The Fight between the "Peacock" and 

 the "Hornet," in 1813. 



By N. Darnell Davis. 



HE year 1813 found Great Britain at war with 

 the United States of America as well as with 

 Bonaparte. At that time Demerara and 

 Essequibo, joined together as one colony, and Berbice 

 as another colony, were in the possession of Great 

 Britain. They had last been taken from the Dutch in 

 1803. Holland herself now formed part of France. 



Major General Hugh Lyle Carmichael, described 

 as "a soldier from his cradle," was, in the early months 

 of 1813, A£ting-Governor of Demerara and Essequibo- 

 In General Orders to the Militia, of the 1st of January, 

 the Governor had thus alluded to the struggle with 

 Napoleon : — 



"Bonaparte's course of life and sanguinary foot- 

 steps are easily traced for the last twenty years, and 

 must be warm in the recollection of every person then 

 capable of perception and now in existence 



" The Russians having destroyed their ancient city of 

 Moscow, in preference to the risk of its being lio la ted 

 by his army, proves sufficiently their opinion of Bona- 

 parte's favours. With regard to his conduct after 

 deserting his troops in Egypt, it is strongly marked by 

 the multitude of human victims sacrificed to the ambi- 

 tion of an individual, assuming universal empire. 



" The British, Spanish^ and Portuguese have made 

 powerful and successful opposition to those efforts, and 



