The Capitulation to the French in 1782. 31 
I'lphigenie, was nearly entering the river's mouth, the 
British ships kept their position. These then cut their 
cables and followed the Oroonoko up the river. They 
passed Diamond shoal when it was little more than half 
flood, and had just twelve feet of water. At about half- 
past 5 o'clock the vessels anchored in a line athwart the 
river, between Leeston's island and the Eastern Shore. 
The Commodore proposed to fortify this island, but> 
when he and Colonel KINGSTON had examined it, the 
project was given up. It was found to be very low and 
swampy, and could be commanded by cannon from a 
point on the same side of the river where they had 
anchored. Besides these grave drawbacks, the ships 
grounded at low water. It was, therefore, decided to 
move the ships, with the next day's flood, as far up as the 
Sand Hills, the first rising ground in the river. 
An officer named MASON had been left in the Stor- 
monfs boat, with orders from the Commodore to watch 
the enemy's movements. At about 7 o'clock that evening 
he rejoined the squadron, and reported that the French 
had all come to an anchor a little above the Fort, and 
had hoisted blue English ensign. At about 2 o'clock 
on the morning of the 31st, the First Clerk of the 
Secretary of Demerara, JACOBUS ANDRIESSEN, the 
younger, arrived with a letter from three of the 
principal members of the Court of Policy to the Lieutenant 
Governor. In this communication Colonel KING- 
STON was informed that the Count DE K'SAiNT, the 
French Commander-in-Chief, had summoned the Colonies 
to surrender in form : and, if this was not complied with 
by 8 o'clock that morning, he would immediately set fire 
to the estates of the English inhabitants. The coun- 
