MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 
35 
'''liich had been some time in preparation, set sail 
from Spithead, and shaping its course for the coast 
Brittany, reached Belleisle on the 6th of April. 
Ihe land forces under Major-General Hodgson 
amounted to about 10,000 men, and the squadron 
’mder the command of Commodore Keppel, consist- 
of ten sail of the line, and sixteen frigates, and 
smaller vessels. An unsuccessful attempt to effect a 
landing was made on the 8tli, when the troops were 
•"opulsed with the loss of 500 men, killed, wounded, 
and prisoners ; but another and more fortunate at- 
tempt was made on the 22 ( 1 . As no pains had been 
spared to put the island into the best state of de- 
frnce, under the command of the Chevalier St Croix, 
nne of the best officers of the French army, it was 
till after much skirmishing, and the capture of 
aaveral forts, that it finally surrendered on the 8tli 
J une. In the interval between the landing and 
capitulation, a reinforcement of 3000 troops, and 
ships of the line arrived, raising the military force 
13,000 men. It was to this large force that Mr 
hunter was attached in the important rank of Sur- 
S^on on the Staff. At the termination of hostilities, 
'*■ Was found that the British loss amounted to more 
300 men killed, and upwards of 500 wounded, 
the French ganison, a still greater number were 
hehind in the hospitals ; and by a distinct article 
the capitulation, these were to remain on the 
*®iand during the treatment of their wounds. We 
still to add, that the loss sustained from the ene~ 
