stood
for the bay in the ship, the men previously prepared, being in the
boats ready to shove off. On hauling close round the point of the
road, a small battery of 2 guns opened a fire on the ship; a few shot
were returned; but perceiving it would annoy us considerably, from its
situation, I desired Mr Yeo to push on shore and spike the guns;
reminding the men of its being the anniversary of their Sovereign's
birth, and that, for his sake, as well as their own credit, their
utmost exertions must be used. Though such an injunction was
unnecessary, it had a great effect in animating and raising the
spirits of the people. As the ship drew in, and more fully opened the
bay, I perceived a very long corvette, of 26 ports, apparently nearly
ready for sea, and a large brig of 20 ports, in a state of fitting;
but neither of them firing, led me to conclude they had not their guns
on board, and left no other object to occupy my attention but a heavy
fort, which at this moment opened to our view, within less than a
quarter of a mile, and began a wonderfully well-directed fire, almost
every shot taking place in the hull. Perceiving that, by standing
further on, more guns would be brought to bear upon us, without our
being enabled to near the fort so much as I wished, I ordered the helm
to be put down; and when, from the way she had, we had gained an
advantageous position, anchored with a spring, and commenced firing.
Although I have but little doubt that, before long, we should have
silenced the fort, yet, from the specimen they gave us, and being
completely embrasured, it must have cost us many lives, and caused
great injury to the ship, had not Mr Yeo's gallantry and good conduct
soon put an end to their fire.

I must now revert to him and the party under his command. Having
landed under the small battery on the point, it was instantly
abandoned; but hardly had he time to spike the guns, when, at the
distance of a quarter of a mile, he perceived a regular fort, ditched,
and with a gate, which the enemy (fortunately never suspecting our
landing) had neglected to secure, open a fire upon the ship. Without
waiting for orders he pushed forward, and was opposed at the inner
gate by the Governor, with such troops as were in the town, and the
crews of the French privateers. From the testimony of the prisoners as
well as our own men, it appears that Mr Yeo was the first who entered
the fort, with one blow laid the Governor dead at his fe