200 
rors of tyrannical power, no 
other than those of hatred and 
contempt. 
Besides the property taken by 
Major Kelly, further captures, to 
a considerable amount, have been 
made, and information has been 
received of many places where 
more treasure is hid. 
In a military view, the resist- 
ance, and consequently the dan- 
ger, has been comparatively tri- 
fling, but it would be the highest 
injustice to estimate, by the ina- 
dequate opportunities which have 
presented themselves, what might 
have been achieved if the oc- 
casion had called forth the full ex- 
ertions of the troops. Of fatigue 
and hardship of weather, they 
have had considerable trials, the 
roads being indescribably rugged, 
with frequent interruptions both 
of mountains and morass, and 
every difficulty that marching 
ean possibly admit, These, how- 
ever, with the dispiriting addition 
of frequent rain, only served to 
display their ardour, which no 
obstacles, no discouragements, 
could subdue. But that for 
which I hold myself principally 
indebted to the army, which 
I have had the honour and good 
fortune to command in this un- 
dertaking, is, their orderly be- 
haviour and abstaining from all 
acts of plunder, violence, and 
irregularity. They have, in con- 
sequence, been every where ree 
ceived by the chiefs and inhabi 
tants with unfeigned welcome, 
assisted with supplies and means 
of carriage, and their camps fre- 
quented by all classes of the na- 
tives with extraordinary freedom 
and familiarity. Your Lordship 
will readily perceive the happy 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1815. 
tendency of this kind of behav 
our, in encouraging and pro- 
pagating that confidence on the 
part of the inhabitants of these 
provinces, in the justice and mo- 
deration of his Majesty’s govern- 
ment, and the protection of his 
arms, which served to invite and 
attach them to the cause in which 
they were engaged, and led, un- 
der Providence, to a conquest, 
the attempting of which has in 
former instances proved so fatal 
as to leave terrific lessons of 
caution and forbearance to future 
invaders ; anenterprise which, I 
haveno hesitation in saying, could 
not, with any common prudence, 
have been entered upon, except 
with the most credible assurances 
of the concurring wishes of the 
Chiefs and people, nor could ever 
have been brought to a success- 
ful issue without their acquies- 
cence and aid. 
The army has enjoyed in a very 
surprising degree the blessings 
of health. Our returns of sick are 
much below the number which 
might be expected in the same 
force, stationed in any of the gar- 
risons of the colony. 
I am now occupied in returning 
to their former stations such parts 
of the troops as will not be re- 
quired to remain for the main- 
tenance of the British govern- 
ment in the interior. 
I am not yet prepared to pre- 
sent to your Lordship any con- 
nected view of the complicated 
and important considerations, of 
a political and civil nature, which 
arise out of this great change ; 
these I shall therefore reserve for 
a separate dispatch, and conclude 
the present with soliciting your 
Lordship to do me the honour of 
