1809	Capture Of St.-Paul's, Isle Bourbon	197

Accordingly, on the 16th of September, a detachment of 368 officers and men embarked at Fort Duncan, island of Rodriguez, on board the 12-pounder 36-gun frigate Néréide, Captain Robert Corbett, 18-gun ship-sloop Otter, Captain Nisbet Josiah Willoughby, and the honourable company's armed schooner Wasp, Lieutenant Watkins ; and, on the evening of the 18th joined, off Port-Louis, Isle of France, besides the Raisonable, the 18-pounder 36-gun frigate Sirius, Captain Samuel Pym, and 38-gun frigate Boadicea, Captain John Hatley. Early on the following morning 100 seamen from the Raisonable and Otter, and the marines of the squadron, 136 in number, forming, along with the troops, a total of 604 officers and men, were put on board the Néréide ; Captain Corbett's perfect acquaintance with the coast rendering him the fittest person to undertake the important service of landing the detachment. Thus prepared, the squadron, in the evening, stood towards Bourbon, and early on the following morning, the 20th, arrived off the east end of the island,

On approaching the bay of St.-Paul, the Néréide, to prevent suspicion, preceded the other ships ; and, on the 21st, at 5 a.m., having anchored close to the beach, the frigate disembarked the troops, without causing any alarm, a little to the southward of Pointe du Galet, distant about seven miles from St.-Paul. The troops and marines, commanded by Colonel Keating, and the detachment of seamen by Captain Willoughby, immediately commenced a forced march, with the view of crossing the causeways that extend over the lake, before the French could discover their approach. This important object the British fully accomplished ; nor had the French time to form in any force until after Colonel Keating and his party had passed the strongest position.

By 7 a.m. the troops were in possession of the first and second batteries (Lambousière and la Centière), and immediately Captain Willoughby, with his detachment of seamen, turned the guns of those batteries upon the shipping ; from whose fire, which was chiefly grape, and well directed, within pistol-shot of the shore, the troops suffered much. From the battery of la Centière, a detachment marched and took quiet possession of the third battery, or that of la Neuf ; having previously defeated the islanders in a smart skirmish. The enemy having been reinforced from the hills, and having also received 110 troops of the line from the Caroline frigate, the guns of the first and second batteries were now spiked, and the seamen sent to man the battery of la Neuf; which soon opened its fire upon the Caroline and her consorts. The fourth and fifth batteries shared the fate of the others ; and by 8 h. 30 m, a.m., the town, batteries, magazines, eight field-pieces, 117 new and heavy guns of different calibers, and all the public stores, with several prisoners, were in

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