30 TlMEHRI. 
manded the Fort. The ground at the back of it was 
covered with cotton trees and bushes, which would have 
effectually sheltered the enemy's troops, while the British 
sailors who were in it, must have been exposed to the 
enemy's musketry with hardly any means whatever of 
defending themselves. At most, it would not contain 
more than 60 men. There was no place in it to hold 
powder, and now it was the rainy season. There was not 
" a drop of fresh water within twenty miles." Captain 
PAUL was sent on shore to spike the guns and destroy 
the carriages. It was further resolved that on the 
enemy's advancing towards the river, the British ships 
should go farther up the river, and thereby pass a shoal 
which it was hoped the enemy's frigates would not be 
able to get over. Time might thus be gained to fortify 
some narrow part of the river. Meanwhile, the Sylph 
and the henry had unsuccessfully attempted to get out, 
and to escape from the enemy, so as to carry the news 
to the British Admiral. The French blocked up the 
channel by which those vessels must have passed. After 
being fired at several times both vessels returned to their 
anchorage between 11 and 12 o'clock. At last Commo- 
dore TAHOURDIN sent off his Lieutenant, EDGAR, to 
Essequibo, with orders to take any vessel he could find 
there and proceed to Barbados without a moment's loss 
of time, with a letter to inform the Commanding Officer 
there of the situation. 
Between 1 and 2 o'clock, it being about flood tide, the 
enemy's ships began to get under weigh, sailing for the 
river's mouth. The largest of the Frigates, having a 
broad pendant, was the leading ship. Until the Frigates 
had passed the shoal water, and the leading one, 
