of merchantmen, were taken possession of before the end of that year. In the spring of 1808, the French islands of Mariegalante and Deseada surrendered to a part of his squadron, under the command of Captain W. Selby, of the Cerberus frigate.
On the 20th Jan. 1809, Sir Alexander received a letter from Lieutenant-General Beckwith, informing him, that in consequence of some alteration of circumstances, he was induced to proceed to the attack of Martinique, and expressing a wish to see the Rear-Admiral, in order to make the final arrangements; Sir Alexander lost no time in meeting him for that purpose.
The armament appeared off Martinique on the 29th of the same month; and by the morning of the 31st, the troops, with a detachment of seamen and marines, were landed at different points of the island. After some severe fighting, in which the French were driven from different posts, a more general action took place on the 2d Feb., in the neighbourhood of Sourrier, a height commanding Fort Bourbon, the possession of which was obstinately contested for several hours at the point of the bayonet; both parties in turn charging and giving way; but at length the French were driven from their position, and the British remained masters of the height. The enemy then withdrew into Fort Bourbon, which was immediately invested by the invaders. It was captured on the 24th; when all resistance ceasing, the whole of the island was subjected to British dominion.
On the 14th April following, Lord Castlereagh called the attention of the House of Commons to the merits of that part of the army and navy which had effected the conquest of Martinique. This, he stated, was not the first time that the gratitude of Parliament had been expressed to the conquerors of that important colony; and that service had certainly never been effected in a manner more honourable, in every point of view, to those who had been employed in it, than on the present occasion. Whether the House regarded the whole course of proceedings, or the shortness of time in which the conquest had been accomplished, the service must be considered as having been performed in a way that called for the best acknowledgements of Parliament. It was a most im-
