ously proceeded a short distance into tne interior, where a negro hut fortunately afforded them, not only a sufficiency for their immediate wants, but also a day's supply in advance, Under this propitious shed they continued throughout the night, and at day-break returned to their boat, and again sought security in the offing. There the fugitives passed another day of fruitless expectation; during which an incessant rain not only drenched them, but likewise rendered their small stock of provisions nearly uneatable. They again, at night, pulled in for the shore; but considering it hazardous to revisit their late lodging, they rowed in a more southerly direction, and landed upon another part of the island. No vestige of habitation or other place of shelter was here discoverable, with the exception of a spreading tamarind-tree, that grew near the beach. Under its branches they contrived to light a fire, on which they fried some meat, and rebaked a small portion of bread which had been, by the rain, a second time converted into dough. Before sun-rise they again abandoned their covert,

to sea.

oppressed with weariness both mental and bodily; and having with difficulty relaunched the boat, once more pushed out Unable longer to endure a continuance of such hardships and suspense, they determined, should the departure of the Emerald be further protracted, on approaching her at all hazards in the afternoon, and secreting themselves, if possible, on board. To this plan they found it necessary to resort, and early in the night, having arrived along-side, Mr. W. cautiously entered the vessel through one of the ports; when he was seriously alarmed at seeing a number of soldiers laying on the decks. This discovery suggested the necessity of his precipitate retreat; and having effected a safe return, the party were again pushing off, when the military officer on duty perceiving the boat, hailed it, and demanded their business; but Mr. W. replied with so much presence of mind, as to prevent any further inquiries. They then rowed to the shore, where Mr. W.'s influence obtained them a secure asylum for the few days. which intervened, prior to the Emerald's

1

departure, on board which they had, some hours previously, effected a private embarkation, and escaped.

The Emerald continued at Cariacou for some time, from whence she proceeded to Saint Lucia, where having accidentally fallen in with the patriot schooner, Tiger, Colonel Hippesley and his remaining officers and men went on board that vessel, and sailed for the Oroonoco. Of their future proceedings or what became of them I never subsequently heard.

Mr. W., who was on board the Emerald, when she fell in with the Tiger, informed me, when I afterwards met him at Saint Bartholomew's, that the general state of this vessel, and the appearance of her officers and crew, perfectly accorded with every account we had heard of patriot wretchedness. The captain himself was literally in rags; they were without ammunition; whatever bad provisions their stock consisted of nearly exhausted; and their joy, he said, appeared indescribable on receiving from the Emerald a considerable supply of all those necessaries.

A few days prior to the Emerald's departure from Grenada, a detachment of Colonel Hippesley's regiment, consisting of a few officers and about twenty men, under the command of Lieut.-Col. English, sailed for Angustura, taking with them a considerable proportion of the officers' baggage. This party proceeded for the Oroonoco, with orders to provide quarters for the corps, which it was then intended should immediately follow; but although the detachment arrived in safety, a considerable number shortly afterwards fell victims to severity of suffering, and it is to be feared that few survived to rejoin the main body of the regiment.

The propriety of this measure was at the time strongly canvassed, and conjectures of a very free nature were insinuated as to the motives which prompted its adoption; but notwithstanding the deprivation of their baggage (to the disposal of which only they could look for relief) several of the officers subsequently threw up their commissions, and thus forfeited their property rather than proceed on an enterprise so unquestion

G

ably impolitic; and many were probably induced to continue with the regiment, in preference to encountering, in the West Indies, distresses and mortifications, from which they were thus rendered totally unable to secure themselves even a temporary alleviation.

To return to the Britannia:-The brigade had been for a considerable time disbanded; but a few officers and men still continued on board. With Colonel Gilmore's conduct personally to myself I had not heretofore any reason to be dissatisfied; great as were our disappointments, we considered him a fellow-sufferer, and that the distressing measure of disembodying the corps was the result of a necessity which he had no means of controlling. We indeed concurred in one strong feeling of dissatisfaction and displeasure, but our indignation was exclusively' directed against that individual in London, by whose hollow and faithless engagements we had been all equally ensnared. The occurrences subsequent to this period were, however, of a nature badly calculated to preserve mu