to detach a small force, with the view of attemp possession of them, in conjunction with the squa the command of Sir Home Popham.

In forming this determination, I am perfectly an both the Commodore and myself have taken upon a high responsibility; but the great importance of in a national point of view, will I trust bear us out, cuse us to his Majesty for undertaking a servic having previously received his special and graci mands.

The weak and defenceless state of the enemy held forth to me a very strong temptation: but ground alone, I should not be justified in the ster taken.

The possession of a settlement on the coast of Son** rica, I consider pregnant with incalculable advantage to our nation at large, as to this colony in part and I need not point out to your lordship the peculiar. to be derived from its opening in our hands, a new a fitable channel for the exportation of our home manufact which it has been so much the study and wish of the p French government to obstruct and diminish.

The certainty that Admiral Willeaumez had prosec his voyage to India, and cannot for some months make attempt to interrupt the tranquillity of this colony, co with the increasing strength and discipline of the Cap ment, was an additional argument with me for ventum. spare a part of the forces under my orders on a distant... prise.

It is, I believe, the intention of Sir Home Popham, the successful termination of this undertaking, to himself to England; I therefore beg to refer your Lo to him for a more circumstantial detail of the intellige motives, and circumstances, which guided our resolutio

As I deemed it very essential on every account, tha command of the detachment should be intrusted to an ol of rank, and of fried ability, judgment, and zeal, I ded to select Brigadier-General Beresford, whom I h to possess those several qualifications in an eminent degre

General Anker, of his Danish Majesty's service, and late the governor of Tranquebar, undertakes to hand this dispatch to your Lordship. As he is perfectly the Englishman, I have had no hesitation in acquainting him with General Beresford's destination, and I take the liberty of recommending him as a most respectable gentleman to your Lordship's acquaintance and attention.

Inclosure (No. 2.) in XVIII.-Copy of a Letter from MajorGeneral Sir DAVID BAIRD, to Right Hon. Lord CASTLEREAGH, dated May 5th, 1806.

MY LORD,

Cape Town, 5th May, 1806.

I HAVE the honour to acquaint your Lordship, that the Cannonier French frigate, formerly his Majesty's ship Minerva stranded near Cherbourg at the commencement of the present war, being ignorant of our having possession of this colony, anchored in Simon's Bay on the 30th ult. and sent a Lieutenant on shore, who, with his boat and his crew, was captured by a party of the garrison disguised and stationed at the beach for that purpose.

As soon as this was done and the frigate had furled all her sails, Major Tucker, the senior officer at Simon's Town, directed the British colours to be hoisted, and the batteries to fire upon her with red-hot shot unfortunately she had cautiously anchored at such a distance from the shore, that only one or two guns could bear upon her with effect. The fire, however, from these was sufficient to make her cut and put to sea again with the greatest precipitation, leaving two anchors and cables behind. Had she luckily approached a little nearer, there is reason to think, if she had not been set fire to, or compelled to strike, she would have sustained considerable damage, as the guns, howitzers, and mortars, I have lately mounted for the defence of Simon's

Town, could have opened, from various points, heavy and destructive fire upon her.

I learn from the Lieutenant and boat's crew, that the Cannonier sailed from Cherbourg, on the 13th of November last, for the Isle of France, and from the latter place for this, with dispatches for General Jansens, a few weeks ago, leaving there the Piedmontese and Servillante French frigates. On her passage hither she fell in with a British convoy of 13 sail, and engaged the man of war in charge of it, whom she supposed to be a 74, for nearly two hours; and after having four men killed and twelve wounded, escaped, in consequence of having shot away her antagonist's mizen top-mast.

I am induced to think this frigate will proceed to Europe, and sincerely hope some one of our cruisers will be fortunate enough to intercept her. Neither during her passage out, nor from the Isle of France to this place, did she make any capture except a small Swede; and she is the same ship the Raisonable, Captain Rowley, chased and nearly captured about three months ago off Cape L'Aquillas.

I have further to inform your Lordship, that the brig Fortuna, under Mecklenburg colours, arrived in Table Bay a few days ago, bound to this place and Batavia. For the reasons contained in the statement I have the honour herewith to forward to your Lordship, I have felt it my duty to detain this vessel; and her cargo being principally of a perishable nature, I have ordered it to be landed and sold.

Copies of the Fortuna's papers are transmitted by this opportunity to his Majesty's Court of Admiralty for adjudication, together with a detailed account of all the circumstances relating to her, supported by the necessary affidavits. Should the vessel and cargo, or either, be condemned, I request your Lordship will humbly solicit his Majesty in my name to be graciously pleased to bestow them as a prize to his land troops now serving here, no vessel of war of any description being present, and a party from this garrison having boarded and taken possession of the Fortuna in very tempestuous weather at the hazard of their lives.

The dispatches brought by this vessel from the Batavian government are not of much importance. I should otherwise

requested you to adopt, in co-operation with Sir David Baird and myself, for the public good.

I have no doubt but your Excellency is aware that, during the last war, preparatory steps were taken at St. Helena for a similar attempt on the possessions of the enemy in Rio de la Plata, by the forces from your government; and though the various motives of policy which then existed for the execution of such an enterprise do not appear to me to be in any degree lessened, yet the manufacturing towns in England have, from the posture of affairs on the Continent, an additional claim to the energies of all Officers, who have the means of opening any new channel for the consumption of their goods.

Under these considerations, and the strong expressions of zeal conveyed in your Letter of the 27th November, 1805, founded, I presume, on ample authority from the Court of Direc tors, do I rest my confidence that you will give every military aid to this expedition that you possibly can, consistently with the safety of the island under your government.

I trust that, in a few hours after you receive this, I shall have the honour of presenting General Beresford to your acquaintance; and I have no doubt that when the object of this expedition is promulgated in the island, your greatest difficul ty will be resisting the voluntary offers of the troops-for, however popular this enterprise may be in England for all its commercial relations, nothing could exceed the anxiety which was testified by every soldier at the Cape to be employed on it, when its destination was first made public.

I have, &c.

Hon. R. Patton, &c. &c. &c. ̧

HOME POPHAM.

Inclosure (No. 2.) in XVI.-Copy of a Letter from the Governor of St. Helena to Sir HOME POPHAM, dated 1st May 1806.

To his Excellency Sir HOME POPHAM, K.M.

SIR,

&c. &c. &c.

IN consequence of your letters to me, dated the 13th and 23d April, applying for the co-operation of this government