1809.] SENEGAL TAKEN FROM THE FRENCH. 311 Carr, and schooner "Bacchus," Lieutenant Deyman Jermy, observed the French corvette "Le Nisus," 16, Captain de fregate La Netrel, lying at anchor under the protection of a fort and battery. Captain Miller accordingly determined to cut her out, and sent in the boats, under the orders of Captain Elliott, who carried the fort in the most gallant style, forcing the garrison of 300 men to retire out of it, when, having dismantled and destroyed the battery, he proceeded to board and carry the corvette. This conflict lasted upwards of six hours, and only cost the lives of 1 seaman and 1 marine. 48. COLONIAL WAR-ANHOLT-SENEGAL-ST. PAUL, IN BOURBON. Early in the month of May a squadron, consisting of "Standard," 84, Captain A. P. Hollis, " Owen Glendower," 36, Captain Selby, with three sloops-of-war and a gun-brig detached from the fleet of Sir James Saumarez, the British Commander-in-Chief in the Baltic Sea, was sent to effect the reduction of the Danish island of Anholt. Captains Selby and Nichols of the Marines conducted the storming party, and after a smart but ineffectual resistance, which killed marine and wounded 2, the Danish garrison of 170 men surrendered at discretion. The advantage of this conquest was the possession of a lighthouse of considerable importance to British trade. Much injury having been done by French privateers in the African seas, Captain Columbine on the station concerted with Major Maxwell, military commandant at Goree, a plan for the reduction of Senegal. Accordingly, on the 17th of July, a squadron composed of the frigate "Solebay," 32, brig-sloop "Dervert," 18, Captain Parker, and a gun-brig, "Tigris," Lieutenant Bones, and a flotilla of small armed vessels, with sloops and schooners conveying 166 officers and men of the African corps, under the Major, anchored off the bar of the French settlement. The French collected their forces, which consisted of about 160 troops and 240 militia, at Babaqué, about 10 miles above the bar. Major Maxwell, uniting the troops, sailors, and marines, altogether about 210 men, landed and immediately took up a position. The French commandant marched to attack the British, but finding them stronger than he expected, he fell back with so perfect a knowledge of the country that it was found impossible to follow him. The troops were therefore reembarked, and proceeded up the river to attack the fort, when information arrived that the French commandant desired to surrender the colony, and terms were forthwith agreed upon, and the British standard hoisted. We have seen in the foregoing narrative what injuries were sustained by the British Commander in the Indian seas through the possession by the French of the Mascarenha Isles (so called), comprising the Isle of France or Mauritius, the Isle of Bourbon, the small island of Rodriguez, and others of inferior note. Situated in 312 66 CAPTURE OF THE HARBOUR OF ST. PAUL. [A.D. the very highway of commerce, these islands afforded secure shelter for an active force to prowl about the adjoining seas and inlets, and fall with serious effect upon unsuspecting commerce. It is said that the insurance offices of Bengal were losers to the amount of three millions sterling from the toleration or indifference of the British Government or this policy, which left these islands so long in the possession of an enemy. This enormous loss at last roused them to exertion, and Lieutenant-Colonel Keating was despatched from the continent of India with a small force. The harbour of St. Paul, in the Isle of Bourbon, having long been the rendezvous of the cruisers, Commodore Josias Rowley was ordered by Admiral Bertie, commanding on that station, to concert with Lieut.-Colonel Keating a plan for getting possession of it, and destroying the batteries; and on the 9th of September a detachment of 368 officers and men was embarked at Fort Duncan on board a squadron consisting of the "Raisonable," 64," Néréide," 36, Captain Corbett," Otter," 18, Captain Willoughby, and the Indiaman Wasp," Lieutenant Watkins, and the two frigates "Sirius," 36, Captain Pym, and "Boadicea," 38, Captain Hatley. The expedition arrived off the east end of the island on the 20th, when Captain Corbet of the "Néréide," from his knowledge of the coast, was entrusted with the command of the conjunct force, which, with the addition of seamen and marines, numbered 604 officers and men. These were disembarked, without occasioning any alarm to the enemy, on the morning of the 21st, with the view of crossing the causeways which extend over the lake before the French could discover their approach. This important object was fully accomplished, and the batteries of Larabousière and La Centière were taken possession of, and the guns turned upon the shipping in the harbour. After a smart skirmish the battery of Lankeuf was also captured, and before an hour and a half had elapsed all the batteries, the town, guns, magazines, and public stores, with several prisoners, were in the possession of Colonel Keating and the little army he commanded. In the harbour was the French frigate, "La Caroline," and her two prize Indiamen, "Streatham" and " Europe." The British squadron now stood into the bay and opened fire upon them, when they, together with all the French ships in the road, cut their cables and drifted on shore. The seamen, however, soon heaved the ships off, and eight or nine vessels were taken possession of; all this was accomplished without any loss to either navy or army. General Desbrusleys, the governor of Bourbon, now appeared upon the hills at the head of a French force, but seeing the British in possession, retreated across the island to St. Denis. Captain S. Michel, the commandant of the town of St. Paul, therefore, having entered into terms, surrendered all the public property; and the Commodore, having accomplished the object of his expedition, sailed off with his prizes. General Desbrusleys, anticipating the judgment which would be passed upon his conduct by the French Emperor, shot himself; and his widow, at her own request, was sent in a cartel to Mauritius. 1809.] BRITISH RELATIONS WITH TRAVANCORE. 313 49. WAR IN THE EAST-PERSIA, SCINDIA, AND TRAVANCORE. A treaty was concluded in March this year, by which Great Britain bound herself, as long as she should be at war with Russia, to pay to the Schah an annual stipend of one hundred thousand pounds sterling, on condition that Persia would assist the English in resisting every attempt of Russia or France to invade the Company's provinces in India. In this same year, likewise, the British Government first became connected by treaty with the sovereign of the frontier state of Nepaul, Runjeet Sing. A proclamation had been issued by the Governor-General, taking under the formal protection of the English all the Sikh tribes situate between the Jumna and the Sutlej, which that ambitious chief had endeavoured to add to his own dominions. To carry out this policy a British army was assembled with which Runjeet Sing showed a disposition to abide a rencounter; but a little reflection taught him the hopelessness of such a struggle, and overawed, if not satisfied, he bound himself by treaty to abstain from encroaching on the territories of the chief in his vicinity. Travancore is the most south-westerly state of Hindostan adjoining Cape Comorin. In former years the Rajah had rendered good service to the Company, but, after a fashion not uncommon with Oriental sovereigns, his indolence had induced him to resign his government to the guidance of a favourite minister, who had attained to supreme power. The Dewan, as he was styled, having the whole influence of the state in his hands, opened communications with rulers known to be in opposition to the British power, and entered into extensive military preparations in the states pertaining to the Rajah, to support his policy. Colonel Macaulay, the resident, having remonstrated against these hostile proceedings, was near being treacherously seized by the Dewan, but was saved by the opportune arrival of 33 private soldiers of the 12th regiment, who, however, were themselves suddenly surrounded and overpowered. Colonel Chalmers, in command of the subsidiary force, immediately led his contingent against the Travancore troops, whom he obliged to retire. On the news of these transactions reaching Madras, the government of Fort St. George sent off Colonel Hon. Arthur St. Leger of the Madras cavalry, together with a division of infantry under the command of Colonel Wilkinson and Lieut.-Colonel Cuppage, who, on the 18th of January, found themselves in presence of the Dewan's troops, whom, after an action which lasted five hours, they compelled to fly, and leave their guns behind them. Colonel, St. Leger pursued, and on the 3rd of February came up to the lines of Arumbowly, which were of great natural and artificial strength. These he determined to take by storm, which service was executed effectually on the 9th by Major Welsh, who carried them in spite of greater resistance than had been anticipated. He continued to follow up his success, and on the 20th again routed the enemy with 314 DEATH OF THE DEWAN. [A.D. 1809. the loss of about 5,000 men and 7 guns at Killianere. Colonels Chalmers and Cuppage then advanced from different sides upon the Rajah's capital, and the Dewan being abandoned by his master fled away to the mountains. After a good deal of wandering and privation he came to the resolution of putting an end to his life, and repaired for this purpose to a pagoda named Bhagvady, where he stabbed himself. 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