CONTAINS AN ACCOUNT OF THE TRADE OF THE ISLAND, PREVIOUS TO THE
REDUCTION THEREOF BY THE FRENCH LAST WAR, WITH A RELATION OF
THAT CIRCUMSTANCE; TOGETHER WITH THE ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION
BY WHICH IT SURRENDERED.
During the space of the last five years, prior to the breaking out
of the disturbances in North America, the island of Dominica was in
a very flourishing situation. The port of Roseau, which was then a
free port, was resorted to by traders from most of the foreign West
India islands, as well as from England and North America.
The French and Spaniards purchased in this island great numbers of
negroes for the supply of their settlements, together with great
quantities of merchandize of the manufactures of Great Britain.
These they paid for in gold and silver, or gave in exchange
Muscovada and clayed sugar, coffee, cotton, gums, spices, ivory,
mahogany, and dying-woods, the produce of their islands; all of
which articles were exported to Great Britain in English bottoms;
and thereby were productive of great advantages to the trade and
navigation of the mother country.
The Americans imported thither lumber, boards, shingles,
wood-hoops, staves, tobacco, flour, rice, salt-fish, horses,
cattle, sheep, hogs, and feathered stock, the produce of North
America. These were necessary articles for the new settlers, who
paid for them in rum and molasses; or such other produce of the
island as was at that time permitted to be exported in American
vessels from the British West Indies.
The merchants of Dominica were then numerous, and were enabled to
make regular yearly remittances, of considerable value, to their
correspondents in England; and the planters of the country were
furnished with the means of carrying on the settlement of their
plantations with vigour.
Soon after the commencement of hostilities in America, and directly
on the adoption of measures by the Americans by way of reprisal,
the trade of Dominica to and with America was finally ended, and
drew with it the loss of that, with the foreign West India islands.
This total ruin of trade was attended with serious consequences,
fatal to the welfare of this island in particular, as being then
only in a state of infancy with respect to its settlement; and
it has never since been able to recover its former flourishing
situation: for the merchants, tradesmen, and others, having no
sale for their commodities, or work in their line of business,
withdrew themselves to places where trade and commerce were
more brisk; and the planters, from being deprived of the means
of furnishing themselves with such articles as were immediately
necessary for their new estates, were driven to abandon, or to
postpone the further improvement of them.
In this deplorable state was the island of Dominica when it fell
into the hands of the French on the 7th day of September, 1778.
Some months previous to this calamitous event his Excellency,
Thomas Shirley, Esq. then Commander in chief of the island,
knowing the defenceless state it was in, and being apprehensive
it would be attacked, in case of a rupture with France, which was
then threatened, employed a number of men for the defence of fort
Cashacrou; distributed the few soldiers then in garrison into such
places as were thought necessary, and took every precaution in his
power to prevent a sudden attack.
Fort Cashacrou, at that time the chief place of defence in
the island, is situated on a rock of about three hundred feet
perpendicular, and is surrounded on three sides by the sea, being
joined to the main land by only a narrow neck of land, which
renders it so very defensible, that if well provided, a few men
might keep it against as many thousands.
This measure, therefore, of Governor Shirley, who guarded this
fort, reflects great credit upon him; and the consequences which
happened soon after he quitted that government, from not pursuing
his plan, is a lasting proof of his abilities.
About three weeks before the attack, a report prevailing that
hostilities between England and France were actually commenced in
Europe, some attempts were made to put the island into a posture
of defence. The soldiers, of whom there were only ninety-four,
inclusive of officers, were stationed at the forts in and above
Roseau, and a few of them at Cashacrou; the militia mounted guard
in that town, and patrolled the streets every night till daylight,
and every step, that seemed necessary, was taken to prevent a
surprize.
Saturday, the fifth day of September, that year, was the day of
meeting for the militia to perform their exercise in the field; and
it was remarked, that they went through their evolutions with a
degree of celerity, nearly equal to regular troops.
Among the spectators in the field, on this occasion, were several
French strangers from the island of Martinique, and among them
was an officer of that nation of the name of Gabrouse, who was
afterwards harbour-master of the port of Roseau. These strangers
were in quality of visitants to some of their acquaintances in
the island; but their business was, in fact, to see what state
the place was in, and to engage the non-resistance of the French
inhabitants against the then meditated attack, as it appeared
afterwards by the public boast of the said Gabrouse. However, in
consequence of some intimation to the Lieutenant-governor, that
officer was taken up as a spy; but after a slight examination
he was suffered to depart; and the report of his being in that
capacity was treated with unmerited contempt.
It is worth while remarking in this place, that there seems to have
been a degree of fatality attending this island at that particular
period, as, exclusive of the men placed by Governor Shirley at
fort Cashacrou, being discharged from that service soon after his
departure for England, some months before the invasion, every
method was taken that could be thought of to guard against that
event; and it was the determination of the English inhabitants,
that should the island fall into the hands of the enemy, it should
not be owing to their want of attention, or endeavours to prevent
it.
But it so happened, and probably for wise purposes of Providence,
as there is hardly a doubt but that the lives of many by that means
were preserved, which would otherwise have been lost in the defence
they certainly would have made, had they had timely notice to
prepare for opposing the invading enemy.
This neglect of theirs was never so very conspicuous as on the
last two days before the attack; for on the preceding Saturday,
most of them were that evening at a public comedy acted in Roseau;
and on Sunday evening, when the militia guard were composed of
the chief civil officers and principal inhabitants, who turned out
volunteers in that service; being unused to the hardships attending
patrolling the streets all night, and watching to give notice of
approaching danger, they preferred the more inviting enjoyments of
diversions and good cheer in the guard-room; where, overcome by
these amusements, between two and three o’clock in the morning they
all retired to their own homes, wholly unapprehensive of further
danger for that time.
This same evening, some ill-disposed French inhabitants found means
to insinuate themselves into Cashacrou fort, where they contrived
to make the few soldiers there on duty intoxicated with liquor,
and afterwards filled up the touch-holes of the cannon with sand;
so that when it was stormed by the French the next morning it was
easily taken, and two of the English soldiers paid dearly, the
consequence of their great imprudence, by the loss of their lives;
being driven, with fixed bayonets, over the ramparts of the fort,
and dashed to pieces by the rocks at the foot of it.
The enemy began the attack between three and four o’clock in the
morning of Monday, the seventh of September that year; but they
had intended to have made their invasion much earlier, having set
out on the expedition from Martinique between the same hours the
preceding evening, but were detained by calm weather in the channel
between the two islands.
This was a very providential event for the English inhabitants of
Dominica, as there is every reason to believe, that had the attack
been made an hour sooner than it was, many of them would have been
massacred in their beds; if not by the French soldiers, there
was every probability to apprehend it would have been done by a
lawless banditti, composed of renegado white men, negros, mulattos,
and the outcasts of society from several French and other foreign
islands; who, with large knives and pistols stuck in their belts,
were prepared for the perpetration of every species of rapine,
barbarity, and murder. These wretches, upwards of one thousand in
number, were obliged to be satisfied for their failure of plunder
on this occasion, by a contribution laid on the inhabitants by the
Marquis de Bouillé, of four thousand four hundred pounds current
money, which was distributed among them a few days after the
surrender of the island.
After the enemy were in possession of Cashacrou fort, in the manner
before noticed, the major part of their forces being still at sea,
those that were landed either judging it imprudent to advance to
Roseau, or being satisfied with their then success, they fired
off two guns from that fort, and let off several sky-rockets, as
signals to their friends. This was likewise the first notice the
inhabitants had of the attack, which was immediately announced, by
firing an alarm gun, and beating to arms in the town.
Then was to be seen, visibly, the most poignant distress: the
helpless women and children running, shrieking and crying through
the streets; some of the women with their infants in their arms,
others with such things of value as they could carry; the negroes
terrified, running here and there,--all was, for a time, confusion,
hurry, dread, and dismay, none knowing where to fly for safety from
the invading enemy.
The situation of the white women and their children was, at that
time particularly, pitiable; for, deprived of the protection of
their husbands and fathers, who were obliged to leave them to
go into the forts in defence of the country, they were left to
the mercy and care of their slaves, to wade through rapid rivers,
exposed to the inclemency of the weather, which happened then to
be rainy; and in their way to a place of safety, encountering
such difficulties as were hard to be endured by the sex. Their
distresses were truly affecting, several of them died a short time
after, from the fatigues they that day went through.
The militia in the town and suburbs of Roseau were soon in the
field, to the number of not more than a hundred in the whole; few
of the French inhabitants assembling at the first, and those that
made their appearance soon after withdrew themselves, and were
no more seen, till after the island was surrendered. The militia
were distributed among the different forts in and above the town;
where, with the assistance of the few soldiers, some of whom were
of the artillery, they greatly incommoded the enemy while landing
at point Michael, by firing from all the batteries which they
occupied.
These were, however, in a very bad state; the gun-carriages were
all rotten, so that after two or three discharges the wheels were
broken to pieces. The cannon in Melville’s battery especially,
where the most execution was done, being in that situation, were
afterwards obliged to be laid on the parapets, there loaded, and
fired off. Besides, in this fort they were obliged to load the
cannon with loose powder, there being none of it made up into
cartridges; and the cartridges that were used there were fetched
by the militia from fort Young, which is upwards of half a mile
distant from the other. Nevertheless, what with the firing from
this fort, and from two field-pieces on a point of land just under
it, the French troops were greatly retarded when they endeavoured
to attack Roseau, and upwards of forty of them were killed.
About noon the same morning, the whole of the enemy were landed,
and pushed on their march for the town; when, having taken
possession of the fort at Loubiere, which is adjoining thereto,
they made several attempts to enter Roseau, but were as often
driven back, by the very heavy firing then kept up from all the
batteries.
Three times they were driven out of the fort at Loubiere, and twice
when their colours were hoisted therein, the flag-staves were
shattered to pieces by the balls from Melville’s battery: their
Commissary-general was killed there, and the Marquis de Bouillé
very narrowly escaped sharing the same fate, by the pieces of the
flag-staves, which tore away the couteau from his side.
This severe cannonading so greatly intimidated the French, that
they evacuated the fort they had taken with much precipitation,
and retreated to the side of a hill just opposite to it, out of
the line of fire. There they remained a considerable time, as if
to meditate on some other mode of attack; but shortly after, about
two thousand of them gained possession of the heights above Roseau,
where they seemed to wait the coming on of night, to make their
further approaches.
This last circumstance determined the fate of the island; as the
Lieutenant-governor, seeing the danger to which the small force
he had would inevitably be exposed by a further resistance, he,
with the advice of his Privy-council, then assembled at the
Government-house, sent out a Flag of Truce to the Marquis de
Bouillé, with offers to surrender the island by capitulation.
This offer was readily accepted, and the Marquis, under protection
of the Truce, came with it to the Government-house, in order
to grant his terms, and to sign his part of the Articles of
Capitulation. While this was doing, the firing from the batteries
ceased, which gave two French frigates an opportunity of coming
abreast of Roseau; when the Commanders of them, it is probable, not
knowing that the island had surrendered, seeing the English colours
still flying, with those of the French under them on the same
staff, they fired some broadsides into the town.
This unexpected salute exasperating the militia, they immediately
returned it with a forty-two pound cannon-ball, which, however,
fell wide of its mark, the gun, in the hurry they were in to shew
their resentment at so flagrant a breach, as they supposed, of
the Truce, being ill-pointed. This the militia were soon ready to
rectify, by pointing another gun of the same metal point blank
on one of the frigates, to which it would, doubtless, have done
considerable damage; but just as the match was going to be put to
the touch-hole, the Marquis, with the Lieutenant-governor, came
running into the fort, and begged them to desist; at the same time,
hailing the frigates from the ramparts, acquainted their Commanders
with the surrender of the place.
Matters being thus accommodated, the two Commanders in Chief
returned to the Government-house, where the Articles of
Capitulation being ready, were, by both of them, duly signed and
concluded. This being done, the Marquis returned to his troops; and
soon after marched them into Roseau, thereby taking possession of
the country for his most Christian Majesty.
It is worth while noticing here, the ceremonies used on this
occasion, as it is to be hoped they may never again happen in
Dominica. The French troops marched into the town in most regular
and solemn order, the drums beating a slow march, and the French
soldiers, with small boughs and flowers in their hats by way of
laurels, with assumed fierce countenances as they came by our small
force, seemed to threaten it with instant dissolution. The English
soldiers and inhabitants, with two field pieces in their front,
and lighted matches, their muskets grounded, and standing in two
divisions, the regulars on the right, the militia on the left. The
latter were permitted to take up their arms, and to retire with
them to their houses, amidst an almost lawless troop of ruffians,
by whom they had to pass; and who, with curses and reproaches for
being disappointed of plundering and murdering the inhabitants,
still threatened them, if they were not satisfied. The English
soldiers left their arms grounded, and retired to a place appointed
for them by the Lieutenant-governor; and the next day were sent off
the island, agreeably to the Articles of Capitulation, which are as
follows:
ARTICLES OF CAPITULATION,
_Between the Marquis de Bouillé, General of the Windward West
India Islands, belonging to his most Christian Majesty, and
Governor Stuart, Commander in Chief and the Inhabitants of the
Island of Dominica, belonging to his Britannic Majesty._
ARTICLE I.
That we the Governor, chief officers, officers of the troops, and
soldiers, shall go out with one mortar, two brass field pieces, and
ten charges for each piece, with arms, baggage, and all the honours
of war.
Granted, that the garrison go out with all the honours of war; but
afterwards to ground their arms, except the officers.
ARTICLE II.
That the regular troops, consisting of six officers and ninety-four
men, including non-commissioned officers, soldiers, and cannoniers,
be transported to England, by the shortest route, in a good vessel,
with victuals for the voyage, or remain here on their parole.
Granted, on condition that they serve not against the King of
France till they are exchanged; the officers to remain here on
their parole, but not the soldiers.
ARTICLE III.
That the officers and others shall have liberty to take with them
their wives and children to the English islands by the shortest
route; and that they shall be provided with a good vessel, and
victuals for the voyage.
Granted.
ARTICLE IV.
The inhabitants of the island shall retire from their ports with
all the honours of war, that is to say, with two brass field
pieces, their arms and baggage, colours flying, drums beating, and
lighted match.
Granted.
ARTICLE V.
The inhabitants of the island shall retain their civil government,
laws, customs, and ordinances; justice shall be administered by the
same persons who are now in actual charge thereof: and as to what
regards the interior policy of the island, it is to be arranged
between his most Christian Majesty’s Governor and the inhabitants:
and in case the island shall be ceded to the King of France at the
peace, the inhabitants shall have their choice, to keep their own
political government, or to accept that established in Martinique
and the other French islands.
Granted, till the peace.
ARTICLE VI.
The inhabitants and their religious ministers shall be maintained
in the possession of their estates, enjoy their possessions,
moveable and immoveable, of what nature soever they may be; they
shall be maintained and conserved in their privileges, rights,
honours, and exemptions; and the free negroes and mulattos in their
liberties.
Granted.
ARTICLE VII.
They shall pay no other duties to his most Christian Majesty,
than what they paid to his Britannic Majesty, nor other duties or
imposts. The expences for administration of justice, the salaries
of ministers, and other ordinary expences, to be paid out of the
revenues of his most Christian Majesty, as during the government of
his Britannic Majesty.
Granted; but the inhabitants of Dominica, for the liberty of
exporting their produce, must pay the office of the Domains the
same duties that the inhabitants pay in the French islands, or in
Europe; but the expences for administration of justice are to be
paid by the colony.
ARTICLE VIII.
The slaves, baggage, merchandize, and all other things made prizes
of during the attack of the island, shall be restored.
Granted; they shall be faithfully restored.
ARTICLE IX.
The inhabitants who are absent, and those in the service of his
Britannic Majesty, shall be maintained in their possessions, and
enjoy their goods, by virtue of their proper attornies.
Granted.
ARTICLE X.
The inhabitants shall not be obliged to furnish lodgings, or
any other matters, for the troops, nor slaves to work on the
fortifications.
There are cases of necessity that will admit of no exceptions; but
in common cases the troops shall be lodged at the expence of the
King, in the houses which belong to him.
ARTICLE XI.
The ships, brigs, schooners, and other vessels, belonging to the
inhabitants of the island, shall remain the property of their
owners.
Granted; but English vessels from Europe shall be delivered up with
fidelity to the King’s navy.
ARTICLE XII.
The widows and other inhabitants, who, by sickness, absence, or
other obstacles, are prevented from signing the Capitulation at
present, shall have a limited time allowed them for doing the same.
Granted.
ARTICLE XIII.
The inhabitants and merchants of the island, who are comprized
in this present Capitulation, shall enjoy all the privileges of
commerce, on the same conditions as are allowed to the subjects of
his most Christian Majesty in all his dominions.
Granted.
ARTICLE XIV.
The inhabitants shall enjoy their religion, and their ministers
shall enjoy their cures.
Granted.
ARTICLE XV.
The inhabitants shall observe a strict neutrality, and shall not be
forced to take up arms against his Britannic Majesty, nor against
any other power.
Granted; but the French-born subjects shall be at liberty to serve
the King of France; and in case Dominica should return to the power
of England, those who do not chuse to serve, shall not be punished
by the French government.
ARTICLE XVI.
All the prisoners taken during the attack of the island shall be
restored.
Granted.
ARTICLE XVII.
The merchants of the island may receive any vessels, that shall be
addressed to them, from any part of the world, without being liable
to confiscation,--dispose of their merchandize, and carry on their
commerce; and the port shall be free for that purpose, they paying
the ordinary duties paid in the French islands.
Granted, till the peace, English vessels only excepted.
ARTICLE XVIII.
The inhabitants shall keep their arms.
Granted, on condition that they serve not against the King of
France.
ARTICLE XIX.
That none other, except the actual residents of the island, shall
be possessed of houses or lands, by purchase, or otherwise, till
the peace; but after the peace, in case the island shall be ceded
to the King of France, such inhabitants as do not chuse to live
under the French government, shall be at liberty to dispose of
their possessions and goods, moveable and immoveable, to whom they
please, and to retire where they think proper; for which purpose
they shall have a reasonable time allowed them.
Granted.
ARTICLE XX.
The inhabitants of the island may send their children to England to
receive their education, to return hither, and to be supplied with
necessaries during their stay in England.
Granted.
ARTICLE XXI.
The inhabitants may dispose of their goods and possessions to whom
they think proper.
Granted.
ARTICLE XXII.
That the Court of Chancery shall be held by the Members of the
Council, in the same form it is at present; and that appeals from
the said Court shall be made of course in England, in the same
manner as heretofore.
Granted.
ARTICLE XXIII.
That the wives of the officers and others, on leaving the island,
may retire with their effects, and a number of domestics suitable
to their rank.
Granted.
ARTICLE XXIV.
The persons belonging to privateers, and those who have no property
in the island, who do not chuse to remain in it, shall have a
vessel to carry them to the English islands, and be furnished with
provisions for the voyage.
Granted, during the space of six weeks.
ARTICLE XXV.
DEMANDED BY THE FRENCH GENERAL.
There shall be delivered up to the General of the French troops,
all the artillery and other effects in the colony, belonging to
the King of England; all the batteries on the coasts shall be
restored to the same state they were in before the attack of the
island; all the small arms, which belong to the King of England,
shall be restored, except those of the officers and militia; no
powder shall be taken from the magazines; they shall be delivered
into the hands of such persons as shall be appointed by the Marquis
de Bouillé.
Granted, by Governor Stuart; the preceding Articles being granted
by the Marquis de Bouillé.
ARTICLE XXVI.
DEMANDED BY THE FRENCH GENERAL.
The magazines of provisions, and other effects, belonging to the
King of England, shall be delivered up to the Commissary employed
in the colony.
Granted by Governor Stuart.
ARTICLE XXVII.
OTHER ARTICLE DEMANDED BY THE FRENCH GENERAL.
Governor Stuart shall deliver up to-morrow, the 8th of September,
1778, the posts at Prince Rupert’s Bay, after the Capitulation
is signed. Fort Young shall be delivered directly into the hands
of the first company of grenadiers; the forts and batteries of
the town shall be delivered up at the same time, and all other
fortresses of the colony, as soon as it possibly can be done.
Granted by Governor Stuart.
We the Governor-general of the French Windward islands in America,
for his most Christian Majesty the King of France; and the
Lieutenant-governor and Commander in Chief of Dominica, for his
Britannic Majesty, the King of England, do ratify these Articles
of Capitulation in twenty-seven Articles as above, and oblige
ourselves reciprocally to abide by the same.
Done in two parts at Roseau, Dominica. Signed and sealed with
our seals at arms; and countersigned by our Secretaries, this
7th day of September, 1778,
(Signed)
_De Bouillé_ and _William Stuart_.
And underneath by the General _Doublé_.
And by the Lieut. Governor _Hawkes_.