with:

"GRAND BOURG, MARIE-GALANTE,
"_Sept. 4th, 1808_.

"SIR,

"I have the honour to inform you that the troops which you were
pleased to place under my command arrived here, in H.M. Ship
_Captain_, on the 29th of August; and finding from Captain Pigot,
commander of this island, that the French troops were strongly
posted within three miles of Grand Bourg, I was immediately landed
with the three companies of the 1st West India Regiment; and having
obtained an increase of my force, of about 140 marines, and some
sailors, together with a six-pounder, from the army schooner
_Maria_, I lost no time in fulfilling the instructions I received
from you.

"I have now much satisfaction in reporting, that after a pursuit of
the enemy for five days and nights, and having during that period
had four engagements with him, in each of which he was repulsed, and
obliged to make most precipitate retreat, leaving behind him arms,
ammunition, etc., at every different post that had been attacked,
and at one place in particular, nine mariners (who had been taken
prisoners on the first landing of the enemy), and at another, a
brass six-pounder, which had only arrived from Guadaloupe two days,
and which was found spiked; by constantly marching and harassing
him, we found, on coming within one hundred yards of his front
yesterday morning, that he was willing to surrender, and sending out
a flag of truce, I granted the following terms: 'That the French
troops might march out from the ground they then occupied with the
honours of war, but that they should lay down their arms in front of
the troops, and surrender themselves as prisoners of war, and that
all prisoners taken since their arrival in the island should be
immediately returned.' I was, however, much astonished to find that
Colonel Cambriel, who had commanded the army, was not present when
they surrendered, but I have since understood that he had quitted it
the morning previous, and had returned to Guadaloupe, but I have
some reason to imagine he is still in this island.

"The field-piece I had taken from the army schooner became useless
after the first day, from the tract of the country the enemy led us
over; I therefore sent it back to Grand Bourg, and at the same ti