N. B. No return has yet been received from the commissary sent to Gaspar Grande, to take an account of the engineer stores deposited in that island, but it is understood there are, amongst other articles, intrenching tools sufficient for 500 men.

(Signed)

CHARLES SHIPLEY, major and commandant

royal engineers, Windward and Leeward
Islands.

Return of ordnance, ammunition and stores, captured on the island of
Trinidad, Feb. 18, 1797.
Brass ordnance.

2 Twenty-six pounders, dismounted.

6 Twenty-six pounders, 4 twenty-four pounders, 9 sixteen pounders, 6 twelve pounders, on travelling carriages.

3 Sixteen pounders, dismounted.

11 Four pounders, on travelling carriages, with limbers.
2 Four pounders, on garrison carriages.

6 Twelve-inch mortars on brass beds.

Iron ordnance.

10 Sixteen pounders, dismounted.

4 Twelve pounders, on travelling carriages.
4 Short twelve pounders, on garrison carriages,
2 Six pounders, dismounted.

7 Six pounders, on garrison carriages.

13 Four pounders, on ditto.

6 Four pounders, dismounted.

Loose round shot.

1,698 Twenty-six pounders.

2,799 Twenty-four pounders.

200 Eighteen pounders. 4,240 Sixteen pounders. . 1,240 Twelve pounders. 450 Ten pounders. 220 Eight pounders. 1,082 Six pounders. 5,092 Four pounders. 200 Three pounders.

125 Six pounders, double headed. 43 Four pounders, double headed, 54 Six pounders, in tin cases. 50,000 Loose iron balls, 1lb. each.

18,600 Ditto, 4 oz. each.

1,067 Twelve-inch shells, empty.

Canvas cartridges, filled with powder.

195 Twenty-four pounders.

193 Sixteen pounders.

201 Twelve pounders.

480 Six pounders.

143 Four pounders.

258 Twenty-four pounders, empty,

65 Whole

85 Whole barrels of powder, H. H. of 100lbs. each.
6 Half barrels of ditto.

5,883 Pounds of powder, in cases, in No. 39.j

70,800 Musquet cartridges, in barrels, C. H. 7,718 Ditto, in boxes.

Spare travelling carriages.

2 Twenty-six pounders.

11 Sixteen-pounders.

2 Twelvé-pounders.

3,225 Musquets, with steel ramrods and bayonets.

142,000 Musquet flints.

30 Cwt. slow match.

108 Cartouch boxes, with slings.

400 Spades, with helves.

400 Hoes, with ditto.

200 Felling axes, with ditto.

100 Pikes, with ditto.

100 Pickaxes, with ditto.

400 Hand-bills.

62 Covers of leather for musquet locks.

9,436 lbs. of lead, in pigs.

With a suitable proportion of side-arms and small articles in the ordnance department.

N. B. 2 iron six-pounders; 138 cartouch boxes, with slings; 298 scabbards, with bayonets; 118 thirteen-inch fuzees; 1420 tubes; and 227 portfires, unserviceable, and not included.

Note. The sixteen-pounder brass guns are the exact dimensions of English eighteen-pounders.

(Signed)

JOHN SMITH, major, cornmanding royal artillery,
Windward and Leeward Islands.

Return of provisions found in the stores in the island of Trinidad, delivered over to me by the commissary (or contador) in the service of the king of Spain.

632 Whole barrels of American flour.

with a view to that colony, and to the Spanish squadron which had been there for some time past, the troops intended for this expedition from Martinique were accordingly embarked in the ships of war, and transports, and I sailed from Fort Royal Bay, the 12th instant, with the ships and vessels of his majesty's squadron under my command, as per margin*. Lieutenant-general sir Ralph Abercromby embarked with me in the Prince of Wales.

The Invincible had previously sailed for Barbadoes, with two transports to embark a part of the 14th regiment, and the Thorn and Zebra were ordered to receive the detachment from Tobago. The Favourite was sent to St. Vincent to collect some troops from that island, and the whole were ordered to rendezvous at the island of Cariacou, one of the Grenadines, on or before the 13th; and on my arrival at that island, the 14th, I found all the ships and transports were assembled.

On the 15th in the morning, I sailed with the squadron and transports, passing between Cariacou and Grenada; and on the 16th arrived off Trinidad, and stood toward the Gulf of Paria, when having passed through the great Bocas channel, at half past three in the afternoon, the Spanish squadron were discovered at anchor in Shagaramus Bay, consisting of four sail of the line, under the flag of a rear-admiral, and one frigate.

As the day was well advanced before I approached the bay, and the enemy appeared in strength on Gasparaux island, which commanded the anchorage, by batteries erected for that purpose, I ordered the Arethusa, Thorn, and Zebra, to

proceed a little farther up the gulf, and anchor with all the transports, The Alarm, Favourite, and Victorieuse were ordered to keep under sail above the transports during the night, and prevent any vessel sailing from Port Espagne.

In the evening, just before dark, I anchored with the ships of the line in order of battle, opposite the enemy's squadron, within randomshot of their ships and batteries, and in constaut readiness to prevent their escape during the night, which I suspected they might attempt, as all their 'sails were bent, and they appeared perfectly ready for sailing.

At two o'clock in the morning of the 17th we discovered one of their ships on fire, and soon after three others, all of which burnt with great fury until near day-light, when they were entirely consumed. One of them having escaped the conflagration, the boats were sent from the squadron, and she was brought out without having received any damage.

I have great satisfaction in ac quainting their lordships, that this squadron of the enemy, commanded by rear-admiral Don Sebastian Ruiz de Apodaca, were destroyed or captured according to the list I herewith enclose; and although this service was effected without any other act on the part of his majesty's squadron under my command, than being placed in such a situation as to prevent their escape, I am fully convinced that had they remained at their anchorage until next day, the officers and men whom I have the honour to com mand, would have completed, by their exertion and zeal, the capture of the whole, notwithstanding the advantage of their situation, under

Prince of Wales, Bellona, Vengeance, Scipio, Favourite, Zephyr, Terror bomb.

the

by the Favourite sloop, about three Your most obedient humble servant, miles from the town, without opHENRY HARyey.

List of ships of war burnt and captured in Shagaramus Bay, in the Gulf of Paria, February 17, 1797, by the squadron under the command of rear-admiral Harvey.

SR. A. Don Sebastian Ruiz de Apodaca,
Captain Don Geronimo Mendoza,

74 Don Gabriel Sorondo,

74 Don Raphael Benasa,

74 Don Toref Jordan,-captured.
36 Don Manuel Urtesabel,-burnt.

• Vide sir Ralph Abercromby's letter.