SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 187 



the fort. A council of war was sitting to determine on the 

 propriety of this measure without waiting for the co-operation 

 of the Surinam forces; Major Van Hamers and the officers 

 under him were impatient for an immediate attack, that their 

 troops might have the honor of queUing the insurrection, 

 thinking no doubt that news of troops having arrived from 

 Surinam, would be sufficient to induce the mutineers to sur- 

 render to an inferior force. Before day light, therefore, 

 the troops from Demerary were embarked on board the Ser- 

 pent, which got under weigh at five A. M. the wind was 

 against their getting over, and exposed them to a galling fire 

 from the mutineers, directed from the government house and 

 fort St. Andrew. In tacking too close in shore on the west side 

 the river, the, Serpent grounded, and was obliged to remain un- 

 til the flood made, when she floated, and was joined by two co- 

 lony schooners with troops from the Surinam vessels. During 

 the whole of this day (8th May) a continual fire was kept up 

 between the two forts. The fire from the mutineers was ill di- 

 rected, and the guns of York redoubt fell short in their dis- 

 tance, therefore no harm was done by this sort of warfare. 

 At four P. M. the vessels got underweigh to make another 

 attempt on the town and government house; they were obliged 

 to edge up the river to keep out of gun shot reach, which 

 were fired without intermission by the mutineers, they how- 

 ever effected a landing above New Amsterdam. 

 <' B b 2 



