TRINIDAD : THEN AND NOW. 



39 



which was said to have been caused by accident, the 

 enemy was not in a condition to make effectual re- 

 sistance ; and when Sir Ealph Abercromby landed 

 his troops in the morning, he was permitted to march 

 into Puerto de Espana (now Port-of-Spain), the 

 principal town, almost unopposed. The Governor 

 requested permission to retreat ; which being 

 granted, and the terms agreed to, the whole island 

 was surrendered to Great Britain without further 

 resistance/ 7 



The following instructions from His Majesty's 

 Government to Sir Ralph Abercromby, relative to 

 the attack on the island of Trinidad will, I am sure, 

 be of great interest. I have not seen it in any of the 

 other works which I have consulted and therefore 

 publish it. It is taken from Robinson's Life of 

 Picton, (page 46). 



" The island of Trinidad is pointed out as a 

 source of great mischief to the British islands, being 

 a shelter for privateers who annoy the trade, and 

 afford an asylum for bad people of every description, 

 who man the privateers and row boats, which make 

 depredations upon the coasts carrying off slaves and 

 property ; it is therefore recommended to Sir Ralph 

 Abercrombie, if he can collect a sufficient force 

 without exposing the British islands, to make an 

 attack upon Trinidad, and if the force he can spare 

 be not sufficient to keep possession after he has taken 

 it, to make the attack notwithstanding, for the pur- 

 pose of destroying or carrying away all military 

 stores and arms that he may find there, and seize 



