Note 273.
Lift of the Squadron, under the Command of
Commodore Elliot, cruizing in the mouth of the British
Channel, and coaft of Ireland, for the protection of trade.

The Royal Oak to lead on the Starboard Tack, and the Marlborough on the Larboard.

VAN.-Rear Admiral Sir Samuel Hood's Divifion.

CENTRE.-Commander in Chief, Admiral Sir George

Rodney's Divifion.

REAR.-Rear-Admiral Francis Drake's Divifion.

Note 275. Lift of the Fleet which failed for the East Indies, February 6th, under the command of Commodore Sir Rich.

Note 276. Ships fent to the East Indies.

Seventeen fail of East India Company's Ships.

Royals-Lieutenants Wilfon and Clerk, Quarter-mafter Shungar, 3 ferjeants, 2 drummers, 22 rank and file killed; Captains Wallace and Buckeridge, Surgeon Young, 6 ferjeants, 4 drummers, 84 rank and file, wounded; 2 rank and file miffing.

15th-Flank Companies-Lieutenant Westerne, Surgeon Boyes, I drummer, 4 rank and file killed; 1 ferjeant, I drummer, 15 rank and file wounded; 6 rank and file miffing.-Total 159.

Detachment of Royal Artillery-1 Matrofs killed; I bombadier, I gunner, 9 matroffes wounded; I corporal, I bombadier, 3 matroffes miffing.Total 17.

THOMAS FRASER, Brig. Gen.

Note

Note 278. Extract of a Letter from Brig. Gen. Frafer, dated St Chriftopher's, Feb. 24, 1782.

I am extremely forry to inform you, that, with the opinion of the engineer, the commanding officer of the artillery, and the reft of the officers of the garrifon, I was under the painful neceffity to furrender the few remaining troops under my command at the post of Brimftonehill, by capitulation, on the 12th inftant, to the French troops commanded by the Marquis de Bouille.

On the 9th of January, 28 French fhips of the line, with feveral frigates and tranfports, appeared off this island; on the 11th they ftood in for the road of Baffeterre, and that evening landed 8000 troops, with a formidable train of artillery. Finding the enemy's force bore every appearance of being very fuperior to the few troops I had for the defence of the island, I judged it prudent to withdraw my out-posts; and being joined by General Shirley, with a detachment of the militia of the island, from Baffeterre, I took post on Brimftone-hill on the 11th.

On the 11th and 12th the enemy compleatly invested and blockaded the garrifon; their right taking poft in the town of Sandy Point, and their left at Godwin's Gut. They immediately advanced their picquets within 500 yards of Brimftone-hill, to cut off our communication with the country; and likewise detached corps to Baffeterre and the town of Old Road; in short, (Brimftone-hill excepted) the enemy were in full poffeffion of the island, and in fuch a pofition as to prevent every means of fuccour, unless the British fquadron fhould be fuperior at fea.

In this fituation I prepared to make the best defence poffible. The ground we were on must be acknowledged to be very strong by nature, and against an immediate attack by affault, I am confident we fhould have proved invulnerable, but the fortifications were very old, and in a ruinous state, and by no means equal to stand the fire from fuch heavy batteries as opened during the fiege.

In the night of the 16th of January the enemy began to break ground at Somerfall's estate, diftant 500 yards on the North West fide, and at Rawlin's eftate on the Old Road fide; and in the morning of the 19th they opened a battery of fix mortars from Rawlins's. From that day the fire from the enemy increased daily on us, new batteries frequently opening; and for the last three weeks they were conftantly night and day, bombarding and cannonading the garrifon, and with fuch effect, that, early in the fiege, every cover on the Hill, the ftore containing all the rum, the arfenal, and the artillery ftore, and part of the provifion ftore, were confumed or torn to pieces by the fire from cannon. The latter part of the fiege almost all the guns were either difmounted or difabled, and the works on the North Weft fide was an entire and perfect breach. I must add, the

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