1810	Light Squadrons and Single Ships	272

of the boats. Fortunately the only lives lost on the occasion were two soldiers, and two of the Néréide's seamen drowned, Lieutenant-colonel Keating considering it indispensable that a disembarkation should be effected on this most difficult side of the capital, a light transport brig, the Ulney, was run on shore as a breakwater ; but the stern cable parting, she formed only momentary cover for a few boats ; and it was found necessary, at the close of day, to relinquish, for the present, any further attempts to land at this point.

The small detachment on shore, having lost a great proportion of their arms, and had the whole of their ammunition spoiled, were now rather critically circumstanced ; especially as, on account of the bad state of the weather, no boat could push off to communicate with the squadron. At length, a gallant young officer of the army, Lieutenant Foulstone, who was on board the Boadicea, volunteered to swim through the surf and convey to Lieutenant-colonel Macleod, the commanding officer of the detachment, Colonel Keating's orders. He did so ; and the lieutenant-colonel took quiet possession of, and occupied for the night, the fort of Sainté-Marie.

On the morning of the 8th, the beach still appearing unfavourable, the Boadicea, leaving behind the Iphigenia and transports, proceeded to Grande-Chaloupe; where, at about 11 a.m.. Colonel Keating and the troops in the Boadicea disembarked, In the course of the day Captain Lambert succeeded in landing the troops from the Iphigenia and transports ; but, in the mean time, after an outpost had been assaulted and carried by a detachment from Colonel Fraser's brigade, the French commanding officer on the island, Colonel St.-Susaune, had requested suspension of arms. This was agreed to, and at 6 P.M. the capitulation was signed, and Isle Bourbon became a British possession ; that, too, with so slight a loss as one subaltern, one sergeant, and six rank and file killed, two rank and file and two seamen drowned, and one major (T. Edwards, of the 86th), seven subalterns, two sergeants, two drummers, 66 rank and file, and one seaman wounded ; total, 22 killed and drowned, and wounded. On the 9th Mr. Farquhar landed from the Boadicea, and, as had been previously arranged, assumed the government of the conquered island.

A part of the duty of the Sirius frigate was to take possession of the shipping in the bay of St.-Paul. Observing a brig getting ready to sail, Captain Pym, at 11 p.m. on the 9th, despatched the barge under the orders of Lieutenant George R. Norman, to endeavour to bring the vessel out, or to cut her off should she attempt to escape. Finding, by boarding the other vessels in the bay, that the brig had sailed since 9 p.m., Lieutenant Normal pushed on, and, after a hard row of nearly 12 hours, overtook, boarded, and, with three men slightly wounded, carried in a most gallant manner, the Edward privateer, of Nantes, pierced for 16

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