masters, proved extremely detrimental to the interests of the English planters and merchants, who had settled in those islands. The arrival of a second despatch-vessel from England soon brought the intelligence of the ratification of the treaty; with orders to restore the captured colonies, at times appointed, to the French armaments, which were preparing to sail from France, to take possession of them.

Illuminations and rejoicings, in honour of the peace, took place in the West Indies, as in every other part of the British dominions, although, even at that early period, it was doubtful whether it ought to be regarded otherwise than as an "armed truce."

In the course of a few weeks, the white population of Dominica received a considerable addition, as many English residents, merchants, and others, and some French, removed from Martinico, with their property, families, and slaves. We learned, also, that Dominica having been first settled by the French, and ceded to England only at the peace, in 1782, Napoleon had endeavoured, though without success, to bargain for its restitution. Forming, from its local situation, the connecting link between the French colonies of Martinico and Guadaloupe, its possession was very desirable to him ; and, when the war was renewed, he failed not to attempt its recovery.

ARRIVAL OF THE FRENCH ARMAMENT -INSURRECTION AT GUADALOUPEWAR IN ST. DOMINGO, &c.

EVERY day's experience shewed that the peace of Amiens would not prove advantageous to the colonies, and considerable dissatisfaction prevailed respecting its terms. The arrival of a French frigate from Brest, and many merchant vessels, were fore-runners of several armaments, with troops to garrison the three colonies which were to be given up to French and Dutch dominion, in virtue of the treaty. A friendly intercourse had commenced between the English governors and commanders-in-chief in the West Indies, and the French governor of Guadaloupe; and civilities of every kind had been passing between them. We were, however, again fated to behold war—a civil war-raging around us. The French garrison of Guadaloupe had been reduced, by disease, to a mere handful of European troops; and the people of colour there, and free blacks, who were

numerous and well armed, thought the present a fit opportunity, before reinforcements arrived, to endeavour to wrest the government of the island from the hands of the white inhabitants, and to re-obtain that ascendancy, which they had been allowed to possess some years before, under the savage reign of Victor Hugues, the scourge of the West Indies, the detested enemy of the British. So secret and well concerted were their measures, that they obtained possession of the principal forts and strong holds of the island, almost without resistance. The French governor, (Rear Admiral La Crosse,*) with his wife and family, and many officers and public functionaries, fled for refuge to Dominica; and great was the astonishment of the inhabitants of Roseau, on rising in the morning, to see a French frigate at anchor in the roadstead, with colours flying, and, soon afterwards, to hear martial law proclaimed, in consequence of the insurrection at Guadaloupe. Governor Johnstone adopted the most rigid measures, to prevent all strangers of colour from landing in the island. These were neither unnecessary, nor

* This officer commanded "Les Droits des Hommes," of 80 guns, during the war, and was attacked, and driven ashore on the coast of France, by Sir Edward Pellew, now Lord Exmouth, who then commanded the Indefatigable frigate, assisted by the Amazon, Captain Reynolds, which, not being able to clear the shore, was also wrecked.

ill-timed, as attempts were repeatedly made, to introduce incendiaries. Even in Guadaloupe, however, the rebellion extended only to the people of colour; as the slaves did not join them in any great numbers, and even witnessed the departure of their white masters with regret and dismay. Most of these had been permitted to embark, and to take some property with them, in the early stage of the business; and Dominica was, consequently, crammed with refugees, both civil and military. Admiral La Crosse was received, with his family, in the kindest manner, by Governor Johnstone, at whose house he remained for many weeks; whilst the inhabitants of all ranks, and the officers of the garrison, vied with each other in their hospitality to these unfortunate people.

The vigilance and anxiety of the governor were great and unremitting, in proportion to our vicinity to the seat of rebellion. All intercourse with Guadaloupe had been forbidden by proclamation; but information was daily obtained, from neutrals, of the state of affairs there; and the arrival of many French vessels, from Europe, made the port of Roseau, at this time, the dépôt of French merchandise.-Admiral La Crosse remained there until the restoration of Martinico to the French took place, when he sailed for that island, to concert measures for the attack of Guadaloupe, as soon as the expected armament from France should

K

h the arrival of numbers of American vesth cargoes of flour and salt provisions, they nabled to obtain large supplies for the forts rrisons.

-ral regiments, which had been longest in est Indies, and had now been ordered for d, were detained until the issue of affairs adaloupe, their present state not allowecommanders-in-chief to send home eiips or regiments. In the town of Roseau, e all, one night, unexpectedly put under The governor had fully relied on the alleof the English part of the coloured popu

but many of the men of colour were ; and it was surmised that they had a strong hy with their brethren in Guadaloupe, now against their legitimate government. To ir temper, therefore, and to put the regular n, consisting of the 68th regiment, under Scott, on the alert, Governor Johnstone orn alarm to be fired from Fort Young, at one in the morning. This immediately called

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