attempting to procure riches in the same extraordinary manner,

We had now been nearly a week at Marygott, when a letter from Great Bay announced to us the arrival there of Mr. Ritchie, on his return from Saint Thomas's. This information compelled us immediately to prepare for our departure, and with feelings of much regret we took leave of our hospitable friend, and having shortly after joined Mr. R-, returned with him to Saint Bartholomew's.

The result of our Supercargo's communication with Mr. Molony was in every respect unfavourable, and too fully corroborated the inauspicious reports in general circulation. The intelligence thus procured by Mr. R. was to the following effect, on the correctness whereof Mr. M. not only assured him he might place the most implicit reliance, but even furnished him at his desire, with certificates to the same purport, for the satisfaction of the officers commanding the different corps. Mr. M. stated, that so great was the poverty of the Independents, as to render it utterly im

possible for them at this time to collect, in money and produce, a sum exceeding twenty thousand pounds; and on our Supercargo informing him that the value of the stores, &c., onboard the Britannia alone, was estimated at about thirty-five thousand pounds, Mr. M. observed that no provision whatever had been made for the purchase of those supplies, and that the Independents were altogether unable to meet the engagement entered into by Don Mendez in London; adding, that he (Don M.) must have far exceeded the authority and powers with which he had been invested.

Mr. Ritchie now considered it incompatible with his duty, after the undoubted information he had received, to hazard the property intrusted to his care; but proposed, in fulfilment of the charter-party, to provide a conveyance for the officers and men, without the guns or stores, and send them forward to the Main. This proposal, although the only alternative left to Mr. R- could not otherwise than excite feelings of the strongest dissatisfaction and surprise. It was totally inconsistent with

the engagements which had been made with us, and received our unanimous dissent. We could not accede to a measure which would, on landing, leave us in a state of the utmost helplessness; equally destitute of the means of subsistence, or defence against the depredations and barbarities of the natives in general, and at the distance probably of many hundred miles from the Independent army.

The state of our affairs had now become still more critical and alarming, as we knew not how soon we might be compelled to depart from the ship, and, of course, thrown upon the island, dependent upon our own individual resources for subsistence; it having been frequently intimated to us that our rations on board could not be much longer continued.

Such was our situation when the occurrence of the following circumstance so irritated and displeased the Governor that he commanded us to leave the island before the expiration of the ensuing week. In relating the particulars of this event it will be necessary to refer back to the day but

one previous to our return from Saint Martin's-On the forenoon of this day, a Spanish polacre, laden with wine, brandy, oil, and, as was also understood, some specie, bound from Cadiz to the Havannah, put into Marygott bay, and there anchored. Almost immediately after our arrival at Saint Bartholomew's, we were alarmed by the discharge of a gun in the town, and repaired to the place from whence the report proceeded; when, to our great astonishment, we found the entire garrison under arms, the Governor and fort-major with the troops, and the town in a perfect uproar. A small schooner, full of men, in the middle of the harbour, appeared the general object of curiosity and inquiry; and an armed boat, which had been despatched by the Governor for the purpose of bringing those persons ashore, was soon after seen returning; and, with astonishment and regret, we beheld Colonel W, with a number of his officers and some other individuals, conveyed on shore as prisoners, all armed, and disguised under large cloaks. It appeared that they were on the point of proceeding

to Marygott bay, for the purpose of cutting out the Spanish polacre, whose arrival at that place has been already mentioned ; but the Governor, having through some channel received information of their daring project, frustrated the design, and apprehended the party. The polacre, indeed, was otherwise secure from the attack, having sailed from Marygott early in the forenoon. The prize-master who came into Gustavia the day after our arrival, was likewise a conspicuous character in this enterprise. Colonel Wand his party were shortly after restored to liberty; but notice was transmitted to Colonel Elliot, stating the particulars of the late intended attack, and warning him against. similar attempts. I was subsequently informed that the French admiral, on being made acquainted with the circumstance, proceeded to Saint Bartholomew's in search of Colonel W, who had, fortunately for him, left that island for Grenada.

A few days prior to our return from Marygott, the ship Emerald sailed for Grenada from St. Bartholomew's, leaving be