ted to Petitbourg, where they were presented to general
Barrington; who, considering the absence of the fleet, the small number
of his forces daily diminishing, the difficulty of the country, and the
possibility of the enemy's being reinforced from Martinique, wisely took
the advantage of the present panic, and settled terms of capitulation
without delay. The sanity of this resolution soon appeared. The
inhabitants had just signed the agreement, when a messenger arrived in
their camp with information that M. de Beauharnois, the general of
the French islands, had landed at St. Anne's, to the windward, with a
reinforcement from Martinique, consisting of six hundred regulars from
Europe, about fifteen hundred volunteers, besides a great number of the
militia drafted from the companies of Martinique, with a great supply of
arms and ammunition, mortars and artillery, under convoy of the squadron
commanded by M. de Bompart, who no sooner learned that the capitulation
was signed, than he re-embarked the troops and stores with all possible
expedition, and returned to Martinique. Thus we see the conquest of this
important island, which is said to produce a greater quantity of sugar
than is made in any of the English plantations, was as much owing to
accident as to the valour of the troops and the conduct of the general;
for, had the reinforcement arrived an hour sooner than it actually
landed, in all probability the English would have found it impracticable
to finish the reduction of Guadaloupe. Be that as it may, the natives
certainly deserved great commendation, not only for persevering so
gallantly in defence of their country, but also for their fortitude in
bearing every species of distress. They now quitted the Dos d'Ane, and
all their other posts, and returned to their respective habitations.
The town of Basseterre being reduced to a heap of ashes, the inhabitants
began to clear away the rubbish, and erect occasional sheds, where they
resumed their several occupations with that good humour so peculiar to
the French nation; and general Barrington humanely indulged them with
all the assistance in his power.

ISLAND OF MARIGALANTE TAKEN.

The small islands of Deseada, Los Santos, and Petit-terre, were
comprised in the capitulation of Guadaloupe. The inhabitants of
Marigalante, which lies about three leagues to the south-east of
Grandterre, extending twenty miles in length, fifteen in breadth, flat
and fertile, but poor