APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. 69 
' Ina conference with sir George 
Elphinstone, on the 2d of Septem- 
ber, it was agreed to wait six days 
longer for the possibility of the ar- 
rival of general Clarke, and that 
if he did not appear by that time I 
should then advance, and, under 
every disadvantage of numbers and 
Situation, try the fortune of an at- 
tack, which, however hazardous, 
we deemed it our duty to make, 
before the total failure of our pro- 
Visions put us under an absolute 
necessity of seeking a supply else- 
where, 
On the morning of the 3d, how- 
ever, the enemy, encouraged by 
the litrle success which had attend. 
ed our attempt on the rst, meditated 
a general attack on our camp, 
which in all probability would have 
been decisive of the fate of the co- 
lony: they advanced in the night 
with all the strength they could 
muster, and witha train of not less 
than 18 field pieces. Some move- 
ments which had been observed 
the preceding evening had given 
me a suspicion of their intention, 
and we were perfe@tly prepared to 
receive them. They were on their 
march, and considerable bodies be- 
gan to make their appearance with- 
in our view, when at that critical 
moment the signal for a fleet first 
disconcerted them, and the appear- 
ance of 14 sail of large vessels, 
which came in sight immediately 
after, induced them to relinquish 
their enterprise, and retire to their 
former posts. General Clarke came 
to an anchor in Simon’s Bay the 
next morning: and for the subse. 
quent events, which have been 
attended with the capture of this 
important colony, I do myself the 
honour to refer you to his account ; 
trusting that his majesty and our 
country will do me, and the troops 
and seamen under my command, 
the justice to believe, that it has 
not been owing to any want of zeal, 
or of a cheartul determination to 
encounter every hazard in the ne- 
cessary discharge of our duty, that 
the same event did not take place 
during the period in which we were 
left to ourselves. Under the cir- 
cumstances of our situation, I did 
not think the attempt justifiable, 
unless compelled to it by necessity ; 
but we were at the same time fully 
resolved not to retire, in any event, 
without making that ‘attempt, 
which, whether successful or not, 
would at least have/been a proof of 
our zeal for his majesty’s service. 
It is impossible for me to close 
this report, sir, without making 
my acknowledgments to lieut. co- 
lone! M‘Kenzie, of the 78th, major 
Hill of the marines, and the cap- 
tains Hardy and Spranger, of the 
Echo and Rattlesnake sloops, who 
commanded the two battalions of 
seamen. Animated by theexertions 
of those officers, the troops and 
seamen have undergone great fa- 
tigue and hardships with a chearful 
resignation, and have encountered 
a more numerous enemy with an 
aétive spirit, which entitles them 
to the most favourable report frem 
me to his majesty. Lieutenant 
Campbell, of the Echo, who com. 
manded a company of seamen, 
which I formed into a light com- 
pany, merits also that [I should 
notice his indefatigable zeal, and 
the ability with which he conducted 
the service in which his company 
wasconstantly employed. To this, 
sir, I have only to add, that my 
sense of the obligation I am under 
to sir George Elphinstone is such, 
as I should not do justice to in an 
3 attempt 
