WAR, HURRICANE, AND EARTHQUAKE.

INTELLIGENCE of a declaration of war against France, some time expected, was now received by a fast-sailing vessel from Plymouth, which brought orders to the commanders of the naval and military forces in the West Indies, immediately to attack such of the enemy's colonies as the force under their command enabled them, with probability of success. The state of the British garrisons was efficient and respectable, despite of the ravages of the climate; and an immediately disposeable force was, without delay, embarked on board the men-of-war and transports, which Commodore Hood had kept in readiness. He had then only the Centaur, of seventy-four guns, a few frigates and sloops-of-war, in command; but the French had no naval force sufficient to contend with his little squadron; and the garrisons of St. Lucia and Tobago were known to have been considerably reduced by sickness. General Grinfield and the commodore determined, therefore, to make an immediate attack on those islands; and General Prevost, having assisted in the capture of

St. Lucia, and afterwards commanded there, during the revolutionary war, gallantly offered his assistance. Accordingly, the Osprey, sloop-of-war, was despatched to convey him from Dominica to St Lucia, where he joined the expedition the day previous to the attack. So secretly had every arrangement been made, the French knew not of the war, until the arrival of the British armament; nor were the inhabitants of Roseau acquainted with General Prevost's departure, until he was already at St. Lucia.

The troops were formed into two divisions; and, the enemy refusing to surrender, the strong fort of Morne Fortunée, the key of the island, was stormed during the night, with some loss, by the British troops, under Brigadier-Generals Prevost and Brereton. In consequence of this success, the army was enabled to proceed immediately to the attack of Tobago, which also fell into our possession, after a slight and fruitless resistance.

The French had, at this time, strong garrisons, both in Martinico and Guadaloupe. The British force in the Leeward Islands did not admit, however, of any attempt being made on them, without reinforcements, both of troops and ships-of-war. In the interim, Commodore Hood's squadron was scouring the seas, and making prizes of numerous French vessels.

Governor Prevost was received at Roseau, on

his return, with the most distinguished marks of approbation and regard.

The capture of St. Lucia and Tobago was speedily followed by that of the valuable Dutch colony of Demerara; against which, Major-General Sir Charles Green, (who had succeeded to the command of the troops on the death of General Grinfield,) and Commodore Sir Samuel Hood, now a Knight of the Bath, had lost no time in proceeding. The possession of Demerara was of importance to Britain; and it was finally annexed to her dominion, by the terms of the general peace in 1814 and 15.

Although war now raged between the two rival nations, the greatest courtesy was maintained between General Prevost, and the French Governor of the neighbouring colony of Martinico, the brave but unfortunate Admiral Villaret Joyeuse, Lord Howe's opponent on the memorable 1st of June. The new Governor of Guadaloupe was General Erneuf, an enterprising and zealous officer, who was anxious to strike a blow against the English colonies, the first favourable opportunity. He had then 1800 men in garrison at Guadaloupe, and was aware of the reduced numbers of the 11th regiment, previously to their departure, and of the sickness and mortality which had prevailed in the 46th, since their arrival at Dominica. He knew, also, that the garrison at Prince Rupert's consist

ed only of black troops. Every neutral vessel arriving from Guadaloupe brought accounts of preparations, which led General Prevost to believe that an attempt would speedily be made on Dominica; against which he made every preparation in his power, requesting a reinforcement of European troops, putting those under his command constantly on the alert, and reviewing and inspecting the different companies of militia. The only disposeable force, however, at Barbados, was the York light-infantry volunteers, a regiment formed of volunteers from the Dutch service, after the surrender of Demerara, who preferred entering the British service to being sent to England as prisoners. One hundred and fifty men of this corps were sent down, under command of a Dutch officer, and quartered at Prince Rupert's; and, at the same time, a line of signal posts was established round the whole island, and telegraphic communications were henceforth made with the greatest celerity.

The numerous prizes which continued to be made by our cruisers, and sent to Roseau for condemnation, by the Admiralty Court, formed a source of advantage to the merchants, through the sales and agency; whilst the occasional visits of the ships-of-war, to receive their men and prizemoney, were gratifying and enlivening to the inhabitants. Indeed, at no time did gaiety more

predominate, than for some months after the war commenced.

As

During the months of June and July, great sickness prevailed in the town and on board of the ships, one vessel having had her crew twice replaced, before her departure for England. the hurricane months approached, the continuance of this sickness was to be apprehended; and a foreboding existed, that a gale of wind, or hurricane-an occurrence from which the island had not suffered for several seasons-might increase the distress, by sweeping away houses and property of every description. Nor did the fear prove visionary; for, on the 11th of September, about seven o'clock in the evening, an unusual redness of the sky, after sunset, succeeded a remarkably hot and sultry day, indicating, too plainly, the approach of evil. The howling of the wind, in sudden blasts, and the lightning's vivid flash, soon proclaimed the commencement of the storm. Not a moment was to be lost. Some of the assembled crowd repaired on board the ships, to give the orders necessary for their preservationsome endeavoured to secure the valuable property, which was piled along the beach, and subject to be swept away by the sea-and others proceeded to secure the doors, windows, and fastenings of their houses. At ten o'clock, P. M., the wind blew violently, and almost direct on shore; and by