t part of the coast. The sloop was shortly after joined by a small
squadron under Captain Luttrell, who had been cruizing to intercept two
Spanish register-ships, which had taken refuge under the strong fortress
of St. Fernando de Omoa. Dalrymple, Luttrell, and the chiefs of the
British bay-men resolved to attack this fort, which was the key of the
whole settlement of Honduras; and a motley force of log-wood-cutters,
sailors, soldiers, and volunteers proceeded against it. They had no
artillery available for the purpose, and therefore they resolved to
take the fort by surprise and assault. As they approached they were
discovered by the garrison, but the works were nevertheless carried by
escalade; and the garrison were so panic-stricken at the bold movement,
that the Spanish governor could not keep them to their guns. One
hundred escaped by flight, and the rest, amounting to five hundred men,
surrendered as prisoners of war. The assailants now made for the harbour
in search of the register-ships; and although the greater part of
the treasure had been removed to a place of safety, there was still a
galleon in the harbour, and an immense quantity of quicksilver, which,
with other objects that fell into the hands of the conquerors, were of
the estimated value of 3,000,000 dollars. The loss of the quicksilver
was severely felt by the Spaniards, and they offered to redeem it at
any price. They also made liberal offers for ransoming the fort; but the
captors, preferring the public good to private emolument, refused all
terms. At the same time they restored the plate found in the churches,
to procure the liberation of some logwood-cutters who had been taken
at George's Key. A garrison was left to defend Fort Omoa, but the
unhealthiness of the station led to its evacuation, and it was recovered
by the Spaniards. They found the guns spiked, however, and the works for
the most part demolished.

ACTION BETWEEN PAUL JONES AND CAPTAIN PEARSON.

One of the most active partisans in the American cause was the
celebrated Paul Jones. This man was a native of Scotland, and the son of
a gardener of Galloway. He had taken to the sea at a very early age,
and had finally settled in Virginia. At the breaking out of the war he
offered his services to congress, and a commission was given him,
under which he cruised among our West India Islands, where he made
many prizes. His nautical skill and his success were so great that he
acquired the