10 THE SERVICES OE LIEUT.-COLQNEL FRANCIS DOWNMAN, R.A. 
appeared before us. We took up our quarters at St. Marie’s that 
night, and the next day entered Capes Terre), which is the richest and 
most beautiful part of this or any other country in the West Indies. 
Eight hundred and seventy negroes belonging to one owner surrendered 
to-day. 
Here Messrs, de Glainvilliers and Duqueruy, deputed by the 
principal inhabitants of the island, met me to know the, terms you 
would grant them, and, as I accompanied them to Petit Bourg the 
next day and there presented them to you, it is not necessary for me 
to mention any transaction since that time. 
I cannot, however, conclude without doing justice to those to whose 
merit is due the success that has attended the King’s Arms on this 
occasion, to the troops who displayed so much spirit and constancy, 
to Brigadier Crump, without whose concurrence I never undertook 
anything, but chiefly to yourself, Sir, who planned the whole enterprise 
and who furnished me with those means, without which bravery or 
prudence can little avail. 
To I have the honour, etc., etc.. 
The Hon. General Barrington. J. Clavering. 
I have already said that I was ordered to remain at Petit Bourg with 
20 artillerymen. The first six or seven months I kept my health 
exceedingly well, having not the least complaint, though living entirely 
on salt provisions and without vegetables, but the 4th regiment and 
my detachment were not so fortunate. A fever and fluxes got among 
them and carried them off with the most unrelenting hand; 12 or 14 
men have I seen carried to the burying ground of a day, and many of 
the officers likewise died in this place. The regiment, before a twelve 
month was elapsed, were near all dead or sick. I have been on the 
parade when they could not show above 20 men. For a considerable 
time our drummer marched off and trooped home the guard. I lost 
out of my detachment 16 men, yet during this dreadful mortality I 
continued quite well for six or seven months. At last I was seized 
with a violent fever one day when out shooting, and so severely that 
with great difficulty I reached home. This continued upon me for 
some considerable time, but intermitted. All this time I had nothing 
to live on but salt provisions, the few fowls that were to be had being 
at such a monstrous price that it was out of my power to buy any, and 
on getting over the fit I was very happy that I had a piece of salt pork 
and callivances (a kind of pea) to eat. 
The town of Petit Bourg is most vilely situated, for in the front of it are 
many little islands swampy and covered with mangroves. A vast num¬ 
ber of dead bodies were thrown ashore on them during the armies being 
at St. Louis. The wind comes from the sea over these islands and blows 
directly upon the town, and at the back is a vast quagmire perpetually 
exhaling pernicious vapours. On the right and left are two hills 
which almost prevent any wind from coming into the town. For what 
reason such a place should be chosen for head-quarters is hard to 
