"SIR,

"From the darkness of the night, I did not immediately hit the
mole, the spot appointed to land at; but pushed on shore under the
enemy's batteries, close to the southward of the citadel. Captain
Waller landed at the same instant, and two or three other boats.
The surf was so high, many put back. The boats were full of water
in an instant, and stove against the rocks; and most of the
ammunition in the men's pouches was wet.

"As soon as I collected a few men, I immediately pushed, with
Captain Waller, for the square, the place of rendezvous, in hopes
of there meeting you and the remainder of the people, and waited
about an hour; during which time, I sent a serjeant, with two
gentlemen of the town, to summons the citadel. I fear, the serjeant
was shot on his way, as I heard nothing of him afterwards.

"The ladders being all lost in the surf, or not to be found, no
immediate attempt could be made on the citadel. I, therefore,
marched to join Captains Hood and Miller; who, I had intelligence,
had made good their landing to the south-west of the place I did,
with a body of men. I endeavoured, then, to procure some
intelligence of you, and the rest of the officers, without success.

"By day-break, we had collected about eighty marines, eighty
pikemen, and one hundred and eighty small-arm seamen. These, I
found, were all that were alive, that had made good their landing.
With this force, having procured some ammunition from the Spanish
prisoners we had made, we were marching to try what could be done
with the citadel without ladders: but found the whole of the
streets commanded by field-pieces; and upwards of eight thousand
Spaniards, and one hundred French, under arms, approaching by every
avenue. As the boats were all stove, and I saw no possibility of
getting more men on shore, the ammunition wet, and no provisions, I
sent Captain Hood with a flag of truce to the governor, to say I
was prepared to burn the town; which I should immediately put in
force, if he approached one inch farther: and, at the same time, I
desired Captain Hood to say, it would be done with regret, as I had
no wish to injure the inhabitants; and that, if he would come to my
terms, I was ready to treat. These he readily agreed to: a copy of
which I have the honour to