point of fact how is the Blockade of these Islands effected? The only Ships belonging to the Naval Department at the present applicable to the conveyance of Troops are the Anne and Oxford Transports. The former had been already granted to me for a Colonial purpose, and if the latter had been in the contemplation of my Lords Commissioners as an adjunct to your Squadron, surely it would not have been sent a circuitous voyage with a detachment of Recruits.

When I received your letter I was on the point of praying (which I now do) your goodness in ordering the Ariel Ceylon Government vessel the assistance of the Naval Yard in giving her such repairs as may be necessary to enable her to proceed to St. Helena with Governor Maitland's dispatches, from whence I presume the Governor of the Island will without loss of time expedite them by the Camperdown Cutter or otherwise to England. I am aware that it would be desirable if a direct communication to England could be obtained, but I cannot see how this can be done without deducting from the tonnage and Mariners which will be required for the Transport of the Troops, or without delay.

I beg to return my thanks for the information and manner of communicating it with which you closed your letter, and have &c. CALEDON

[Original.]

(Signed)

Letter from the EARL OF CALEDON to VISCOUNT CASTLEREAGH.

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE, October 19th 1809.

MY LORD, The Ceylon Government vessel Ariel arrived here on Sunday night with a letter addressed to me by General Maitland requesting that I would with the least possible delay forward the despatches with which she is charged either by sending her on direct or substituting any other more advizable mode for their

conveyance.

General Maitland for reasons sufficiently obvious did not officially communicate to me his knowledge of or opinion upon the state of affairs in India, but through the channel of his information I am aware of the very dangerous position of His Majesty's possession in that Quarter.

Under the forcible impression that no exertion even to the actual risk of the retention of this Colony should be withheld, I wrote the letter to General Grey of which together with his answer I have the honor to enclose copies. I now throw myself upon Your Lordship's favourable consideration of the motives which led me to such a step, and as I consider it my duty not to detain the vessel which takes these dispatches, I feel it sufficient to add that General Grey acquiescing in my reasoning has determined to detach part of His Majesty's 21st Light Dragoons, 90 Artillery, and the 72nd and 83rd regiments, if the necessary tonnage, of which I am sorry to add there is but a small proportion, can be procured for their conveyance. Vice Admiral Bertie having communicated to me his sentiments upon the subject, I beg to refer Your Lordship to his letters and my answers as contained in the enclosures.

I have &c.
(Signed)

CALEDON,

[Copy.]

Letter from VICE ADMIRAL BERTIE to the EARL OF CALEDON.
Nereide, TABLE BAY, 19th October 1809.

MY LORD,-The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having by their letter addressed to me, bearing date the 18th March last, transmitted a copy of a letter from His Majesty's Secretary of State to the Commissioners for the affairs in India on the subject of providing a Garrison for the Islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, or either of them, in the event of their surrender to His Majesty's Arms, in which His Majesty's pleasure is signified that they do cause Instructions to be sent to such Presidency in the East Indies as it shall be judged proper to communicate with, "for preparing a body of Forces to take possession of and garrison the Islands of Mauritius and Bourbon if upon application from Vice Admiral Bertie it shall appear that the said islands, or either of them, is likely to surrender to His Majesty's Arms," and further stating "that in the above case Instructions have been sent to the Governor and the Commander of the Forces at the Cape of Good Hope to furnish a European regiment, in order to compose a part of the rrison."

And their Lordships having been pleased, with their letter addressed to me of the 27th March, to transmit for my information and guidance a copy of an Instruction from the Commissioners for the affairs in India, to the Governor General in Council at Calcutta, on the subject, a copy of which I understand to have been sent direct from the different departments to Your Excellency, and wherein it is further signified that "in case the Island of Rodriguez should have been occupied by a detachment from Bombay," it is to be considered "whether the Troops stationed in that Island may not constitute a part of the Force to which these directions relate," as no reason would exist for retaining any longer in such case possession of Rodriguez.

It becomes my duty in reference to these communications, and in consequence of the gallant atchievements of the combined Force under Lieut.-Col. Keating, and of the Squadron under my command and acting under the orders of Captain Rowley, (the whole of which details have been laid before Your Excellency) to state to Your Excellency that the principal defences of the Island of Bourbon have been so effectually destroyed that it is the opinion of Lieut.-Col. Keating, of the Commander of the Squadron and my own, that the Island may be taken possession of and retained with a certain number of Troops; on the expediency and practicability of which measure I am to solicit the opinion and assistance of Your Excellency and the Commander of the Forces, and shall whenever Your Excellency may think proper give you my sentiments more fully either in writing, or by conference, and to submit to you those of the Officers of my Squadron. I have &c.

Letter from the EARL OF CALEDON to VICE ADMIRAL A. BERTIE.

CASTLE OF GOOD HOPE, 19th October 1809.

SIR,-I hasten to reply to your letter of this day's date, to which I find it necessary as a basis to state what I consider the spirit of the Instructions received by me from His Majesty's Ministers, as far as relates to the detaching of a Regiment from this Colony to the Isle of France; and Lord Castlereagh, to guard against mis

conception on this head, communicated to me for my guidance and to put me in possession of the views of Government a Secret order which was sent to the Governor General in Council at Bengal upon this subject.

Under an impression that the effects of famine and the pressure of a strict blockade might produce a surrender, Instructions were sent out by His Majesty's Commands to a Presidency in India (I believe Bombay) for preparing a force for taking possession of and garrisoning the Islands in question, if upon application from you it shall appear to the Presidency that the said Islands are likely to surrender, and in the above case a European Regiment from hence is to compose a part of the garrison. This, as I understand it, is the purport of His Majesty's pleasure.

It appears therefore to rest upon your representation to the presidency in India, and upon their decision of its merits, whether any and what force should be employed in taking possession of and garrisoning either of the Islands, and in the event of its being determined to detach a force from the presidency for such a purpose, a requisition may then be made upon the Colony for a European Regiment, upon which point I am directed to concert with the Commander of the Forces.

you

As have now done me the honor to invite me to a conference in conjunction with General Grey upon the expediency and practicability of taking possession of the Island of Bourbon I must express myself highly flattered by such a proposal, and certainly shall be ready at any moment to lend by advice or otherwise whatever the public welfare may require of me.

To the question of expediency, presuming it to apply to the present time, I shall beg even before we meet to offer some observations, to a case of practicability without documents by which I can judge or even with documents from my incompetent knowledge in Naval or Military affairs I could scarcely hazard a serious opinion. The point to be weighed is the ability of that Country to which you are referred for a force, this might be best answered if the application were made, but now arises the expediency of making such an application. The perilous state of India is known alike to both of us. The British dominion which when united in itself was not at all times sufficiently powerful to control the natives, is now convulsed. A large proportion of those very Individuals who by every tye of honor and principle were bound

Majesty and their Whether they have

to support, have cast off their allegiance and are actually and openly in hostility against those whom His Honble. Employers chose to place over them. cause for complaint or otherwise is not the question, the means of redress they have had recourse to we know to be illegal.

This is not matter of conjecture, but comes from a high authority, it is information not couched in ambiguous terms, but in stated specific facts, and it was from as forcible an impression of rectitude as ever possessed my mind that I did conjure General Grey to reflect upon and assist me in the means of lending that aid which India and with it our country at large most imperiously demands. The manner in which he acquiesced is not unknown to you, and never can be forgotten by me.

I should indeed be guilty of presumption and should richly deserve the punishment it produces, were I to imagine my judgment unerring, but if a thorough conviction points out to me what is right and my actions are in opposition to that conviction, then should the punishment be doubly severe.

India in her misfortunes produces a heavy responsibility, a responsibility which may be visited upon each Individual, even him most remotely concerned, and if I am to suffer in a cause I should rather my sufferings arose from errors produced by my zeal than from calamities produced by my inactivity.

I pray you to pardon this digression if it be considered one, but I am desirous of speaking strongly my feelings upon this occasion and with my feelings my most decided opinion that whatever measure deprives India of succour cannot be otherwise than essentially detrimental to the greatest state possessed by Great Britain.

Having thus apprized you of my sentiments I beg leave to repeat my sense of obligation for the honor you proposed to me and my perfect readiness to meet you and General Grey whenever it may suit your pleasure. I have &c.