The Capitulation to the French in 1782. 27 
next to the Oroonoko, so he was soon on board the latter. 
Then Captain TAHOURDIN told him that a boat had just 
arrived from the Stormont, bringing an officer with a 
letter from Captain Paul with intelligence that the 
enemy had been sighted about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 
a few leagues to Leeward of the River Berbice. Upon 
the haze clearing up, eight vessels had been discovered to 
Windward. On getting nearer they were made out to 
be three frigates, a cutter, and four brigs. Captain PAUL 
hoisted his private signal, but it was not answered. The 
Stormont then wore, and bore away under all sail for the 
Demerara, to give the alarm. On the Stormont } s wear- 
ing, the enemy made more sail and stood after her. 
They chased until it became dark. By this time the 
Stormont had got nearly abreast the mouth of the Deme- 
rara. At about half-past 10 o'clock, it being then almost 
low water, she grounded upon a shoal which lay at the 
entrance of the river. The officer who brought this news 
aid Captain Paul expetted the Stormont would float 
again when the tide flowed. Captain GRAEME, who had 
been hailed to come on board, had now joined his senior 
officers. 
Captain TAHOURDIN ordered the alarm signal to be 
made by the Oroonoko, and sent carpenters on shore to 
cut down a remarkable tree which served as a leading 
mark for the channel into the river.* He desired Captain 
* On the 6th of O&ober, 1783, William Faden, Geographer to the 
King, published a Chart, executed by de la Rochette, of The Coast of 
Guyana from the Oroonoko to the River of Amazons, from the obser- 
vations of Captain Edward Thompson of the Royal Navy, made in the 
Hycena, "when he commanded in the Rivers Berbice, Essequebo, and 
'• Demerari, and governed those Colonies after their conquest from the 
" Dutch." The following remarks made by Captain Thompson are 
02 
