32 TlMEHRI. 
cillors earnestly begged that the Lieutenant-Governor 
would send proposals of capitulation for the Colony, to 
save them and their property from the exigencies of war. 
The bearer of this letter stated that the French had 
come from Europe, and had been sent against these 
Colonies in particular: they had five hundred troops 
landed, and had taken possession of the houses on both 
sides of the River. He was sent back with a message at 
about 4 o'clock that morning. 
About n o'clock on that day, the 31st of January, 
the Lieutenant-Governor sent proposals for the capi- 
tulation of the Colony alone, and not for the 
ships, to the Count DE K'SAINT. Mr. GARDNER, 
the Purser of the Rodney ', took the proposals, 
with a flag of truce. For his own part, Captain 
Tahourdin declared his resolution to defend the ships 
as long as possible. He thought he could do so with 
success if the enemy were not able to bring their vessels 
over the shoals. The next thing was to get the ships up to 
the Sand Hills. The signals for weekly accounts had been 
made in the morning, and an order been given to put 
everybody at two-thirds allowance. Then, an order was 
given to Captain Graeme to send 18 men and the Lieu- 
tenant of the Sylph on board the Oroonoko, which vessel 
had not men sufficient to weigh the anchor, and no 
Lieutenant or Master. Between 1 and 2 o'clock, the 
Oroonokoy Sylph> and Stormont got under weigh, it 
being the last of the ebb. About 3 o'clock the Rodney 
floated and followed them. The Barbuda still lay 
aground. As she lay there, the enemy's cutter was see . 
to pass the shoal, round Diamond point, and immediately 
after her came two brigs and then two frigates. Captain 
