truce was hauled down ; and at 6 h. 15 m. A.M. the British squadron commenced the action. As soon as the ships had fired about three broadsides each, Captain Brisbane, at the head of a portion of his crew, boarded and carried the Dutch frigate ; whereupon the Latona warped close alongside and took possession. Meanwhile a party of the Anson's men, headed by Captain Lydiard, had boarded and secured the Surinam.

This done, Captains Brisbane and Lydiard pulled straight for the shore, and, landing together, proceeded, at 7 h. 30 m. A.M., to storm Fort Amsterdam. The vigour of the assault was irresistible. Some of the British breaking open the sea-gate with their crowbars, while others escaladed the walls, the fort, although garrisoned by 275 regular troops, was carried in about ten minutes ; as, shortly afterwards, and with equal quickness and facility, were one or two minor forts, the citadel, and the town. On the return of Captains Brisbane and Lydiard to their respective ships, a fire was opened upon Fort République, which fire the fort might have silenced in half an hour ; and 300 seamen and marines were landed to attack it in the rear, which service they would have found a very difficult one to execute. By 10 A.M., however, or a little after, the British flag waved on the walls of Fort République ; and, by noon, the whole island of Curaçoa had capitulated to the British arms.

This unparalleled morning's work was achieved with no greater loss to the British, than two seamen killed and five wounded belonging to the Arethusa, one killed and two wounded belonging to the Latona, and seven wounded belonging to the Anson; total, three killed and 14 wounded ; and the only spar shot or carried away was the spritsail yard of the Arethusa. The loss on the part of the Dutch was much more severe. The Halstaar had her captain and two petty officers killed, and three others badly wounded ; the Surinam, one seaman killed, her commander (dangerously), one lieutenant, one midshipman, and one seaman wounded ; and the schooner Flying-Fish (Viligende-Vis) one killed and one wounded ; total, five killed and eight wounded, exclusive of the loss on shore, represented to have amounted, in killed and wounded together, to nearly 200 men. The Dutch ships were bravely defended ; and so probably would have been the forts, had not the hour and the suddenness of the attack completely scared the drowsy garrisons, and the occupation of the harbour by the enemy's ships prevented the junction of a considerable reinforcement which had assembled at Otra-Bandy.

The capture of a valuable Dutch colony, by four British frigates and their ships' companies, was an exploit of which even four British sail of the line, and a dozen transports with troops, might have been proud. Captain Brisbane, the planner and leader of the enterprise, was knighted by his sovereign, and all four captains received medals commemorative of the brilliant service they had performed. Nor were the most distinguished

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