regular force on Bourbon at this time amounted to only 576 rank and file ; but there was an organized militia force of 2717 men

On the 6th, at 4 p.m., the expedition joined Captain Pym's squadron at the appointed rendezvous, about 50 miles to windward of Isle Bourbon ; and the Sirius, Iphigenia, and Magicienne received on board from the transports all the remaining European and a portion of the native troops, together with as many of their boats as might be required for landing the men. This done, the five frigates and transports, early on the morning of the 7th, bore away for the different points of debarkation. The first brigade, under the command of Lieutenant-colonel Fraser, was to land at Grande-Chaloupe, a spot about six miles to the southward and westward of the town of St.-Denis, the capital of the island ; while the second, third, and fourth brigades, under the respective commands of Lieutenant-colonel Keating, Campbell, and Drummond, were to land at Rivière des Pluies, about three miles to the eastward of the town. The first of these points was on the lee, the other on the weather side of the island.

While the main force drew the enemy's attention off Sainte-Marie, about two miles further to the eastward than Rivière des Pluies, Captain Pym, at 2 p.m., in the short space of about two hours and a half, effected the landing at Grande-Chaloupe, without opposition, of the whole of Colonel Fraser's brigade, consisting of 950 men, with some howitzers and the necessary ammunition. Owing to the able dispositions of Lieutenant John Wyatt Watling, second of the Sirius, who with a small detachment of seamen had charge of the beach, not an accident occurred to a single soldier, nor was any part of the ammunition injured. Lieutenant Watling, with his men, then kept possession, during the night, of a neighbouring height between the town of St.-Paul and Colonel Fraser's rear ; thereby preventing reinforcements being sent from St.-Paul's to St.-Dénis : he also drove in all the enemy's sharp-shooters, and took several cavalry horses.

The Boadicea, Iphigenia, Magicienne, and Néréide, when it was supposed that the first landing had been effected, pushed for an anchorage, and were followed by the transports as they arrived. The weather, which until now had been favourable, began to change. The beach on this side of the island, being steep and composed of large shingles, is generally of difficult access ; but Captain Willoughby having reported it practicable, a landing was attempted under this officer's direction. Embarking on board the prize-schooner Estafette, Captain Willoughby (with the dressings still on his wound, and after a night's exposure in an open boat) succeeded, with a small detachment of seamen and about 150 troops, in effecting a landing ; but not without having the schooner, which belonged to the Néréide's ship's company, dashed to pieces in the surf, together with several

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