Wilhems Plains.'] 
TERRA AUSTRALIS. 
475 
and having learned that Mr. Hope proposed to use his endeavours 
for my release, a copy of all the letters to and from colonel Monis- 
trol, subsequent to the marine minister’s order, was transmitted, that 
he might be better enabled to take his measures with effect ; and to- 
wards the end of the month, a letter from the commissary informed 
me of the very favourable reception he had met with from the captain- 
general, of the subject of my liberty having been touched upon, and of 
his entertaining hopes of a final success. The flattering reception 
given to Mr. Hope had been remarked to me with surprise from 
several hands ; but a long experience of general De Caen prevented 
any faith in the success of his application for my release : I feared that 
Mr. Hope’s wishes had caused him to interpret favourably some sof- 
tened expressions of the general, which he would in the end find to 
merit no sort of confidence. 
La Venus frigate, after her exploit atTappanouli, got into the 
Black River on the first of January, notwithstanding the presence of 
our cruisers ; she had on board a part of the 69th regiment, with the 
officers and passengers of the Windham, including five ladies, and 
announced the capture of two other ships belonging to the East- 
India Company ; and two days afterward, the frigates La Manche 
and La Bellone entered Port Louis with the United Kingdom and 
Charleston, the Portuguese frigate Minerva, and His Majesty’s sloop 
Victor (formerly La Jena). This was a most provoking sight to 
commodore Rowley, whom baffling winds and his position oft the 
Black River prevented stopping them ; whilst the joy it produced 
in the island, more especially amongst the officers of the government 
who had been many months without pay, was excessive. The ordi- 
nary sources of revenue and emolument were nearly dried up, and 
to have recourse to the merchants for a loan was impossible, the 
former bills upon the French treasury, drawn it was said for three 
millions of livres, remaining in great part unpaid ; and to such dis- 
tress was the captain-general reduced for ways and means, that he 
had submitted to ask a voluntary contribution in money, wheat, 
180 !). 
lieceiiiber. 
1810 . 
January. 
