The Capitulation to the French, in 1782. 
By N. Darnell Davis. 
PON the surrender of the Dutch Colonies of Deme- 
rara, Essequibo, and Berbice, to His Majesty's 
ships Barbuda and Surprise, in February 1781, 
Sir GEORGE Rodney, then in command of the Fleet on the 
Leeward Station, wrote to the Lords of the Admiralty, 
that the Colonies taken, "in the hands of Great Britain, 
" if properly encouraged, in a few years will employ more 
i% ships, and produce more revenue to the Crown, than all 
" the British West India Islands united." Great Britain 
was then at war with France, Spain, Holland, and the 
Revolted Colonies of North America. The Admiral, 
therefore, caused a squadron of small vessels to be told 
off for the protection of the captured territories. 
On the 29th of January 1 782, the British flag floated 
over the Dutch Colonies, then in the possession of Great 
Britain, and which were governed by Colonel Robert 
KINGSTON, of the 28th Foot, by a commission to him 
from General VAUGHAN, the military Commander-in-Chief 
in the West Indies, whose name is associated with Admiral 
Rodney's in various enterprises in the West Indies. In 
what was then called by Naval Officers " the harbour" of 
Demerara, lay a British squadron. These vessels were, 
the Oroonoko, the Barbuda, the Sylph, the Rodney and 
the Henry. The Oroonoko had been a Dutch merchant 
ship which had been purchased into the service. On her 
'tween decks, the height of which was about four feet six 
inches, she had ten 9-pounders. These guns were very 
