Star.
London, England, 1809-03-21 00:00:00

MARTINIQUE.

CAPTURE OF THE GREATER PART OF IT.

BARBADOES, FEB. 7.—The Expedition arrived off
Martinique on Sunday, January 29, but the land
when first made was supposed to be St. Luce, and the
fleet was near the Carval Rock off the N. point of the
island, before the mistake was discovered, a very
strong current having swept them far to windward,
which compelled them to haul off for that night. On
the morning of the 30th, the signal being given to
make sail, they separated in two divisions, the Acasta
hoisting a broad pendant, and leading that with the
. division of the army under the Commander in Chief
and Sir George Prevost, intended to effect a landing
in Bay Robert ; while the Admiral proceeded with
that under. Major-General Maitland round Kum,
and entered the Bay of St. Luce.
The Commander in Chief immediately issued a'
proclamation, addressed to the native and other inha-
bitant, apprising them that his Majesty, yielding to
imperious circumstances, wished to restore to them
the former Government of France ; that his Majesty
being deceiVed in the hope that the Government he
had formerly established among them would have
been sanctioned by their new masters, rather than
that they would have forgotten the respect dile
to the Proprietors, laments the unfortunate posi-
tion which the events of war may occasion them, in
the again reducing their colony. The termination of
their misfortunes was now, however, arrived—famine
would disappear—the sources of their prosperity
would be restored—their ancient laws re-established
—and that Government, which had formerly pro-
tected their persons and properties under the British
flag, be again established. It was with these inten-
tions, they stated, that his Britannic Majesty had en-
trusted to them the command of a fOrmidable force by
sea and land to retake Martinique, and to regenerate
in that suffering colony plenty and tranquillity, the
inseparable companions of a just Government.—
With these gracious intentions they invited them, in_
the name of humanity, to submit immediately to the
force of his Majesty, who would not fail to punish the
temerity of a fruitless resistance. They therefore or-
dered all Commissioners, Civil and Military, to quit
their respective duties, and all the inhabitants, of
whatever class or condition, peaceably to return to
their respective homes, .and maintain order; de-
claring, that all persons taken in arms would be
treated as prisoners of war ; that all free coloured
persons so taken would be traesported from the
island, and all slaves under similar circumstances be
tried by a General Court.Martid. To the Ministers
of the Gospel they gave assurances that their religion
would be protected, and the estates and rights of their
Church be respected.
At noon on the 3044 the first division of the fleet
entered Robert (a most spacious harbour on N. E.
coast of the Island, but difficult of access), and Com-
modore Beaver, of the Acasta, with three armed
launches, having approached and reconnoitered the
shore, and all the preparations for landing the troops
being instantly in readiness, at three o'clock in
the afternoon, Sir G. Prevost and Brigadier-General
Houghton, with the first brigade of this part of the
army, consisting of the 7th regiment under Lieute-
aiant-Colonel Packenham, 23d under Lieut. Colonel
Ellis, and five companies of the Ist West-India regi-
ment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tolly, landed in a
most orderly and regular manner, without any oppo-
sition, the inhabitants of the village and neighbour-
hood even meeting them on the beach with welcomes
to the country ! At about half-past five. Lieutenant-
General Beckwith, Commander in Chief, with Bri-
gadier-General Colville and the second brigade, con-
sisting of the Bth regiment, under Major Maxwell,
the 13ill under Lieutenant-Colonel Keane, and four

companies of the Ist West-India Regiment under
Major Clifton, also landed ; at which time Sir G.
Prevost, with the Ist brigade, had marched forward,
and was far advanced in the country ; and the re-
serve, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel
Blackwell,
consisting of the 3d battalion 60th regiment, under
Major Mackey, and the flank companies of the
25th regiment, and 4th battalion of the 60th, with the
4th West India having becn also landed, the Com-
mander-in-Chief proceeded with his brigade as far as
Papin, about seven miles from Robert, Sir O. Prevost
being that night still further advanced. On the fol-
lowing morning (the 31st) Captain Dick, cf his Ma-
jesty's ship Penelope, with one Lieutenant, three Mid-
shipmen, and 45 sailors, and three Marine Officers
and .55 Marines, left Robert for the attack of Trinity,
which surrendered upon their approach ;'and thus far
the whole of this part of this Expedition proceeded
with uninterrupted success.

The landing* of the second division of the Army,
commanded by Major-general Maitland, conducted
immediately by Sir Alexander Cochrane, was also ef-
fected on the 30th, the Admiral leading the fleet into
the Bay of St. Luce, which being defended by two bat-
teries that threatened to annoy the troops, he instantly
dispatched 60 marines to drive the enemy from them,
• and they accomplished the purpose in the most effectual
manner, having, after spiking the guns and throwing
them down the hill, broken up the carriages and plat-
form, and returned with the loss of only one man, sup-
posed to be drowned. The landing of troops i mined i.
:ttely proceeded. Major-General Maitland with Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Barnes and his first brigade, consisting
of the G3d regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Fairt-
lough, and York Rangers, under Major Henderson,
being debarked at a little after eight in the morning ;
and before ten, followed by the second brigade, com-
manded by Lieutenant• Colonel Wall, consisting of
the flank companies of the 15th and 4Gth regiments
under Major Payne, the 15th regiment, under Major
Davidson, York L. 1. Volunteers under Lieutenant-
Colonel Streicher, and rith West India regiment tin-
der Lieutenant Colonel Prevost ; the reserve, com-
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel M'Nair, consisting of
the 90th regiment under Major Wright, and 3d West
India under Major Allen, soon after following. While
these brigades were landing, the enemy set fire to the
Carnation sloop of war (lately captured from us),
lying in Maran Lay, and totally destroyed her ; the
troops mean time commenced their march, and with
great gallantry reached the heights leading to Point
Borguese and Cape Solomon, and the fort situated
on the latter was taken possession of by Major Hen-
derson, and the guns of it being rendered useless, he
proceeded with his c n-ps, and took up 'a position di,
rectly in the rear of Pigeon Island ; in his progress
to which, some accounts state, he made 200 of the
nvilitia prisoners, A 13-inch mortar being got up the

i
CAPTURE
BARBADOES,
Martiniqee on
when first made
Beet was near t
island, before
strong current
which compelle
the morning of
make sail, they
hoisting a broac
division of the ;
and Sir George
in Bay Robert
that under Ma
and entered the
The Comma
proclamation, a,
bitantis apprisin
imperious circu
the former Gov,
being deceived i
had formerly e
been sanctioned
that they woul
to the Proprie
tion which the e
the again reduc
their misfortune
would disappe;
would be restore
—and that Go,
tected their pers
flag, be again e
tions, they state
trusted to theml
sea and land to
in that sufferirq
inseparable con
With these grac
the name of but
force of his Mak
temerity of a frt
dered all Comm
their respective
whatever class c
their respective
daring, that a]
treated as prim
persons so take
island, and all
tried by a Gene
of the Gospel t}
would be protcc
Church be respe
At noon on ti
entered Robert
coast of the Islas
modore Beaver,
launches, having
shore, and all th
being instantly
the afternoon, Si
Houghton, with
army, consisting
giant-Colonel Pa
Ellis, and five c
ment, under Li
most orderly anc
sitior., the inhab
hood even meetil
to the country !
General Beckwii
gadier-General
sitting of the 8.
the 13th under
companies of ti
Major Clifton, a
Prevost, with the
and was far ads
serve, command
consisting of the
Major Mackey,
25th regiment, a
4th West India
mander-in-Chief
Papin, about sev
being that night
lowing morning
jesty's ship Penel
shipmen, and
and .55 Marines,
which surrender,
the whole of thi
with uninterrupt
Tbe landing
command(d by
immediately by
fected on the 30
.1.- 71......0 e• T