Major semple lisle, 261 



yanuario de Valhy had arrived from Rio de fcU 

 fteiroy only two days before, wirh a fquadron of 

 four Ihips of the line, three frigates and a brig. 

 He added, that the Admiral with his fleet lay 

 in the road, about four miles below the town, 

 and that he had not vet been on fhore, but was 

 cxpedled the next day, and that, mod probably^ 

 he would furnilli us with a pafTage to the pore 

 we wifhed to reach. The Governor the fame 

 night fent his Aid-d^-Camp on board the Admi- 

 ral's fhip to acquaint him with our adventure 

 and arrival at St. Catharine's. 



The fecond day after our arrival the Admiral 

 came on Ihore with great ceremony. Not only 

 the garrifon of the town and all the militia of 

 the ifland, but a battalion of infantry then in 

 that place, on its march for Rio Grande^ were af- 

 fembled, and formed in two lines from the pa- 

 rade before the palace to the ianding-pace, to re- 

 ceive his Excellency. 



The troops made a very fine figure, were well 

 drefled, and the cavalry particularly verified 

 the opinion I had formed of them in Rio 

 Grande. The militia uniform of that ifland, 

 both for cavalry and infantry is light blue ; 

 they are flout, well made men, and the horfes 

 are better than in Rio Grande. This is owing to 

 their eating corn, which thofe of Rio Grande y ex- 

 cept fuch as are tamed and accuftomed to it, 



S ^ wiU 



