The Capitulation to THfe French in 1782. 23 
old and extremely ill-fitted with Ordnance Stores ; there 
being scarcely a powder horn, priming iron, crow, or 
handspike on board. On her upper deck were placed 
eleven 2 and 3-pounders, but these were entirely useless 
having no shot for them on board. Many of them were 
in so bad a condition that it would have been very dan- 
gerous to have fired them. She had only some twenty 
souls on board, all told. Such was the vessel which bore 
the pendant of Captain William Tahourdin, the Com- 
modore of the squadron, an officer with twenty years of 
Naval Service.* The Lieutenant's name was EDGAR. 
The Barbuda had four 9-pounders and thirteen 6-poun- 
ders. Officers, servants, and sailors, all told were 123. 
This vessel was copper-sheathed and a good cruiser. 
She was commanded by Captain FRANCIS PENDER, who 
regarded his ship as well found and fit for sea. His Lieu- 
tenant was John Webber. The Sylph, cutter, had 
eighteen 4-pounders and 90 men. She, also, was sheathed 
with copper and a good cruiser. In command of her was 
Captain LAWRENCE GRAEME, whose Lieutenant was 
John McKey. Thomas Collins was Master. The 
Rodney, brig, had ten 4-pounders and four 6-pounders. 
She was badly found in Ordnance Stores. She had 48 
men, not half her complement, and of these, many were 
Americans who took every opportunity to desert. This 
ship was commanded by Captain JOHN DOUGLAS BRIS- 
BANE, whose Lieutenant was named TUCKER. There 
was another vessel attached to the squadron, which had 
sailed out on the 25th of the month, with orders from the 
* When Captain Tahourdin took command of the Oroonoko she had 
only five men. Three of these were prisoners, by order of Captain 
Thompson : one for murder ; another for stealing Naval stores ; the 
third, a Dutchman. 
