1810.] 
The sum to be expended in the ensuing 
quarter is 2,693,686/, 19s. 13d. 
FROM THE LONDON GAZETTE, 
Pompee, under Marie Galante, 
Sir, Dec. 25, 1809. 
Being at anchor in Fort Royal Bay, Mar- 
tinique, on the 16th instant, aman of war 
brig, far in the offing to leeward, appeared 
with a signal flying that she had been chased 
by tHe enemy’s frigates ; 1 immediately made 
the siguaj te the Perlin, then on her way to 
Guadaloupe, to speak the brig, and to pro- 
ceed according to the intelligence she might 
obtain: the Alcmene was ordered to weigh 
and follew, and the Sceptre; Alfred, and 
Freija, which had that moment jomed me, 
were not allowed to anchor, but to, leave 
their flat boats, and proceed also. So soon 
as I heard from Captain Weatherall, of the 
Observateur, the brig which made the signal, 
thatthe enemy’s frigates, fourin number, had 
captured and burnt his Mayesty’s ship Junon 
(belonging to the Halifax squadron), about 
15@ wiles to windward of Guadaloupe, and that 
the Observateur had escaped by superior sail- 
ing, I proceeded to sea with this ship and the 
Abercrombie, and arrived off the Saintes early 
in the morning of the 15th; and about noon 
I was informed by Captain Elliott, of his 
Majesty’s sloop Pultusk, that two of the ene- 
my’s frigates were at anchor, about three 
leagues to the northward and westward of the 
town of Basseterre ; I then directed Captain 
Fahte, of the Abercrombie, to remain and 
guard Point-a Petre, and Captain Watson, of 
the Alfred, to guard Bassaterre, and made 
all sail in this ship, with an intention of at- 
tacking the enemy; but on approaching 
nearer, I discovered the Sceptre, of the line; 
the Blonde, Thetis, Freija, and Castor, fri- 
gates; and Cynet, Hazard, and Ringdove, 
sloops; and Elizabeth schooner, ready to 
commence the attack. I theretore did not 
interfere with the judicious arrangement of - 
Captain Ballard, of the Sceptre, the senior 
Captain, and had only an opportunity of wit- 
nessing the engagement. _Baffling and light 
winds preventing the Pompee from getting 
within gun-shot until the action had ceased, 
and the two frigates and batteries which de- 
fended the anchorage, completely destroyed. 
The Blonde, Thetis, Cynet, Hazard, and 
Ringdove, bore the brunt of the action from 
their being a-head of the other ships, and 
by the animated fire kept up from them, one 
of the enemy’s frigates was very soon dis- 
masted, when the men began to desert their 
‘ships, and soon after set fire tothem. Upon 
this, Captain Cameron, of the Hazard, with 
the boats ef the squadron, gallantly landed 
and stormed the batteries, which were still 
annoying the ships both with cannon and 
musketry, and in the act of hauling down the 
enemy’s colours, he fell by aswivei shot. In 
him the service has lost a brave and distin~ 
guished officer, and who, with Licutenant 
Jenkins, first of the Blonde, also killed, 
State of Public Affairs in February. 
178 
have left each a widow and family to lament 
their loss. The mames of the frigates des. 
ttoyed are, I understand, the Loire and Seine, 
pierced for 40 guns each, but had none © 
mounted on their quarter-decks or forecastles 
they were moored in a strong position in 
Anee Le Barque, with their broadsides towards 
the entrance, which was defended by a heavy 
battery, now demolished, and the magazine 
blown up, I am informed by the seven pri- 
soners brought off from the shore, that these 
ships had not their full complement of seameny 
but that they had 400 troops on board and 
50 artilleryemen, which all escaped, with the 
exception of the above seven, and 20 others, 
taken in a re-captured vessel; but all the 
warlike stores and provisions intended for the 
garrison of Guadaloupe, were blown up inthe 
frigates. The Blonde’s loss is rather severe, 
and so is, I have reason to believe, the ene- - 
my’s, who had time to save nothing but 
their clothes. 1 had every reason to be highly 
pleased in witnessing the emulation and bras 
very displayed by the several ships, in closing 
with the enemy; and [ request you to make 
the same known to the Lords Commissioners 
of the Admiralty. I have not yet been 
able to fall in with the other two frigates ; 
but I am in great hopes of preventing their 
arrival at Guadaloupe. 
Jam, &c. 
ALEXANDER COCHRANE. 
AMERICA, 
A popular commotion, amounting in fact, 
to a total revolution, has taken place in one 
of the regencies of South America. The 
people, under the visionary apptehension that 
their Archbishop and Governor-general were 
disposed to transfer the sovereignty of the 
province of La Paztoa Princess of Brazil, - 
assembled in a body, ordered the Governor 
and Archbishop to resign their functions, 
erected a bust of Ferdinand VII. called upom 
the Cabildo, or Town Council, to assist in 
forming a pew government, and taking pos- 
session of the Casa Real, or royal treasury. 
‘These measures being executed, they assem- 
bled round the bust of Ferdinand VII. took 
an oath ‘‘ to maintain the rights of their Soo 
vereign, their religion, and their country.” 
After this solemn and voluntary act of genu- 
ine loyalty, they turned their attention te 
the formation of an army. Two squadrons of 
cavalry of 500 men each were instantly en- 
rolled; the infantry were to be augmented to 
10,000 men, and the heights of the city were 
to be fortified with 100 pieces of cannon. 
Not ten days after this patriotic government 
was established, cacigues and deputies from 
the Indian chiefs arrived, offering 209,000 
warriors to assist in defending the country. 
These events were happily achieved without 
any effusion of blood, as only one man was 
accidentally killed, and another wounded; a 
circumstance, when contrasted with the popu- 
lar commotions in Europe, which reflects 
the highest honour en tue character of she 
Spanish Americans, 
REPORT 
7 
