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act in support of the established government. This circumstance, and the progress of the war have naturally tended to strengthen and give confidence to the coloured inhabitants, and it may not perhaps be too much to anticipate an ultimate result, similar to that which has taken place in the island of St. Domingo.

Shortly after our communication with the ex-patriot officers, we met with a person of the name of Hudson, who had been for several years in the service of the Independents, which he abandoned, as he informed us, in consequence of the non-fulfilment of engagements entered into with him by Bolivar, This man appeared a most mysterious, and was, as will be hereafter seen, no very estimable character; but his evidence was important as corroborating the accounts we had previously received.

Mr. Hudson had, on many occasions, witnessed the hardships and distress encountered by the foreign officers attached to the patriot standard; and uniformly found them disgusted with the cause, and

anxious to embrace the earliest opportunity of abandoning it; and, as exemplifying his statement in this particular, he informed us that on a recent occasion he was present in the Oroonoco, when four foreign officers entreated in the most supplicating terms, the master of a vessel then trading on the river, to permit them to embark; offering him at the moment whatever they possessed, and, on their arrival at any of the West India Islands, such further compensation as he might demand; but the extreme hazard of discovery, and almost certain consequent destruction, deterred the master from acceding to their request.

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To enter minutely into all the particulars with which we were made acquainted by Mr. H., would prove merely a repetition of what has been already stated; but as this gentleman performed a very conspicuous part in many of the ensuing events connected with the expedition, his appearance in the Journal will again become necessary. For the present, however, I shall refer to the proceedings on board the other vessels, and to some occurrences at Grenada, which

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although not immediately connected with the enterprise, will not probably be considered altogether unentitled to attention.

The brigade originally commanded by Colonel. Wilson, had by this time become almost wholly ineffective, having split into two distinct parties, each bearing towards the other the most inveterate enmity. One body, headed by Major Graham *, joined Colonel Campbell's regiment; whilst the other, under Colonel Wilson, after a strange variety of adventures, (assaults, imprisonments, &c.) finally embarked on board a schooner, and although not one half equipped, (from the supercargo refusing to grant the necessary appointments) proceeded for Bolivar's head-quarters on the Oroonoco.

A few days previous to Colonel Wilson's departure for the Main, he personally applied to me, and appeared solicitous that I should attach myself to the remnant of his brigade; and as an inducement, offered to place me upon his staff; which proposal,

* The death of this officer has been recently announced.

however, I considered it most prudent to decline; observing at the same time, the impossibility of procuring hussar equipments. This objection Colonel Wilson would have reconciled in a manner, which, however calculated to heighten the character of the appointment, and induce a compliance, was at least, for its sincerity, entitled to some commendatory acknowledgment. It was,that the mere uniform was a minor consideration, and could in this instance be readily dispensed with; as his officers would most probably find it necessary to carry muskets on their first arrival; it not being likely that the regiment could be immediately mounted and organized. The remark at the time made a strong impression on my mind, appearing to me forcibly indicative of Colonel Wilson's opinion of the uncertain and desperate nature of the service on which he was about to proceed. Of the subsequent fate or operations of this party I never af terwards heard.

The Emerald, with the remainder of Colonel Hippesley's corps, sailed for the neighbouring island of Cariacou, several

days previous to our arrival at Grenada, having, since her departure from Saint Bartholomew's, lost a large proportion both of officers and men: and, in consequence of some breach of the navigation laws, had also been a considerable time under seizure, but was subsequently released. The quarrelling and dissensions on board this vessel unhappily produced, during her stay at Grenada, a duel between Lieutenant Braybrooke and one of Colonel Hippesley's sons, which terminated in the death of the former officer. This melancholy event occasioned the deepest sensation on the island, and was likewise, I believe, referred to in the English papers, without particularly mentioning the nature of the dispute, or the interesting events which succeeded its fatal termination. The quarrel, to all appear ance, had been amicably settled by an apology from Hippesley; but unfortunately the majority of the officers having expressed their disapprobation of the arrangements, and insinuated that the dispute was such as could only be decided in the field, Lieut. B. insisted upon the meeting which ended in his death.

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