The advanced hour of the day, and the apparent strength of Gaspargrande island, which, mounting 20 pieces of cannon and two mortars, commanded, and might have disputed, the entrance to the enemy's anchorage, determined the rear-admiral to order the transports, under the protection of the Arethusa, Thorn, and Zebra, to anchor a little further up the gulf, at the distance of about five miles from the town of Port-d'Espagne ; while the Alarm, Favourite, and Victorieuse kept under sail between the transports and Port-d'Espagne, to prevent the escape of any vessels from the latter. In the mean time, the rear-admiral, with his four sail of the line, anchored, in order of battle, within random-shot of the Spanish batteries and line-of-battle ships, to be prepared in case the ships, having all their sails bent and appearing to be ready for sea, should attempt, during the night, to effect their escape.

The British, while keeping a sharp look-out, were surprised, at about 2 a.m. on the 17th, to observe flames bursting out from one of the Spanish ships. In a short time three others were on fire, and all four continued to burn, with great fury, until daylight. The fifth ship, the San-Damaso, escaped the conflagration, and, without any resistance, was brought off by the boats of the British squadron. The Spaniards, meanwhile, had abandoned Gaspargrande island ; and it was occupied, soon after daylight, by a detachment of the Queen's regiment. In the course of the day the remainder of the troops were landed, about three miles from Port-d'Espagne, without the slightest opposition; and, on the same evening, the town itself was quietly entered. This led to an offer of capitulation on the part of the Spanish governor ; and, on the following day, the island of Trinidad surrendered to the British arms, without an effort at defence, and happily without a casualty, beyond one officer, Lieutenant Villeneuve of the eighth regiment, mortally wounded, but in what manner the official account omits to notice.

Even should one be disposed to excuse a garrison which, including the detachment on Gaspargrande island, numbered, even with 50 sick in the hospital, but 632 men, for so readily yielding it seems, at first sight, unaccountable, that Rear-admiral Apodaca, with four sail of the line and a frigate, should not have made some show of resistance. The fact is, that not one of his ships had her complement on board ; as is proved by the official returns numbering but 1704, for the total of his officers, seamen, and marines : whereas 2704 men would have barely exceeded the proper amount.

The island of Porto-Rico, as a Spanish colony, came the next in order of attack ; but, before we go into the details of the expedition for the reduction of that island, we will describe a gallant little boat-exploit performed upon its coasts.

On the 22d of March the British 12-pounder 32-gun frigate

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