The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1805-04-08 00:00:00

PRINCE RUPERT'S HEAD.

The fate of the Island of Dominica, with an at-
tack upon whils the French squadron has com-
menced its operations in the West Indies, being the
subjeCl of great interest and general conversation,
we give the following descriptive sketch of Prince
Rupert's Bay and Garrison, to which General Pre-
Yost has retired. It is from the pen of an officer
who resided nearly two y ears in the Island, most of
which time he spent in that Garrison.

ilk-.

Of 14

Tirade.

1. Outer Connie. 4. Inner C.ibrit.•. 3. . 4. Fort
Shitlily. 5. Water Gate. 6. Douglas jl.c. 7. Swamp
&trier 9 Town of Portsmouth 10. Mitering Place fa
Alen ni War. 11 Indian River. 12. l'..nnt Round. 13
Kittery. 14. T.. R..seau, e.ght leagues. 15. Grand Anse,
or Prince R.ipeit's Hay.

The garrison of " Prince Rupert's Head" is
formed by a bold promontory, divided into two
hills, or, more pr Telly speaking, mountains, called
the " outer and inner Cabrite (from the Spanish
word (Write, that part of the island Abounding for-
merly with wild goats). The outer hill, or Cabrite,
which is properly the " Head," is about 1,100 feet
above the level of the sea, and rather overhangs, as
from its summit, wise,, looking over, you cannot see

the beach.
The inner hill, or ea' brite, which is nearest the
main land, is not so high as the outer, nor near so
wide; it is rather a sharp narrow ridge, of en al-
most equal breadth, in the widest part not exceeding
twelve or fourteen yards ; on this inner hill are the
principal magazines for provisions, ammunition, and
cisterns for water, &c. all bomb-proof, and barrack,
on the slope, a hale below the top, for about two
hundred men. On this ridge are two heavy mor-
tars, and several pieces of cannon mounted, of the
largest garrison calibre; it was fortified by Cob nril
Frazer. o the engineers, at an immense ezpence,
and, tram him, is most commonly called, Morne
Frazer." This hill is separated from the main
island by a wet swamp, about one mile across, every
way. It has never been drained, and, from the wind
blowing almost always across it, arises the ill health
of the garrison, which is emphatically called by the
French, " Le Toadies. dea Angtau," from the
number of troops we annually bury there. It has
been often in contemplation to drain the morass.
Two attempts, particularly, have been made, but
both failed. The latter was frustrated by the mu-
tiny in the West India Regiment, employed in the
survey, which took place during the command of
Colonel Cochrane Johnstone. Although the post is
less healthy, it is stronger than it would have
been, had the attempt suzcezded.
The valley between the two hills is nearly level ;
about the middle are the Parade, and the Govern-
mznt House, a handsome building, where the com-
manding ,Acer resides. The different offices, com-
missary, ordnance store-keeper, engineer, ordnance
yard, hospital, bake houses, itc. are likewise in the
valley. A very handsome and regular fort, called
Fort Shirley. is at one end of the valley, commanding
the Bay and landing place. Within the fort, which
is about 300 feet above the landing place, are hand-
some stone barracks for near a regiment,and twolarge
cisterns, or tanks, for water. At the other end of
the valley, looking towards Guadaloupe, is a small
fort, with barracks fur two companies. which com-
mands an open and dangerous bay, called Douglas
Bay ; and on the outer face of the hill are cut lines,
where cannon are mounted, wherever they can be
placed. The approach to the garrison from the
land is along the beach, the swamp reaching from
bay to bay, and is so narrow as you ascend to the
barrier, where there is a draw-bridge, that only three
or tour men can advance abreast ; and, from the
steepness of the former hill, towards the swamp,
there is little chance of troops ascending that way.
There are barracks lately built on the outer cabrite
for 1000 men, well manned and supplied with am-
miHtion and provisions. This garrison, which is
()fan cahed the Second Gibraltar, may defy all the
4.tempt, of the h rench. 'Trenches caanot be open-
ed on the ride of the swamp; and ever though they
could, the enemy could make no impression upon the
batteries of the inner cabrite, which are situated too
high for the elevation of any ordnance but mortars.
The Bay of Prince Pupert's is one of the best
in the West Indies ; it is about three miles accross
from the s. Head" to " Point Round," and about
as much from the entrance to the little Town of
Portsmouth at the bottom of the Bay. Portsmouth
is seated on the beach, between two small rivers ;
it was intended to have been inhabited by a set of
American Loyalist Refugees, about 1783, and to
have introduced the cultivation of rice in the neigh-
bouring swamps and low lands, by which much
waste land would have become profitable, and sup.
plied, most probably, the rice used among the
slaves. which is a considerable and favourite part of
their food ; but the promises and intentions of the
then Ministry were not carried into execution ; the
speculations failed; many were ruined ; the land
reverted to its original wildness, and the few poor
Loyalists who survived. returned to Alit:lira, to
seek that asylum they had been falsely allured
from. Here the navy take in their wood and water,
and, from supplying the crews and the garrison
with vegetables, and sozne other trifling necessaries,
the few inhabitants (chiefly people of colour) now
derive their principal support. Just near the Vf e-
Pfliftg -place is a tomb ere Red to the memory of
Lord Cathcart, who died here on an expedition
against Cuba, I think in Charles Il.'s time. Prince
Rupen's Head is distant from ROSCAU, the capital,
about eight leagues; the must common route is by

water. The read by land is very bad, and will, in
some parts, scarcely admit of two horsemen riding
a-breast, particularly at the famous pass called the
'• Lion's Mouth." To transport cannon by lanck or
any wheel carriage, is totally impo:sible; 1110 we
command the sea, the garrison may bold ottf, though
the rest of the island falls.

FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE.

lIAMBURGI I MAIL.

vs erre A, MARCH
It is now said that the journey of the Emperor
to Italy will not take place this year.
ITALY, MAIICII 20.
It is said that a marriage is proposed between
the Queen of Etruria and Prince Beauharnois, and
in this case the kingdom.of Etruria may be united
to a neighbouring country.
The King of Naples has not ratified the conven-
tion of neutrality, but has caused representations to
be made by the Marquis di Gallo, his Ambassador
at Paris, against several of the conditions required
on the part of France.
MILAN, MARCH 16.
. .

To day Prince F.ugene Beauharnms arrived here
from Paris, with the horse chasseurs and grena-
diers, the :ens d'artniDe d lite, and mamelukes, and
alighted at the palace of government. The greater
part of the French troops here were marched out
to receive him ; and the Italian troops mounisitl
guard at the palace. The Prince has a very pre-
possessing figure.
BANKS 0? THE MAINE, MARCH 26.
We learn from Stuttgardt, that the state prisoners.
who were in confinement at Ludwighlirg, have been
removed, under a strong escort, to the Seitude.
FRANKrOBT, MARCH 26.
The French envoys at Stuttgard, Cassel, &c. have
given in a notification relative to the new King of
Italy, to the courts and states, to which they are ac-
Iredited-

C.
They write frnm Stuttgard, that M. Sinclair and
M. Sekendorif have been set at liberty.
LYONS, M•RCH 15.

Great preparations are making here to receive
the Emperor. Ilia Majeuy will stay some days in
this city.
The day before yesterday several detachments of
the imperial guard arrived ; and in a few days are
expected the Marshals Monier, Moncey, and Res-
sieres ; as also the Ministers Talleyrand and 1340-.
thier
Vat-inns letters from the Mediterranean give rea-
son to tear that a war between France and Naples
is at an great distance. All commercial affairs,
both with that kingdom, and with the island of
Sicily, ate pc:visionally suspended.

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