34 TlMEHRI. 
and would not treat with Colonel Kingston alone, but 
with h.m jointly with Commodore Tahourdin, and for 
the shipping as well as for the Colonies. In case of delay, 
the French would burn and destroy the houses and planta- 
tions of the English inhabitants. Mr. Gardner furthe, 
reported that the whole of the enemy's force had passed 
the shoal. He had been on board the Commodore's 
sh.p and the cutter. The armament, he said, had been 
fitted out in France on purpose for this expedition. 
It had sailed from Rochfort on the 8th of Oaober, 
with a convoy, to Cayenne, where it had arrived on 
the 8th December. It consisted of two frigates, carrying 
twenty-s.x 12-pounders: one with twenty-four 6-poun- 
ders on her main deck: a cutter (a vast deal larger 
than the Sylph) with eighteen g-pounders; two brigs 
construaed on purpose for River service, one carry- 
ing twenty-four impounders, the other six 24-poun- 
ders, and an 8-inch mortar. Two transports carried 
600 regular troops. Mr. Gardner said the enemy's 
troops were a very little distance from the British ships 
on each bank of the River. 
A Council of War was now called, at which the 
Lieutenant Governor was present. It was first con- 
sidered whether, if by any means the enemy's troops 
could be avo.ded, a stand could possibly be made against 
he,r sh,ps. On the British side the only vessels of 
force were the Barbuda and the Sylph. As to the 
Oroonoko she had on.y twenty-five men, including 
officers and seamen ; and more than half of her guns 
were but 3-pounders, which were rendered useless fo- 
want of shot. The Stormont had, in all, but fif 
men, who were mostly foreigners; and her g. 
