Star. — London, England, 1808-02-09 00:00:00

1. I. Of . a bl aril zad tr. rtl Of 11,1 faker)* ren• ids f LONDON GAZEITE EXTRAORDINARY. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1808. DOWNINGSTREET, FEBRUARY soave ncill Baster, first Aid-de -Camp to General BONYER, ar w-rtoed yest etty morning at the °face of Viscount Castlereagh, His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, with a — * pitc h f ro nt the General, of which the following is a copy. Mt LORD , Santa Cruz, Dec. 57, 1808. B e ing in a state of preparation and readiness to w ee a sufficient force against the Danish islands in these s eas, in consequence of your Lordship's dispatch o f the sth of September, no time was lost (after the i ea l of His Majesty's final commands, signified to set)) , Lord Hae-kesbury's lctter 4 of November the sd, i n your Lordship's absence, by the Fawn sloop of war, w hi c h ar rived early on Tuesday morning the 15th instant at Barbadoes) in embarking the troops it lla/bakes on board the men of war appointed to rece i ve t hem by Rear-Admiral Sir Alexander Co chrane, who immediately dispatched others to the islands to leeward to take on board such as were un decoders in each of them, with directions to pro ceed t o the general rendezvous, the whole of which, except one hundred rank and file of the 90th regi not from St. Vincent's, joined the Admiral before or soon after our arrival off the island of St. Thomas °ti the 21st instant. It was then thought proper to send a summons to governor Von Scholten, in charge ci Brigadier-General Shipley and Captain Fahie corn =ding His Majesty's ship Ethalion, to surrender the islands cf St. Thomas, St. John, and their de pendencies, to His Britannic Majesty, which he did it next day on terms agreed upon between him and Major-General Maitland and Captain Pickmore, of iris Majesty's ship Ramillies, which were afterwards approved of and ratified by Real-Admiral the He. solvable Sir Alexander Cochrane and myself, a Copy of which I have the honour to enclose, and hope they e t meet with His Majesty's approbation. On the 23d, in the evening, after leaving a gar slice of three hundred men of the 70th regiment, vithanofficer and detachment of the Royal Artillery, at St. Thomas's, under the command of Brigadier General Maclean, whom I have also directed to as sume the civil government d e the same, until his Ma jesty's pleasure is signified thereon, we proceeded to Santa Cruz, the Admiral having previously se : t his Majesty's ship Ethalion, with Brigadier-General Shipley and Captain Fahie, to summon that island ; whotettetted the next morning the 24th, with a let ter from the Governor, offering to surrender it to his Majesty, provided we would allow three Danish offi ces to view on board the ships the number of troops Wrought against it, which we permitted, that his Excel kitty's military honour might thereby not be reflected on. These officershaving made their report to their Go erne, returned early the next morning, the 25th, to the lag ship with a message, that the governor was will ing to treat for the surrender of the Island, when Majer-General Maitland and Captain Pickmore were again sent on shore to settle the terms of capitulation, 3 copy of which I also transmit ; which being approved of by the Admiral and myself, troops were landed, and the forts and batteries taken possession of in the name of his Majesty the King of the United King doms of Great Britain and Ireland, a royal salute be iagired on the British coloers being hoisted. 'should be ungrateful in the extreme did I not rate to your Lordship the great and many obligati ons I ccnceive myself, the Officers, and Soldiers to > under to Rear-Admiral the Hon. Sir Alexander lochranc, the Captains and OtEcers of the Royal Nary, who have universally afforded us every corn linable accommodation in their power, and I am ere much to their own inconvenience. lam convinced that had it been necessary to have Qat for the exertions of the sea and land forces taployed upon this expedition, that they would have added another laurel to the many already acquired t 7 British valour and discipline. Copies of the two lettcjs of summons, with the uswers of the respective Governors, arc herewith' Illumined, together with a return of ordnance, and *lance stores taken possession of, both at St. Tho ea% aad Santa Cruz. This dispatch will be presented to your Lordship I l ea /Pain Berkeley of the 16th infantry, an intelli ilit4rneer, vino will answer any question you may WlAlssed to ask ?tim, and I beg leave to recommend to your Lordship's notice. Captain Berkeley is my first Aid-de-camp. I have the honour to be, &c. HENRY BewstEß, General and Commander of the Forces. Os board his Irclajsty's Ship Belletsle, off St. 'Thomas, Dee. 20, 1807. 416 his. Britannic Majesty's Commanders in Chief ' Y 44d and by_ sea in these Colonies, in obedience to " Ir Sovereign's orders, do summon you to surrender $e Island of St. Thomas and its dependencies to the log" under our command. Y 4 at well aware, Sir, that your bravery and Cat' Olt loyalty to your Sovereign may induce you to make resistance, which can avail but little against the forces now opposed to you. We therefore trust, that to prevent the effusion of blood, and probably the con fiscation of all property, that you will accept of such terms as may be proper for us to grant, and honour able for you to receive. We think it necessary to add, that we will certainly resent and retaliate for any injurious treatment that may be offered unjustly to any one of our nation un der your Government, by forcing them to take up arms against their lawful Sovereign. We have the honour to be, &c. HENRY BOWYER, General and Commander of the Forces. ALEX. COCIIRANE, Rear-Admiral and Commander in Chief of the Naval Forces. To his Excellency Colonel Van Scholten, Commandant, &c. &c. St. Thomas. St. 'Thomas, Dec. 21, 1807. Sins—lt cannot be presumed under any circum stances, that I can think of capitulating, until I am vanquished ; or at least until I know the strength of the sea and land forces, with which I am menaced to he attacked. I therefore send out three officers in cr der to obtain this information, and your excellencies' permission to count the troops. The gentlemen which your excellencies have sent on shore, have given me their word of honour, that no hostilities of any kind shall be committed before my officers are again land ed at St. Thomas, and then I shall immediately ac quaint your excellencies of my determination, through any signal which may be agreed upon on board. If I should be induced to wish to capitulate, 1 request that persons may be sent on shore for the pur pose, with full authority to sign a capitulation, on the basis of the one concluded in 1301, and with such alterations as circumstances may require. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) W. V. ScHOLTEN. To their Excellencies the Commanders in Chief of I-iis Britannic Majesty's Naval and Land Forces off St. Thomas. His Majery's ship Belkisle, off St. Thomas, Dec. 02, 1807. Sta—The Island of St. Thomas and its dependen cies ha-•:ng been summoned, and in consequence sun rendered to his Britannic Majesty's Forces by land arid by sea ir these Colonies, we, the Commanders therebf, in obedience to our Sovereign's orders, do likewise s :moron you to surrender the Island of Santa Crcix wad its dependencies. We offer, Sir, for your acceptance, such terms as will be honourable for you to receive, and such as may 1.4 proper for us to grant. Being desirous to prevent the unavailing effusion of blood, and pro bably the confiscation of all property, as we are well aware that any resistance on your part to the Forces at present under our command could not be effectual. It is necessary we should add, that we will certainly resent any injurious treatment unjustly offered to any of our Nation now under your Government, by forcing them to take up arms against their lawful Sovereign, or by confiscating any part of their property. Brigadier-General Shipley, and Captain Fahie, of the frigate Ethalion, will have the honour to de iver this, and to wait for an answer. We have the honour to be, Sec. (Siz,ned) HILNRY Bowynt, General and Com mander of the Forces. (Signed) Atm. COCHRANE, Rear-Admiral and Commander in Chief of the Naval Forces. To tia Excellency Governor FMinschiold, &c. Sec. Sec. Santa Croix. St. Croix, Government-House, December 512, 1507, Grtrrmirx—ln answer to your summons of the Island of St. Croix, which have been transmitted to me by Brigadier-General Shipley and Captain Fahie, I have the honour to reply, that before I can enter into any discussion of the . subject, I must demand permission to send on board of his Britannic Majes ty's ships, three of my Officers, Major Krause, Cap tain Holm, and Lieutenant Lohse, in order to ascer itain the extent of the force employed against the Lsland under my government. I have the Honour to be, &c. (Signed) LILLIENSCIIIOLD. To their Excellencies General Henry Bowyer, and Rear-Admiral Sir Alex. Cochrane, &c. A.RTICLES of CAPITULATION for the surrender of the Danish islands of St. Thomas and St. John's, together with their dependencies, entered into between Gencral Henry Bow yer, the Commander of the land forces, and Rear-Admiral the Honourable Sir Alexander Cochrane, Knight of the Bath, and Commander in Chief of the naval forces employed at Barbadoe s ' and the Leeward Islands, on the part of His Britannic Majesty, and Colonel Van Scholten, Commandant of the said Danish Islands, en the part of His Majesty the King of Denmark. Art. I. The islands of St. Thomas and St. John's, and their dependencies, Are hereby placed under the protection of His Bri tannic Majesty. Answer.—W..r. being declared between the two nations, the islaras of St. homas and St. John's, and their dependencies, must be surrendered to the forces of His Britannic Majesty. 11. 11C.tary honours arc to be shewn at the surrender: The officer , keep and continue to carry their swords. iswer —Agreed to. 111. All the inhabitants of the said Island are to enjoy the fales. z^4 .4.Avo • # _ . . ,-,-.. ,i*., -•., 1 ..-- •- - ,-- . At-i 4 5 ._ .* ,:,-,,,_,........... ..., .., .4 •,.....'"-..:, ?• -,‘ I* , ) 1 1 • ;j , CIP • At -I s, l l _ - ._,.. ~....... /",... . 3 eeurhy for their persons, property, and otter rights; as wen as a free exercise of their religion. Answer.-- - -All bong fide Danish inhhbt :inn shall enjoy the fnllett security for their persons and property, as w.:11 as a free exercise of their religion, provided they do not in any measure ccver, attempt to cover, the property of di- :rtemies of Great Britain and It:land. By property is to be under,tood, all goods and mer_ chandise, now on shore. And to render any farther ezplarta.. lion on this head unnecessary, it is required, th.tt all Danish in habitants, and those of other nations, not at brat with Great Britian, "'hail give in, when called upon, and if demanded, on oath, a strict and impartial account of all property belonging to the enemies of Great Britain, either in their own Possession, or within their knowledge, thereby fully securing the intention of this Article. . . IV. Arms and ammunition to be• delivered by a commission composed of Officers of both parties ; also the magazines, and pivvisions, and what else may be found in the forts, as it shall be found to-day, according to returns to be drawn up. Answer—Agreed tn. • V. All Danish Officers, and the Garrison, to be conveniently and safely conducted to their native country ; and those that might desire to proceed via America or elsewhere, to be provided with proper passports, or to remain in this country if they wish. Answer—The garrison must be considered as prisoners of war, and conveyed to Europe as speedily as possible, and every indul gence shewn them. VI. No military to be quartered in houses, but in barracks and proper rooms to be assigned by the Bmg:ier Council, and a Com mission appointed to that end. Answer—Agreed to ; but the buildings nsust be such 15 the Quartt r Master General approves of. VII. The Danish laws and ordinances to remain in force. All Court; aud Judicial Offices to be occ•.pit.J by the present officers. Delinquents under confinement not to be released until their sen ' tence is passed and enforced. Answer.-.-The Danish laws and onlinances shill remain in force, subject to the pleasure of his Britannic Majesty. The Ju dicial Offices to sontinue occupied by the present persons ;—but they, as well as all civil officers, must be subject to the approba tion of the Commander in Chief. The latter part of this aricle is agreed to ou the same condition. An Englida Cus:um House sal be established on the same basis as in the Bri.sh ies. VIII. The King's and Public Treasuries, all public book-keep- Inn, and acc.aunts, -archives and protocols retrain utnoleted, under the hands of the respective officers, fur mutual security and Answer.--All public property, and all property belonzing to the King of Denmark, or to his Government, must be given up (to his Britannic Majesty), and all public papers and records must be submitted to the inspection of the British. The records and papers will be allowed to remain in the proper offices. IX. His M.ijesty the King of Denmark, having advanced loans to the planters, the said planters continue to pay off according to the method regulated, unto his said Majesty the King of Den mark, who retains the right of mortgage on the estates. Answer.—Answered in the last article; but any sum now due shall be paid without delay, to such persons as shall be appointed by the Commanders in Chief (subject to the pleasure of his Bri tannic Majesty). X. No inhabitant shall be compelled to carry arms, or perfurni duty, when he has made his oath of neutrality. Answer.—Agreedto ; but they will be required to take an oath of allegiance to the British Government, expressing that they will not, either openly or secretly, do any thing hostile to the British Government. Xl. The Americans shall be permitted, without constraint, to export the produce of the islands, and to provide them with ne cessarks. The ii.habitatits are allowed to ship their produce to America. Answer.—These colonies must trade under the same laws as govern the British West India Islands. XII. The free coloured people of this island shall be regarded and protected as heretofore under the Danish Government, and they shall not be forced to do any military duty. Answer—The Danish free-coloured People will be protecteis as heretofore, and will not be forced to do any milhary duty; but they must take an oath of allegiance, conformably to the tenth Article. XIII. In the general claim; of Danish and neutral property to be respected, as belonging to its lawful owners, is also cumpreher• ded the vessels and all property afloat in the harbours, or what might arrive during the time the Danish colonies may remain in the possession of his Britannic Majesty. Answer.--Answered by the reply to the third Article. XIV. Slaves to remain the undisputed property of their present lawful owners. Answer.—Slavcs being property ; this has already been settled, by the Answer to the third Article. XV. The Police of thi , . Island continues to perform its official functions with the same authority as under the Danish Govern ment, and according to the laws and usages of the country. Answer.—This has already been an.wercil by the reply to the seventh Article. XVI. The Paper Money issued by his Danish Majesty is to remain in circulation as heretofore. Answer.—Granted; subject to the pleasure of his Britannic Majesty. _ _ _ All the forts, military posts, and vesscls of war, must be given up as soon as the Capitulation is ratified by the Comna.uides-in- Chief.--St: Thomas, Dec. 21, 1807. (Signed) VAN SCHOLTEN. FRED. MAITLAND, Maj. General. FRANCIS PICK MORE, Captain, Ramillies. (Ratified) (Signed) HENRY BOWYF.R, General, and Commander of the Forces . ALEX. COCHRANE, Rear-Admiral, and Commander-in-chief of his Majesty's Ships, &c. &c. &c. [Here follow the Articles of Capitulation for the Surrender of the Danish Island of SANTA CROIX, and its dependencies, en tered into also between General Bowysa and Admiral CocIIRANI —but which, for want of room we are obliged to omit till to morrow. The following are Ad miral Cochrane's details,] ADMIRALY OFFICE, FEB. 9. Copy of a Lctter from Rear Admiral the Honourable Sir Alex ander Cochrane, K. B. Commander in Chief of his Majesty's Ships and Vessels at the Leeward Islands, to the Honourable W. W. Pole, dated on board his Majesty's Ship Belle:sle, St. Croix, December 27, 1807. SlR—Be pleased to inform the Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, that in obedience to their Lordships' order*, received by his Majesty's sloop Fall', no time was lost in embarking the troops pre; tie/ugly destined for the expedition against the Danish islands of St. Thomas, and St. Croix. As the ar tillery, ordnance, and commissary stores had been for come time oh board the vesseli hired for the purpose, we were enabled to leave Carlisle Bay on the 16th in stant, C eneral Bowyer doing me the honour of ac companying me in the Belleisle. On the 19th we reached Sandy Point, St. Christo pher's, and received some troops from that garrison; and on the 91st, anchored off St. Thomas, where we were joined by reinforcements from Antigua and Gre nada, and the troops held in readiness to land at a moment's notice. Brigadier-General Shipley, and Captain Fahie, had been previously sent forward in the Ethalion,icharged with a Summons to the Governor, to surrender the island, 2 copy of which, and his answer, are inclosed. Soon after they returned, accompanied by three Da nish officers, Major-General Maitland, and Captain Pickmore, of the Ramillies, were sent on shore with powers to negotiate with the governor for capitulat ing, which was agreed to on the inclosed terms, and signed in the evening. Having on the morning of the 22d taken possession Of the island, and its dependencies, the first division of the troops intended for the attack of St. Croix, was embarked in the frigates and slo: ps of war ; and the same officers again sent forty: rl, charged with a similar summons to the governor. On the morning of the 24th, they rejoined with an answer, and about neer., the squadron anchored off the town of Fredericksiadt, when three Danish officers (as at St. Thomas), came on board, and it was arranged that the governor should, on the following morning, 25th, meet Major-General Maitland, and Captain Pickmore, to settle the terms of capitulation, which was accordingly done, and the fort taken possession of by the troops in the evening ; and last night, the gan-ison and town of Christianstadt, on the other side of the island, were also given up. Copies of the several papers before mentioned are herewith inclosed, together with returns of ordnance on both islands *, and a list of ships and vessels found in the harbours. It affords me much satisfaction that this expedition has terminated without loss to either party. Defence on the part of the enemy would only have been atten ded with unnecessary effusion of blood, as their force could not have withstood that brought against them. I have the pleasure to state the utmost cordiality existed between the two services employed on this ex pedition ; and I feel truly sensible of the readiness with which General Bowyer met my wishes, in what ever related to the public service. Captain Parkinson, of his Majesty's sloop Favou rite, is charged with this dispatch, who will be able to give their Lordships such farther information as they may desire. I have the honour to be, &c. (Signed) ALEX. COCHRANE. N. B. The same as those transmitted by Gen. Bowyer. A List of Vessels found in the Harbour of St. Tho. mas on the Capitulation of that Island, Dec. 21, 1607. American ship Catherine, of 2 guns, pierced for 10, and 0 75 tors, in ballast. Hambro' ship Sophia Magdalene, of 2 guns, and 200 tons, la den with 150 casks coffee, and 22 casks of sugar. English ship Fly, of 130 tons, laden with ship stores. Danish ship Altona, of 250 tons, laden with ship stores. American ship Elizabeth, pierced for 16 guns, and 250 tons, in ballast. English ship Alexander, laden with indigo, cotton, copper, and and dry wood. Hambro' ship Lucretia Margaretta, of 10 guns, and 250 tons. laden with 92 hogsheads of sugar, 110 cases ditto, 600 bales of tobacco, and 13 bales of indigo. Danish brig Neptune, of 118 tons, in ballast. A Swedish brig, of 70 tons, is ballaat. Danish brig Fame, of 112 tons, in ballast. English brig Navigation, of 2 guns, and 120 tons. Danish brig Host, of 122 tons, in ballast. A Dullish schooner, pierced for 10 gut r„ and 91 tons, in bAlast• Danish schooner Hope and F.sperance, of SO tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Nancy, of 14 tons, iu ballast. Danish schooner Nancy, of 12 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Experiment, of 10 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Mary, of 20 tons, In ballast. Danish schooner Amphion; of 55 tons. Danish schooner Courier, pierced for 10 guns, and 94 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Phcenix, pierced for 16 guns, and 100 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Louisa, of 64 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Ellenora, 0174 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner William & George, of 30 tons, in ballast. Palish schooner Flying Fish, of 30 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Alexandria, of 75 tons, in iron ballast. Danish schooner Phomix, of 84 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Dolphin, of 60 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Esperance, of 24 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Joseph, of 35 tons, in ballast. English schooner Laura, of 35 tons, in iron ballast. Danish schooner Antoinette, of 64 tons, in ballast. English schooner Hippomenes, of 100 tons, laden with casks. D wish schoner Eliza, of 97 ton, laden with ship stores. Hamborough schooner Jung Jacob, of 100 tons, with ballast and stores. English schooner Flora, of 90 tone, :n b. lbst. Danish schooner 11.:tsey, of 40 tons, in ballast Danish schooner Trazer, of 42 tons, in barast. Danish schooner Citizen, of 38 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Larkin, of 42 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Hope, of '2O tons, in ballast. American schooner Friendship, of 100 tons, laden with 40 bags of cocoa and 4 barrels of flour. Danish schooner Fortune, of 32 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner Harriot, of 56 tons, in ballast. Danish schooner, pierced for to guns, of 90 tons, in ballast Danish schooner Cosmopolite, of 94 tons, in ballast. [The remainder to-morrow.] I • Vll