. 2 shall be manned ready to
cover and support the storming party told off
for No. 1— rRoyal battery, which is the main
post, Lieutenant' Colonel Campbell is ordered
to occupy it until the guns are spiked, and then
proceed to battery No. 5. The enemy has, in
the town, and at No. 6 on the beach, eight
field pieces, four pounders, which he can bring
to any point in a short, period of time ; there
fore the attention and movements of Lieutenant
Colonel Campbell's brigade must be directed
according to the distribution of those guns.
It may be necessary to order, that wherever
those guns appear, the nearest troops are to
take immediate possession of them. The batte
ries on the sea face being spiked, Lieutenant
Col. Campbell will occupy, with his brigade,
the position which his light troops are already
formed on to the west of the town.
The 3rd Brigade, or the Reserve, under the

47
command of Lieutenant Colonel Macleod, after
landing, is to advance towards the enemy's
capital by the road leading from St. Marie,
preserving a distance of 200 yards, or there
abouts, from the fourth brigade. Lieutenant
Colonel Macleod will be pleased to detach one
company to support the movements of the
light troops of the advance, and, also one com
pany to support the right of the 4th brigade
under Lieutenant Colonel Campbell.
The movements of the 3rd brigade must de*-
pend much upon the defence made by the
enemy, and the assistance required by the 4th
brigade. The commanding officer is however
confident, that, whatever be the defence of the
enemy, or the difficulties presented, they will
be soon overcome by the Reserve, and the other
Brigades, conducted by leaders of such exper
riencesand judgment. ,
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell's brigade

48
having succeeded in spiking the guns on the
«
batteries towards the sea face, and taken up its
position on the western side of the town, Lieu
tenant Colonel Macleod's brigade will form in
the rear , and south of the town, taking care
that its rear is protected.
The 1st Brigade, under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Eraser, is to form the rear
column, and follow the motions of the 3rd bri
gade at the distance of 300 yards. Lieutenant
Colonel Fraser will be pleased to detach one
company to support the left of the Reserve j and
he shall receive such other orders, from time to
time, as may most tend to ensure the object of
attack — liis Brigade is to form close to the
town, with its rear towards the Butor.
The 2nd Brigade, under the command of
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond, is to occupy
the batteries at La Possession ; and, inverting
the guns from the sea, is to direct them against

49
the enemy as occasion offers. Having per
formed this duty. Lieutenant Colonel Drum
mond is ordered to post his brigade on the
strongest ground, that the place will admit of,
contiguous to his battery, from whence his
guns can have influence upon the advancing
enemy. The 1st Brigade shall be immediately em
barked at St. Denis, for the purpose of
reinforcing the 2nd, and Lieutenant Colonel
Fraser shall be furnished with the necessary
instructions for his future operations on the
Possession side of St. Paul's. r[;[
The Deputy Quarter Master General is
directed to give the* necessary instructions to
the Agent of Transports, that 8 six pounders
complete, and 20 artillery-men, as also the
remainder of the 2nd brigade, with 50 pioneers
attached, are embarked on board the same ship,
E

50

which is to stand in direct for La Possession,
following His Majesty's Ship Sirius.
It is very desirable, that Lieutenant Colonel
Drummond should detach a small force on his
left, towards St Denis, in order to guard tbe
strong pass over La Petite Chaloupe, and it is
also proper, that he should, destroy all signal
posts within his reach, at the same time guard
ing against any of his parties being cut off,
from their first position.
Should the light troops of the advance
arrive at the Butor without being discovered,
which is not to be expected, the guard house
on the west of the Butor, marked No. 11,
should be the first object — they are then to
enter the Butor redoubt by the rear, which is
open, paying particular attention in guarding
against a very deep ditch* which is dug in
* Upon examination no.dilch was found.

51
front of the West, North, and South faces.
The Battery Royal should be the next object.
The Commanding Officer fully expects, that
Major Taynton will use every possible exertion
to ensure the service of the 4^ inch how
itzers, at the first attack on the enemy's capital.
They are to he supported by two six-pounders
from the Madras Brigade, and the two Bombay
six-pounders under Captain Mackintosh, who
is attached to Major Taynton's brigade. — The
mounted men, attached to the artillery, are to be
in readiness to land, and to act as dragoons, or
gunners, according to circumstances.
The troops are to land with one day's pro
visions and grog — the men are not to load upon
any account, or under any pretence, without
orders' from the Officers commanding Brigades.
— Every thing during the night, or before
day-light, is to be carried by the bayonet.
e2

52
The Commanding Officer, however, wishes
it to be understood, that the troops are to load
at day-light, should the Brigadiers judge such
a measure necessary.
The Lieut. Colonel can assure the detach
ment, that nothing but a perfect knowledge of
the nature of the country, and the mode of
defence which the enemy is prepared to make,
could induce him to authorise a shot to be
fired. — The French, upon the Isles of France
and Bourbon, can never be persuaded t« stand
English bayonets ; they are trained to a differ
ent system of defence, by firing from behind
walls and houses, and from the opposite sides
of impassable ravines. — The troops are ordered
not to enter the town, upon any account, unless
such a measure should appear necessary during
the morning- — The Commanding Officer vests
the brigadiers with discretionary powers on
this head.

53
Any person detected in the act of plundering,
or with plunder in his possession, shall be tried
and punished according to the rules of war.
The least drunkenness^ or irregularity, in the
troops shall be punished in the most severe
manner.

Parole and Countersign for the morning of
landing.
Parole — Navy  Countersign — 'Army.
By Order of the Officer commanding.
E. PARKINSON, D.A. Gen.

54

Camp at Rodriques, 2nd
July, 1810.
The information received by His Majesty's
$}fo%fc La Njqreide, which arrived y ester-
day afternoon from off the Island of
Bourbon, renders the following change of
disposition, and additionai Instructions
to Officers commanding Brigades, ne
cessary.
The EujcpDeans of the 1st brigade are to be
in readiness to embark on board of His Ma
jesty's ship Sirius, for Grande Chaloupe.—
The remainder of this brigade to be moved on
board of the two fastest sailing transports,
which are to follow the Sirius.

55
Lieutenant Colonel Drummond's brigade is
to embark on board of His Majesty's Ship
Magicienne, and to follow the directions laid
down in the plan of attack, for the first bri
gade. This arrangement consequently does away,
for the present, that patt of the plan, for the
movements of the 2<1 brigade at Possession.
Lieut. Col. Eraser, after having landed at
Grande Chaloupe, will immediately push on to
gainthe prison marked Hohthe planof thetown;
after having manned the two guns on this post,
he is to employ them against the enemy in his
attempting to retire from the toVvn, or other
wise, as occasion may require. — Lieutenant
Colonel Fraser is directed to detach a sufficient
force to spike the guns on tlie batteries marked
7 and 8.— He is then to take up the position
pointed put in the plan of attack, for Lieutenant
Colonel Campbell's brigade.— Lieutenant Col.

58

Fraser is to make a forced march from the
point of debarkation to the point of attack—
the commanding officer does not expect to
be opposed by any number pf the, enemy, that
his light companies and the 4-| inch howitzer
are not more then equal to ; 'but, at all events,
the orders are positive for Lieutenant Colonel
Fraser to occupy, with His Majesty 86th
Regiment, the two gun battery at the prison,
and to spike the guns on the batteries 7 and 8,
in the shortest time possible after landing. v
There are two approved fguides attached to
the 1st brigade under LieutenantColonel Fraser.
Ijf, contrary to the commanding officer's
expectations, this attempt to gain the posts on
the west side of the river St. Denis should fail,
Lieut. .Colonel Fraser will either take up a
strong position, keeping open a communication
with His Majesty ship Sirius, until reinforced,
or retire and embark at once,, should #such a

57
measure appear, in concert with the senior
officer of His Majesty's Navy, then present,
necessary. Tne light troops of the advance, after having
crossed the Butor, are to occupy the post with
two guns, marked' 10 on the plan of the town ;
and afterwards the Butor redoubt marked 9 ;
they are then to receive further orders from
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell.
The officers commanding brigades are re
quested to make application to the commanding
officer, for explanation upon any head of the
plan of attack, which they consider requisite.
By order of the Officer commanding.

E. PARKINSON, D. A. Gen.

A True Copy,
E. Parkinson, JP. A. G.

58

THE GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1810.

Downing Street, October
2bth, 1810.
A Dispatch, of which the following is an
extract, was last night received by the Earl
of Liverpool, one of His Majesty's Principal
Secretaries of State.

Extract of a Letter from Lieutenant Colonel
Keating, dated Bourbon, 21 st July 1810.
I have much pleasure in forwarding to your
Lordship a copy of my dispatch, under this

59
date, to the Right Honorable the Governor
General of India ; and I hope the conduct of
the forces confided to ray command may meet
with the gracious approbation of His Majesty.

To N. B. Edmonstone, Esq. Chief Secretary
to Government, Calcutta.
Sir, I have the honour to report, that the
force, consisting of one thousand eight
hundred European, and one thousand eight
hundred and fifty Native, troops, which the
Right Honourable the Governor General of
India, in council, has been pleased to confide
to my orders and directions, for the conquest
of the island of Bourbon, arrived at Roderiques
on the 20th of June, at which time I was ab
sent on the important duty which has already
been detailed, for the information of his

60
Lordship, in my letter of the 16th of the same
month. The intelligence which 1 then obtained enabled
me at once to decide upon a plan of attack.
On the 24th June, Commodore Rowley,
commanding the blockading squadron before
the Isles of France and Bonaparte, anchored
in His Majesty's ship Boadicea off Fort Dun
can, in the island of Roderiques.
No time was lost in making the necessary
arrangements for the reduction of this island,
as well as for carrying into effect the ulterior
object of the expedition.
From the unfavourable state of the weather,
we were delayed at Roderiques until the
morning of the 3d instant, when we weighed
anchor, and proceeded to the point of rendez
vous, fifty railes to windward of the island of

61
Bonaparte ; which point we reached at 4 o'clock
on the evening of the 6th, when, in consequence
of the judicious arrangements made by Commo
dore Rowley, and the indefatigable zeal and ex
ertions of Captains Pymofthe Sirius, Lambert
of th& Iphigenia, Curtis of the Magicienne,
Willoughby of the Nereide, and Lieutenant
Robb, first of the Boadicea, the whole of the
troops were removed from the transports and
embarked in the frigates, which immediately
stood in for the points of debarkation.
It will appear by the disposition made in the
plan of attack, for striking the first blow at
the enemy's capital, that there were two objects
in view; first, to prevent a protracted warfare
iurthe interior of a country, almost inaccessible
to an invading army ; and, secondly, to ensure
the final reduction of the island in the shortest
time possible, by securing the principal garri
son, and the Governor : and Commaiider in
* A.
Chief, whom I knew to be at St. Denis.

62
The First Brigade composed of His Ma
jesty's 86th Regiment, the First Battalion 6th
Regiment of Madras Native Infantry, and a
small detail of artillery and pioneers, com
manded by Lieutenant Colonel Fraser, was
ordered to land at Grande Chaloupe, and to
proceed by the mountains direct against the
west side of the enemy's capital: whilst the
second, third, and fourth brigades were to land
at Riviere des Pluies, and to force the lines of
defence extending from ihe Butor redoubt on
the north or sea side, to the redoubt No. II,
on the south, and from thence to cross the rear
of the town to the river St. Denis.
About two o'clock P. M. on the 7th, the
several ships having reached their stations, the
beach from St. Marie, to within gun-shot of
the Imperial Battery, was reconnoitred by
Captain Willoughby of the Royal Navy,
and Lieutenant Colonel Campbell of His

63
Majesty's 33rd Regiment, commanding the
4th brigade, or the advance.
The weather being then moderate, and the
enemy not appearing in strength; it was deter
mined to debark the troops. Accordingly,
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell with one hundred
and fifty light troops of his brigade, and
Captain Willoughby of the royal navy, com
manding a party of seamen, and appointed to
superintend the landing, immediately pushed
off, and landed their men about 4 o'clock.
Lieutenant Colonel Macleod, of His Majesty's
69th regiment, commanding 3d brigade, with
one hundred and fifty men, effected a landing
nearly at the same time. But at this moment
the wind increasiug with much violence, raised
the surf to an unexpected height, and several
boats being stove on the beach, the landing of
more troops that evening became impracticable.
This important object was not, however, given.
up, until an experiment, concerted with Com-

64
modore Rowley, was put in execution. A
small transport (the Udney) was run upon
the beach, in hopes that the troops might be
enabled to land over her stern, or under her lee.
This service was performed by Lieutenrnt
Lloyd, 2d of the Boadicea, with the usual
intrepidity which distinguishes our navy ; but
the violence of the weather, and natural dif
ficulties of the situation, were such as to
frustrate the intention proposed.
It now became necessary, if possible, to com
municate with Lieutenant Colonel Macleod,
the senior officer with the detachment on
shore, which iu landing had the whole of their
ammunition damaged, and had lost a consider
able number of their arms. Lieutenant Foul-
stone, of His Majesty's 69th regiment, in the
most handsome manner volunteering to swim
through the surf, his services were imme
diately accepted, aud that officer accordingly
conveyed my orders to the Lieutenant Colonel

65
to take possession of, and occupy St. Marie for
the night.
This service was performed by Lieutenant
Colonel Macleod in an officer-like and masterly
manner. I felt much anxiety for this detachment dur
ing the night ; and as the practicability of
disembarking more troops to windward appear
ed to Commodore Rowley, as well as to myself,
very uncertain, the Magicienne, having on
board the 2d brigade, was dispatched about
ten o'clock, p. m. to Grande Chaloupe, to which
place it was determined that the Boadicea,
with such transports as had military stores on
board, should follow in the morning.
According to this arrangement, Captain Lam
bert of the Iphigenia,'being left with directions
from Commodore Rowley to seize the first
moment of moderate weather to debark that

66
part of the 3d brigade then on board of his
ship, I proceeded with the Commodore in the
Boadicea, on the morning of the 8th, with the
remainder of the 3d and 4th brigade, and effect
ed a landing to Leeward, at Grande Chaloupe,
about eleven o'clock a. m.
With this force under «fty immediate com
mand, I instantly moved forward by the
mountains ; at two o'clock a. m. passing over
the heights, I reconnoitred the enemy's position,
and by four o'clock had formed the necessary
arrangements for the attack upon his capital.
Major Austen, at the head of the 1 2th and;
23d Grenadiers., and Igth Native Infantry, had
received his final instructions to assail the town
in the rear.
Lieutenant-Colonels MacLeod of the 69th,
aa^ Campbell of the 33d, .had already passed

67
the enemy's strong position on the Cast of the
town, from the Butor to No. 5, Redoubt.
Lieutenant-Colonel Clarges was well ad
vanced towards the west end of the town, with
five Companies of His Majesty's 69th Regi
ment, to force the batteries on the sea face ;
and Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, com
manding the 2d Brigade, had reinforced with
the Royal Marines of his Brigade, the position
so gallantly maintained by the 1st Brigade,
on the west of the River St. Denis.
Through the exertions of Majox Tayntoo,
commanding the Artillery, and of Captain
Mackintosh), of the Bombay Artillery, assisted
by Lieutenant-Colonel Clarges, of the 69th
Regiment, and Lieutenant Laubern, of His
Majjesiy's ship La Nereide, commanding a
party of fifty seamen, I was enabled to get
forward two field pieces, and four and half
howitzer, which were descending the mountain,

68
and would have been in action in less than half
an hour. This would have insured the result
of the premeditated attack ; or, in the event of
disaster, secured our retreat ; which latter was,
in my opinion, next to an impossibility,
Affairs were in this state, when I received.
a message from the left, that the enemy had sent
out a Trumpeter, with an Officer, to demand
a suspension of arms, and, on honourable terms,
to surrender the Island. There was not a
moment to be lost in saving an enemy com
pletely in our power, and I accordingly issued
immediate grders for the troops to halt.
I am sorry, that my situation prevented my
communicating, agreeably to his Lordship's
orders, with Mr. Farquhar, who was on board
of His Majesty's ship Boadicea, upon the
terms which Commodore Rowley and myself
deemed proper to grant to a brave, though
vanquished, enemy.

69
I should have mentioned, before, that on my
landing at Grande Chaloupe, I had detached
Captain Hanna, with two companies of His
Majesty's 1st battalion of the 56th Regiment,
to La Possession ; the batteries of which place
he took by assault in the most gallant manner.
Thus, Sir, in a few hours, has this rich, ex
tensive, and valuable colony been added to His
gracious Majesty's dominions, with a popula
tion of upwards of one hundred thousand souls,
and with a loss on our part comparatively trif
ling, when the nature of the service is consi
dered; a return of which accompanies this
dispatch, with a copy of the capitulation.
The whole of the service has been conducted
so completely to my satisfaction, that, where
praise is the just claim of all, it may be consi
dered invidious to select ; however, the truly
military style, and rapidity of the movements of
the 1st brigade, calls for my most unqualified

70
thanks to Lieutenant- Colonel Fraser, the
Officers and men under his command ; the same
is equally due to Lieutenant-Colonels Macleod
and Campbell, and the troops under their orders,
who landed, under the greatest difficulties,
opposed by tbe weather and an almost inac
cessible beach.
My thanks are further due to Lieutenant-
Colonel Macleod, for the gallant manner in
which he took possession of the battecies of
St. Marie. To Lieutenant-Colonel Drummond, com
manding the 2d Brigade, the service i» much
indebted for the rapid and effectual support
which be gave to the 1st Brigade ; nor can I
withhold ray approbation of the conduct of
Lieutenant Cottel of the Royal Marines, who,
with the detachment under his command, acted
with the usual intrepidity of that corps.

71
I am well aware, that I cannot add to the
well-earned fame of Commodore Rowley, com
manding His Majesty's squadron, whose merit
as an Officer is well known, and duly appre
ciated; but I shall ever feel grateful for the
cordiality with which he has co-operated with
me throughout the service; and, as far as the
success of the expedition depended upon the
naval arrangement, tbe praise is unquestionably
due to him.
To Captains Pym, Lambert, Curtis and
Willoughby, of the Royal Navy, commanding
tbe Frigates mentioned in the first part of this
Dispatch, tbe army is infinitely indebted for
its effectual and speedy debarkation : to Cap
tain Willoughby, who more immediately
superintended the landing to windward, and
who served with a party of seamen on shore,
my thanks are more particularly due; as also
to Lieutenants Robb, and Lloyd (I take this
opportunity of stating, that the latter Officer

78
was severely wounded on the 21 st of September
last, when gallantly leading on a party of
seamen, but in the hurry of my dispatch of
that date his name was omitted,) of His
Majesty's ship Boadicea, Chudds of the*
Iphigenia, and Lauhern of the Nereide : I
must likewise take this opportunity of
expressing my approbation of the conduct of
Lieutenant Pye, of the Royal Marines, who
was wounded while under ray command on the
21st of September last.
The Commanding Officers of Corps and
Detachments, the Heads of Departments, and
the whole of the Staff have merited my
warmest approbation ; Captain Parkinson, of
His Majesty's 33d Regiment, Deputy Adjutant
General, commands my particular thanks ; not
only, for the conduct of his own immediate
Department, but for the active assistance
which he afforded me wherever required.

73
Major Vernon, the Deputy Quarter-Master-
Genera], has also my thanks for his zeal and
attention. To Captain Barry, who acted as my Aid-
de-Camp, I am likewise much indebted for the
assistance which I received from him during
Ahe service ; nor can I pass over, unnoticed,
the zeal and activity manifested by Lieutenant
Blackiston, Senior Officer of Engineers, upon
this occasion ; as also that of Captain Snow,
Commissary of Provisions, who commanded
the 2d Battalion 12th Native Infantry, from
the time of its landing, until the immediate
service was over.
The judicious arrangements of Dr. Harris,
superintending Surgeon, claims favourable
notice ; as do also the zeal and attention of
Mr. Surgeon Davies of the Bombay Establish
ment. The troops without exception, His Majesty's

74
and the Honourable Cdmparry'si the Royal
Marines and Seamen, conducted themselves
with that courage and energy so truly charac
teristic of British soldiers.
I have only to regret, that the nature of the
service was such as to preclude the possibility
of equally employing all troops, as I am well
assured that, under any circumstance of the
service, their gallantry and good conduct
would have been conspicuous.
On the 9th, agreeably to bis Lordship's
orders, Mr. Farquhar was sworn in governor
of this Colony and its Dependencies, at which
ceremony Commodore Rowley and myself
attended. I am fully satisfied, that tbe : mild and conci
liatory manners of Mr- Farquhar, added to the
protection which British laws afford equally to
all, will speedily have the effect of placing this
Island in the roost flourishing condition, by

75
shewing to the inhabitants the difference between
a just government, and that tyranny and op
pression from which they have been relieved.
Lieutenant Colonel Campbell, with the Flank
Brigade, was dispatched on the tenth for St.
Paul's, which place he immediately occupied;
causing' one thousand five hundred of the
enemy, composed of troops Of the line, Garde
Nationale, Creole militia, &c. to surrender their
arms. I have deemed it proper, fdr the present, to
divide th island into two districts, North East
and South West, in order to facilitate the dis
tribution of the troops to the different out-posts;
and I have the satisfaction to say, that those
arrangements' have been already effected, and
that part of the force, intended to be employed
on the" ulterior object of the expedition, is now
in readiness to move at the shortest notice.
Lieut. Colonel Campbell, of His Majesty's

*

76
33d Regiment, is the bearer of this dispatch, to
whom, as an intelligent and valuable officer, I
beg leave to refer his Lordship for every par
ticular. 1 have likewise thodght it necessary to trans
mit a copy of this dispatch directed to England,
for the information of His Majesty's ministers,
and have accordingly ordered on that duty
Captain Parkinson of His Majesty's 33d regi
ment, Deputy Adjutant General ; an intelligent
and experienced officer of sixteen years standing
in the service, and to whom, as I have already
stated in the body of my letter, I am much
indebted. I have, &c.
(Signed) HENRY S, KEATING,
Lieut. Col. commanding.
Head Quarters,
St. Paul's, Isle of Bourbon, 2lst July 1810.
A true Copy,
( Signed) E. Parkinson,
Dept. Adj. General,-

77

List of Officers killed and wounded.
Flank Corps — Lieutenants Spinks and Whan-
nell, slightly wounded.
His Majesty's 86th Regiment — Lieut. John.
Graham Munro, killed.— Major William
T. Edwards^ slightly wounded ; Lieutenant
Michael, Greagh, Brigade Major, danger
ously wounded ; Lieut. Archibald M'Lean
and A. K. Blackall, severely wounded;
Lieutenant John Webb, slightly wounded ;
Lieutenant William Richard White, severely
wounded. (Signed) E. PARKINSON, Captain,
Deputy Adj. Gen, to the
Forces.

78

Beturn of killed and -wounded in the detachment
commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Keating, at
the attack on St. Denis, in the Island of
Bourbon, the 8th of July 1810.
1st Brigade.
His Majesty's 86th Regiment — 1 Sabaltern,
I Serjeant, 9 Rank and File killed ; 1 Major,
5 Subalterns, 2 Serjeants, 2 Drummers', 47
Rank and File wounded.
Detachment 1st Batt. 6th Regiment Native
infantry — 1 rank and file killed ; 7 rank and
file wounded.
Detachment of Pioneers — 1 rank and file killed.
2d Brigade.
' Royal Marines — 1 rank and file killed.
3d Brigade
His Majesty's 69th Regiment — 2 rank and
file killed.

79
4th Brigade.
Flank Corps— I rank and file killed ; 2 subal
terns, 5 rank and fite, I seaman, wounded.
Detachment of His Majesty's ,56th Regimen*
— -1 rank and file killed; 3 rank and file
wounded.
Pioneers — 4 rank and file wounded.
Total— 1 sabaltern, 1 Serjeant, 16 rank
and file, killed; 1 major, 7 sabalterns, 2
Serjeants, 2 drummers, 66 rank and file, 1
seaman, wounded.
(Signed) E. PARKINSON, Captain,
and Deputy Adj. Gen. to
the1 forces.
N,B. .Captain Lambert, of \the Madras esta
blishment, slightly wounded. Two rank and
file, of His Majesty's 86th regiment, died of
their wounds since the 8th instant, included
in . the wounded. One private, of His Ma
jesty's 56th regiment, since died of his
wounds.

80

CAPITULATION for the surrender
of Saint Denis, the Capital, and the
whole Island of Bonaparte, agreed
upon, between Colonel St. Susanne, com
manding the Island oj Bonaparte, for
His Majesty the Emperor of France,
King of Italy, &c. &c. on the one hand;
and Commodore Rowley, commanding
His Britannic Majesty's Squadron,
Lieutenant Colonel Keating, command
ing His Britannic Majesty's and the
Honorable Company's Land Forces,
and R. J. Farquhar, Esq. on the other.
The whole of the Island of Bonaparte shall
be delivered up to His Britannic Majesty; the
City of Saint Denis at 12 o'Clock to-morrow,
the 9th of July; and the other Military
Stations in succession, as early as intelligence

81
of tbe present Capitulation can be communi
cated. At twelve o'clock to-morrow, the French
troops which occupy the arsenal and imperial
battery, shall evacuate their post, and the Gre
nadier Company of His Majesty's 86th Regi
ment, and the Grenadier Company of the 6th
Madras Native Regiment, win take possession
of them, when the French flag will be struck,
and that of His Britannic Majesty displayed.
The troops of the line and Garde Nationale
shall be allowed all the honors of war ; they
shall march out of the city with their arms and
baggage, drums beating, matches lighted, toge
ther with their field artillery. They are to lay
down their arms on the sea face, in front of
the imperial battery. The troops .of the line
are to surrender themselves prisoners of war,
and to be embarked for the Cape of Good
Hope, or for England.

82
In consideration of the distinguished cha
racter of Colonel St. Susanne and his officers,
and of their gallant defence of the place, the
officers of all ranks are allowed to preserve
their swords and military decorations. They
are to continue prisoners of war, and to embark.
for the Cape of Good Hope, or for England.
Colonel St. Susanne and his family shall
be allowed a passage to the Isle of France, or to
France,: upon his giving his parole of honour
not to serve during the war, or till he shall
be regularly exchanged.
Funeral honours shall be paid to the
French officers who have fallen in the battle,
according to their respective ranks.
An inventory shall be made of property
of all descriptions belonging to the state, which
shall be delivered over to the person appointed
by the English government to receive it.

ill warlike stores, magazines, provisions, charts,
.ns, and archives, are included in this article.
The laws, customs, and religion of the
labitants, as well as their private property of
descriptions, shall be respected and insured
hem, *
Done at St. Denis, the 8th of July, 1810,
at six o'clock, p.m.
(Signed) Saint Susanne,
Colonel Commandant L'Isle Buonaparte,
pour saMajeste L'Empereurdes Fran-
cais, Roi d' Italie, Protecteur da la
Confederation, &c. &c &c.
. {Signed)
Josias Rowley,
Commanding H. B. Majesty's Squadron.
H. S. Keating,
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding,
R. T. Farquhar.
•ueCopy) C.H.I. Pearce, Maj.of Brig.
g 2

84

General list of the Ordnance and principal
Artides of Military Stores found in the
Magazine and adjacent Batteries of the
Town of St Denis, on the Capture of the
Island of Bourbon by His Britannic
Majesty's, and the Hon. East India
Company's Forces, under the Command
of Lieutenant Colonel Keating.
Head Quarters, St. Paul's, 20th July 1810.
Ordnance and Military Stores captured at St
Denis.

Mounted on garrison carriages.
22 Iron twenty-four pounders, 14 ditto eigh-
teen-pounders, 16 ditto twelve pounders, 6
ditto eight pounders, 3 ditto four-pounders.
Mounted on field carriages with limbers.

85
2 Brass twenty-four pounders, 1 ditto four
pounder, 11 ditto one pounder, 1 ditto half-
pounder. Dismounted Cannon.
6 Iron twelve-pounders, 1 ditto six pounder, 1
brass four pounder. Mounted on boxes.
% twelve-inch iron mortars, 1 six-inch brass
mortar, 2 brass mortars.
Total ordnance — 89.
1 1,268 loose round shot of calibres.
1055 case shot of ditto.
225 grape, quilted, and cannister shot.
1100 filled cloth gun cartridges of calibres.
190,000 pounds of gunpowder.
417 muskets and fuzils with bayonets.
80,000 sounds of shotted musket cartridges.
6500 leaden musket balls.
900 leaden one pounder balls.
6200 musket flints.

86

5 brass blunderbusses.
6 iron wall pieces.
172 boarding pikes.
8 cutlasses,
70 tomahawks. \. ;
The town of St. Denis is furnished with an
excellent powder magazine and store houses,
containing the necessary appurtenances for the
above mentioned ordnance and small arms ;
there are also several forges, artificers work
shops, and a laboratory, replete with the requi
site tools, implements &c. of which a detailed
account will be given hereafter, as soon as
time will admit.
Ordnance and military stores captured at St.
Paul's.
Mounted on garrison carriages.
19 iron twenty-four pounders, 10 ditto eighteen
pounders, 10 ditto twelve pounders, 1 ditto
nine-pounder, 1 ditto eight- pounder.

87

Mounted on field carriages, with limbers.
1 brass six-poundter 1 ditto four-pounder, -2
ditto three-pounder. Dismounted.
7 iron eighteen-pounders
t ¦ Mounted on boxes.
2 thirteen-inch iron mortars, I six-inch ditto,
1 five and half-inch ditto. N
Total ordnance — 56. \
1000 loose round shot of calibres.
150 grape, quilted, and cannister shot.
80 empty shells of calibres.
550 filled gun cartridges of ditto.
5000 pounds of gunpowder.
462 muskets and fuzils with bayonets.
13,000 rounds of shotted musket cartridges.
500 musket flints.
N. B. In the towns of St. Denis and St.
Paul's there were found ordnance, of different

88
calibres, one hundred and forty-five, and four
hundred and sixty-two stands of arms. The
lists of the guns and stores at the other districts
of Bourbon have not yet been received, but a
committee is now employed in taking an ac
count of them, and a particular return, of
the several articles will be forwarded with all
practicable dispatch.
(Signed) E. PARKINSON,
Dep. Adj. Gen.
D. R08S, Commissary of
Stores to the Expedition.

•Admiralty Office, October 25, 1810.
Dispatches, of which the following are copies,
have been received at this Office from Vice
Admiral Bertie, Commander in Chief of
His Majesty's ships and vessels at the Cape

89
of Good Hope, addressed to John Wilson
Croker, Esq.

Msus, Simon's Bay, Aug. 26, 1810.
Sir, By my dispatch addressed to you on
the 12th ultimo, for the information, of their
Lordships, and forwarded to England by the
Honourable Company's ship Sara Christina, I
had the hpnour to communicate the advices I
had received from the government of India, of
the force then proceeding to the island of
Roderiguez, for the reduction of the island of
Bourbon, and of the ulterior objects in con
templation ; it is with peculiar satisfaction
that I am now io acquaint you, that by the
arrival of the country ship the Anna, at this
anchorage, on the 24th instant, I have received
from Captain Rowley the dispatch, of wbich

90
the accompanying is a copy, announcing the
surrender of the Isle of Bourbon to His Ma
jesty's Arms, by capitulation, on the 9th of
July. The proceedings of the squadron, in con
junction with the military force, under the
command of Lieutenant Colonel Keating, are
so fully detailed in Captain Rowley's said
letter with its accompaniments, that it remains
only for me to congratulate their Lordships
on the successful issue of this first step towards
the extermination of the enemy's possessions
in this quarter.
Lieutenant Robb of the Boadicea, who was
the bearer of these dispatches from Captain
Rowley, whose honourable testimony of his-
zeal and merits is confirmed by long experi
ence, I beg to recommend to their Lordships'
notice, and have entrusted him with my present

91
communications, referring them to him for
any further information.
I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) A. BERTIE.

flits Majesty's Ship Boadicea, Boad of St.
Denis, Isleof Bourbon, WthJuly 1810.
Sir, I feel much satisfaction in announcing
to you the surrender of the Isle of Bourbon to
His Majesty's Arms. According to the com
munication I had the honour to make to you
on the 14th uit. I proceeded to the Isfe of
Roderiguez, where having joined the trans
ports from India, and, in concert with Lieu
tenant Colonel Keating, made the necessary
arrangements relative to the troops, and
embarked on board the Boadicea and Nereide

92
as many as they could stow, we proceeded to
join the ships of the squadron whieb I had
left off the Isle of France, under the orders of
Captain Pym, blockading the three frigates of
the enemy then in port, having previously
detached a light transport to apprize them of
our sailing. We joined them at the appointed
rendezvous, between the Isles of France and
Bourbon, on the 6th, and having embarked on
board the frigates the remainder of the Euro
pean and part of the Native troops, made all sail
in the evening towards the points of attack, it
being intended to push on shore the greatest
part of the force with all possible celerity, for
which purpose each ship was provided with
additional boats taken from the transports.
While the main force drew the attention of
the enemy off St. Marie, about two leagues to
the eastward of the town of St. Denis, Cap
tain Pym, with his usual skill and activity,
effected a landing about 2 P. M. from the

93
Sirius, of all the troops embarked on board of
her, at a part of the beach called Grande Cha
loupe, six miles to the westward of the town,
where the enemy were totally unprepared for
an attack.
The Riviere des Pluis, about three miles to
the east of St Denis, was intended for, the other
point of descent.
The remaining four frigates (when it wa*
supposed the first landing was secured) im
mediately pushed for the anchorage, and were
followed by the transports as they arrived.
The weather, which till now had been favour
able, began to change ; the beach on this side
of the island being steep, and composed of large
shingles, is generally of difficult access, but it
was supposed, on reconnoitring it, that the
landing was practicable, and Captain Wil
loughby, who undertook to superintend it,
pushed off in a small prize schooner, captured

94
by the Nereide, with a party of seamen and a
detachment of light troops, with some of the
boats which followed effected a partial landing,
but the surf still increasing several were stove
on the beach ; it being, however, considered
by Lieutenant Colonel Keating of much im
portance to effect the landing on this point, a
light transport was placed with great judgment
by Lieutenant Lloyd of the Boadicea, in order
to act as a break-water, but the stern cable
parting she only formed a momentary cover for
a few boats, and notwithstanding every exer
tion of the skill and experience of Captain
Willoughby, the officers and seamen, it was
found necessary on the close of the day to re
linquish any further attempts at this point for
the present. I am concerned to state, that
two seamen and two soldiers were drowned on
this occasion : the party, however, maintained
their ground, and took possession of the bat-
rery and post of St Marie during the night.

95
The Magicienne, with two transports, were
now detached to support the brigade landed at
Grande Chaloupe, but Captain Curtis alone
gained the anchorage, and landed the troops
embarked in her. In the morning of the 8th,
the beach still appearing unfavourable, I
weighed, at the desire of Lieutenant-Colonel
Keating, and proceeded to the anchorage off
Grande Chaloupe, where we landed the re
mainder of the troops, guns, &c. The trans-
' ports had been left in charge of the Iphigenia,
and Captain Lambert with much activity and
exertion landed the troops embarked in her.
I directed Captain Pym to proceed with the
Sirius and Magicienne to be ready to act with
the troops off St. Denis, when at 10 p.m. I
received a message from Lieutenant Colonel
Keating, that he had entered into a capitula
tion with the enemy, and at his desire 'landed
next morning in company with Mr. Farquhar,
appointed to the government of the island,

96
(who had done me the honor to embark in
the Boadicea) when we signed the annexed
terms of capitulation*.
I had previously directed Captain Pym, by
signal, to take possession of the shipping at St.
Paul's ; in effecting which Lieutenant Norman,
in the barge of the Sirius, captured a French
brig (that had sailed with dispatches for the Isle
of France) in the style which does that officer
much credit ; I beg leave to transmit Captain
Pym's Report of the affair,
For a detail of the operations of the troops
on shore, which led to the surrender of the
Island, I beg leave to refer to Lieut. Colonel
Keating's dispatches ; his plan of attack was
so ably concerted, and executed with so much
decision, as to occasion the speedy termination

* For the Capitulation, see Lieutenant Colonel Keating's
Dispatch.

97
of a contest which, if protracted, must, from
the nature of the country, have occasioned
much loss.
It now, Sir, becomes a pleasing part of my
duty to notice the cordial unanimity and zeal
that prevailed, between all ranks of the army and
navy, on the service we have been engaged in.
To Captains Pym, Lambert,, Curtis, and Wil
loughby, I feel particularly indebted, for the
prompt assistance and support I received from
theui on every occasion ; and the active exer
tions of the officers and men, on this short, but
fatiguing, service, could not be surpassed.
Lieutenant Colonel Keating has mentioned,
in high terms of approbation, the conduct of
Captain Willoughby, the officers and seamen
employed on shore with the troops, and Lieu
tenant Cottell, with the brigades of marines
under his orders,

98
As the superior force of the enemy, stationed
at the Isle of France, will not allow me
to detach any part of the squadron, I have di
rected Lieutenant Robb, first of the Boadicea,
to proceed with the dispatches in the Anna ;
the fastest sailing transport of those destined to
proceed to the Cape. The merits of this officer
are Well known. Sir, to you, and I cannot men
tion, in too strong terms of comraendation, the
unremitting zeal and 'assiduity to which I feel
so highly indebted. I bave the honor to be, &c.
JOS. ROWLEY,
Vice-Admiral Bertie] #c. $c. fyc.
His Majesty's Ship Sirius, at anchor at
St. Paul's, llth July 1810.

99

Sir, In putting your order in force to anchor
at St. Paul's, I was fired at by all the batteries,
and on shewing a truce, they repeated it with
many shells ; however, during my stay in the
bay, I clearly saw that a brig was getting ready
to sail that night.
At eleven o'clock, I dispatched Lieutenant
Norman in the barge, to bring her out or cut
her off; he found, by boarding the other vessels
in the bay, that she sailed about nine o'clock ;
he pushed on, and after a hard row of nearly
twelve hours, came up with, and, in a most
gallant manner, rowed through her fire,
boarded, and took her. She is the Edward of
Nantz, pierced for sixteen guns, has only four
twelve pounders, and thirty men on board, was
charged with dispatches for the Isle of France.
h 2

100
I am happy to say, we have only three mea
wounded,' and not dangerously.
I am, &c.
(Signed) S. PYM.
To Commodore Bowley,8sc. &;c. $c.
P.S. She is sixteen months old, two hundred
and forty-five tons, coppered, and copper-
fastened, and, in my opinion, a very fit vessel
for a packet. .

Nisus, Simon's Bay, Aug. 26, 1810.
Sir, I have the honor to transmit, herewith,
for the information of their Lordships, a copy
of a letter from Captain Rowley, accompany
ing a return of killed, wounded, aud missing,
in action with the enemy in the Isle of Bourbon,
on the 7th and 8th July last.
I have the honor to be, &c.
A. BERTIE

101

His Majesty's ship Boadicea, Boad of
St. Denis, UthJuly, 1810.
Sir, ^ I herewith transmit to you a return of
the killed, wounded, and missing, belonging to
the ships of the squadron, in action with the
enemy at St. Marie and vicinity of St. Denis,
Isle of Bourbon, on the 7th and 8th of July
instant. I have the honor to be, &c.
JOS. ROWLEY.
Vice-Admiral Bertie, 8$c. %c.

A Beturn of Killed, Wounded, and Missing,
belonging to His Majesty's ships under the
orders' of Josias Bowley, Esq. Captain of
His Majesty's ship Boadicea, and Senior
'Officer of the squadron off the Isle of France,
in action with the enemy at St. Marie, and

102
in the vicinity of St. Denis, Isle of Bourbon,
on the 7th and 8th of July, 1810.
Magicienne — 1 private of marines killed on
shore with the troops.
Nereide — 2 ordinary seamen drowned.
(Signed) JOS. ROWLEY.

APPENBIX.

105

agipenfti;.

AT is not intended to describe the situation,
appearance, natural history, or mineralogical
construction of Bourbon ; these have already
been delineated with sufficient minuteness by
travellers, whose pens have been exhausted in
describing the features of the Islands in gene
ral; but merely to give those dry official
documents, from which a rough estimate may
be formed of the value of this in particular.
The population, as nearly as can be com
puted from the last numeration, allowing
for the changes which have taken place
since, consists of the numbers formerly given ;

106
but many hands are still requisite to put this
country into the state of cultivation of which
it is susceptible.
The roads have hitherto been much ne
glected. There is but one great public
road, which makes nearly the circuit of
the island, following pretty closely the margin
of the sea. From this circumstance, any hos
tile descent cuts off all communication from
one quarter to another. This had attracted
much of the attention of the Colonial Assem
bly ; and, together with the construction of
bridges over the rivers and impracticable ra
vines, occupied much consideration.
Individuals also have frequently entered into
subscriptions to defray the expences of objects
so desirable ; but these have always failed from
the pressure of the times, and the incapacity of
government to furnish the necessary assistance.

107
The soil of tlie island is in general excellent.
Bourbon forming altogether one grand moun
tain, the rains, which it attracts,, wash towards
its base the lighter kinds of earth, which are
produced by animal and vegetable decomposi
tion : therefore the summits of the mountain
consist of naked and desolate rocks, and the
soil is ameliorated in proportion as it ap
proaches the borders of the sea.
This observation is, however, subject to ex
ceptions : the subterranean fires, to which it
owes its origin, have long ceased to operate by
the original crater, which is on the summit of
the island. But nearer the sea-side more
recent eruptions have burnt up the lands which
border on it ; the result is therefore, generally
speaking, that the lands situated about the
middle of the ascent are of the best quality.
The low land, which receives the deposition
of the rivers, and is formed by them, may be re-

108
garded as soil of the second quality. The high
parts of the mountain can hardly be considered
as susceptible of cultivation.
Formerly this island ,had the appearance of
one entire forest, but the woods are now almost
all cut down, and- applied to the construction of
houses, or burnt to clear the land ; and it is in
conceivable thedestruction which the improvi
dent carelessness of this mode has caused.
The agriculture of the island consists chiefly
in the cultivation of coffee, cloves, cotton, corn,
mace, potatoes, and for the food of the slaves,
manioc, sweet potatoes, and yams.
Cocoa, sugar, pepper, nutmegs and indigo,
are also cultivated, but hardly more than suffi- -
cient to supply the consumption of the island ;
aud they must require a considerable time
before they can become objects of commerce.
But the culture of coffee is the principal

109
object of this colony. Its soil is peculiarly
adapted to it in every quarter. But those
cantons which are to leeward enjoy that climate
and temperature which is most propitious to
the perfection of the plant. Unhappily the
causes, which produce this excellence, contri
bute to the multiplication of those insects
that destroy it. The ants are infinitely more
numerous and destructive to leeward than in
the windward quarter; but those in their turn
are infested and ravaged by snails. Both these
scourges of husbandry have been introduced
within these last thirty years, and multiplied
with alarming rapidity : their destruction has
been often, but ineffectually, attempted.
The cultivation of cloves is next in extent
to that of the coffee ; but the cultivator cannot
reckon, with certainty, on this crop, which
seems to depend upon causes over which he has
little controul. The crop has been prodigious
in one year, and in the next almost nothing. la

no
one season it has amounted to three hundred
thousand pounds, and in the next has not ex
ceeded ten thousand ; and, in the year following,
the produce has amounted to five hundred
thousand weight, without any assignable cause
for it.
In years of abundance, this crop may now
be estimated at a million and a half of pounds ;
and it is susceptible of much farther augmen
tation. The culture of the clove is extremely
easy, requiring scarcely any attention till the
time of collecting the produce; when many
hands are requisite.
This plant has been well naturalized to the
climate — it begins to bear on the third year of
its transplantation, and increases in the quality
of its produce every year, till its fourteenth or
fifteenth, when it is in full growth and vigour.

Ill
Cotton is less cultivated than formerly — this
branch of husbandry has been declining for
some years, partly from the ravages of the
hurricane of 1801, but chiefly from a disease
which has got among the cotton plants in the
quarters of St. Pauls, and St. Gilles, and which
is gradually extending to the other parts of the
island. This disease, without injuring the health or
vigour of the plant in other respects, hinders
the unfolding of the seed, and reduces the
produce to, almost nothing ; the cdtton planters
are therefore gradually converting their farms
into plantations of ooffee.
The produce of corn amounts to about four
teen millions of pounds, and has been the chief
dependance of the Isle of France. The con
sumption of Bourbon scarcely exceeds two
millions of pounds.

112
The farmers complain, that the ground begins
to be exhausted for this species of culture ; and
that where it formerly yielded eighty and a
hundred for one, they can scarcely draw more
than for tyor fifty af present ; this they attribute,
in some measure, to the long drought which
they have for some years experienced.
The culture of corn begins to decline through
neglect ; the cause of this may be found in the
strictness of tbe blockade which prevents ex
portation, and the consequent change in the
market. Formerly, the government of the
island bought all the corn which was brought
to their granaries at a certain fixed price, and
delivered receipts, which were converted into
bills of exchange upon the public treasury of
France. The husbandman was therefore sure
of a market, tho' at a very low rate ; but this has
ceased to be the case for some time past.
The average produce of the island may be

113
reckoned from the following estimate which is
formed out of the reports of some years past.

The produce of agriculture is as follows :
Spanish Dollars.

V W" 1^732,000

f bales of 1 Cwt.
l_ valued
Cloves - - 180,000 lbs. -  540,000
Cotton - - 240,000 lbs. - -  60^000
Corn--- 185.000 lbs.  57,000
Maize - - 2\ millions  21,000
Calavansas 200,000  4000
Potatoes - 280,000  2800
1430,800 1 - '
This' statement might be doubled if the
Unds, which are susceptible of cultivation,
were wrought.

114
The tenure of property in Bourbon is dif
ferent from what it is in the Isle of France.
The concessions in the latter island are com
posed of a fixed extent of ground : he that
possesses one farm, has 156 acres; and he that
has two, 312 acres, &c.
In BoUrbon the limits of the government
grants are not so well defined. They generally
specify, in general terms, that all the land lay
ing between certain rivers and ravines, and ex
tending from the sea up the whole declivity of
the mountain, are granted to certain indivi
duals ; but as thqse rivers are liable to change
their beds in the wet seasons, it is the cause of
much confusion, and considerable depreciation
on that property.
The propriety of well defining such limits
will be seen from the circumstance, that those
lands which have been surveyed and defined by
fixed boundaries, are sold at a double, triple, -

115
and even quadruple price, to what they Would
have brought before that operation.
The commerce of this island has always
depended upon the merchants of the Isle of
France, and been carried on entirely under
their controul. It has however, experienced
of late, so much interruption from the war, that
it is difficult to calculate its possible extent.
The revenues arise from a capitation tax
on the Blacks, and direct taxes on carriages,
palanquins, and horses. The register office,
duties on stamps, and licences, for selling
arrack, are the other sources of finance.
The customs upon import and export of
goods have not hitherto been very productive,
but bid fair, at present, to yield a jconsiderable
produce. The total of the public revenues
may be estimated at 230,000 piasters, (dol
lars).

116
The national domains are pretty extensive,
but chiefly under the controul of the Maroons
in the mountains, There is also a considerable
part of the coast which belongs to the Crown,
and consists of good land.

THE END.

G. Hayden, Printer, Bridges Street, Govent Garden.