CAPTURE OF CURAl^OA. 5l 



called Amsterdam, is in the centre of the 

 place, and seems convenient. The towi) is 

 tolerably well defended, having an elevated 

 battery on the rising ground in the rear, and 

 heavy forty-two-pound batteries on the level 

 of the sea, which defend the entrance of 

 the harbour; notwithstanding which Sir C. 

 Brisbane captured it. In the year 1807, 

 Sir Charles Brisbane, being out on a cruise 

 with four frigates, part of the squadron 

 under Admiral Dacres on the Jamaica sta- 

 tion, determined on the bold attempt of 

 taking Cura9oa by surprise. He had 

 never even seen the island, and only knew 

 that it was remarkably strong to seaward, 

 and had no anchorage outside the harbour, 

 the mouth of which was not broader than 

 his ship was long. On the last day in the 

 year, he approached as nearly as possible 

 to the place, under cover of the darkness of 

 the night. He had learnt that the Dutch 

 were in the habit of rejoicing on this eve, 

 E 2 



