ition of the country being about the
same, and as several buildings, together with a large garden
planted with cocoa-nut trees near to the Fort, obscured the view
and prevented firing from the Fort in that direction, it was
found expedient to demolish them. This was soon effected by the
brig's indefatigable crew, so that we could now cover the North
side road from the Fort.

There were now forty or fifty men from the brig almost
continually in the Fort as a reinforcement. As it was then found
necessary to undertake military excursions inland to overawe the
negroes, and at the same time to secure the authors of the riot,
I took over on the 6th before daybreak the command of the Fort
and garrisoned it with the crew from the brig. At four a.m. all
the Royal infantry and artillery, together with the planters,
overseers, and managers of estates, marched off under the command
of Captain v Castonier. The latter force alone amounted to forty
horsemen, and from sixty to seventy foot.

At noon Art. Lieutenant Frank arrived from Bassin with a
detachment of militia cavalry. Immediately after, a report was
circulated that the Governor-General was dying, and on that
account a Provisional Government had been organized in Bassin. I
asked Lieutenant Frank if he knew anything about it, to which he
answered that shortly before he had left Bassin, he had seen the
General on the wharf.

Some time after Kammerjunker Rothe arrived in a boat from Bassin
and read aloud the following:--

"On account of the illness of the Governor-General, and with
his concurrence, have we, the undersigned, Govt. Councillor
Kunzen, Govt. Councillor Petersen, Kammerjunker
Landsoverrets Assessor Rothe, Justitsraad Lands-overrets
Assessor Foester, Justitsraad Police-master Frederiksen,
Kammar Assessor Arnesen, and Lawyer Bahneberg, assembled as
a Governing Commission, with full power to take all steps
necessary in the present disturbed condition to bring about
peace and order in the country.

"The command of the military will be taken over by Oberst P.
de Nully and Major A. v Falbe, who will confer with the
above-named commission if necessary.

St. Croix Christensted,