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Returning to the Cape from Algoa Bay, the 72d sailed 

 from thence for the reduction of the Isle of France, in 

 October, 1810; and the account of that Island we shall 

 relate in Capt. Carmichael's own words. 



" At the time that the expedition against the Isle of France 

 was projected by our Indian Government, it was judged 

 necessary to apply for a reinforcement of troops from the 

 Cape of Good Hope, to co-operate in the undertaking. At 

 the same time that this requisition was made, it was intimated 

 that ships should be despatched from India to convey to the 

 rendezvous at Roderigues such troops as could be spared 

 from the settlement. The 72d and 87th regiments, with a 

 company of the Royal Artillery, were selected for this service 

 by General Gray, and all the necessary arrangements made 

 to embark as soon as the transports should arrive. We 

 marched to Simonstown, and embarked on the 22d Septem- 

 ber, 1810, and the 25th was fixed on for our departure. In 

 the meantime, however, a vessel arrived from Bourbon with 

 intelligence of the disastrous affair at the He de la Passe, 

 and the consequent transfer of the sovereignty of those seas 

 into the hands of the enemy. Under these circumstances, 

 the Governor judged it prudent to defer the departure of the 

 troops until the accession of a naval force sufficiently strong to 

 escort us in safety. In about a fortnight, the Phoebe frigate, 

 and the Actaeon gun-brig arrived at the Cape; but this 

 force being still thought inadequate, it was proposed, as an 

 additional security, to arm the transports. In another fort- 

 night, upwards of one hundred pieces of cannon were 

 on board the three Country ships; and as the troops had 

 been constantly trained to the great-gun exercise, we had 

 good reason to hope that we should prove no easy conquest. 

 All this settled, we left Simon's Bay on the 24th October, 

 elated with the sanguine expectation that for us was reserved 

 the honour of re-establishing the British supremacy where 

 it had been so awkwardly lost. 



" The term ' voyage' instinctively suggests the idea of a 

 journal. Whether it be from observing the regularity 

 and minuteness with which every occurrence is registered in 



