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Plese to inform my family we are all well that is on bord mate my son Boy and Bennet on board the rest on board man of war.

They have got from the Brig on your account 3944 Cash which is all yours.

[Endorsed,] Honor'd by Capt. Carver.

Sir,

S. L.

Samuel LawTON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Dollers

Kingston, Jamaica, March the 22th, 1794.

I IMBRACE one more oppertunity as I have wrote you several letters before of my being here and sent by the sloop of war Capt. Serrage wating to se what they mean to do with me as I am in ballast I am in hopes they will not libel me. I shall no in a few days the determination of the Judge. if libel'd I mean to wate for the arivel of the Packet from England as she is expected in a few days. if not cleard then I mean to leve my Vessel on them and take out a Protest and proceede home the first oppertunity as there seems to be neither Law nor Justice here and they have got all my Cash from me therefore it is impossible to find friends here. there is now in port forty od sail here and the chief of them libel'd and their tryals wont come on this four months. by that time their Vessels will not be fit to proceede home. for further perticulers I refer you to Capt. Bowler and Capt. Barker who has left there Vessels behind. I remain your humble Servant

SAM'L LAWTON

as

All well on board. I have wrote you three letters sence I arived here.

[Endorsed,] honor'd by Capt. Bowler.

S. L.

CAPTURE OF MARTINIQUE1

[March-April, 1794.]

LANDING was attempted in vain at Case navire and [torn] Case pilote. The troops and their boats repulsed by the Batteries on the shore were obliged to draw off and land lower down at the bottom.

The Enemy proceeding without opposition into the Country took the best ground, and established without difficulty their line round the forts. The investment was made the 11th of February. the next day the 12th [blank ] bombarded and [assaulted] by land and sea was obliged to surrender after a vigorous resistance and having lost 38 men by the explosion of the powder magazine which took fire from one of the enemys bombs.

The and 14

13 and

the Bomb Ketches and Battering Challops pointed all their fire upon the town and fort and continued it all the night.

Their intrigues were at this moment in the greatest activity. Cowardice and treason combined to accelerate the progress of the Enemy. On the 15 Élie and Pierre Milet came to assasinate the General. they were arrested confined and judged.

The 18th the Post Surirey was delivered to the English Bellegard and Pelauque had the address to render serviceable to their designs the committee of public safety and the municipality in concert with them without the knowledge of the General who could not be a dupe to the military movement to cover their perfidy. Under the specious pretence of going to attack the enemy in their Lines the Post was abandoned only 50 men being left to guard it. The rest marched forward by one rout while the Enemy seeing such fine play came on by another. [Torn.] Discretion all the stores have been confiscated even those belonging to Citizens

1 A fragment giving an account of the capture by the British, March 20, 1794, of Fort Royal on the island of Martinique. Fort Royal was situated on the south side of the island, near the Pointe des Negres and on the Cul de Sac Royal. Case Pilote and Case des Navires lay to the west of the town, but Port or Post Surirey is not mentioned on a French map of the island of 1764.

which have been embarked. The Vessels and Cargoes of americans have shared the same fate they have been ignominiously imprisoned and treated in a manner the most cruel. about 3 or 400 Patriots the Municipality some members of the assembly and the Committee of public safety have been embarked. A conduct which inspires horror and displays. the cruelty of the English is the barbarous manner with which they treat the sick and wounded french and americans who were in the Hospital. They turned them out doors and left them in the middle of the street during the whole night and all the next day without care or succour to make room for the sick and wounded english who were immediately carried to this Hospital.

The English on being established at port Surirey before they opened trenches which took place on the 22d of February, summoned General Rochambeau to surrender.

The Generals Grey and Jervis wishing to prevent the effusion of Blood, they declared their having under their command a Body of choice Troops of 15 thousand men independent of reinforcements they yet expected, resistance would be vain. Without hope of being succoured from France, without engineers, or men for the Artillery without troops to oppose to such an effective force as were about to attack him, his constancy and courage and that of his troops, which consisted (for the guard of two forts and the t[torn] men troops of the Line 30 Cannoneers 150 [torn] armed [torn] Laconic It is no time to ask counsel when we ought to fight. from that time the Town and Fort of Martinico was constantly exposed to an almost incessant fire of Cannon and Bombs. Finally the 7th of March the different Batteries of Mortars and Cannon pointed at Fort Constitution unmasked their fire it began at sunrise and never ceased to be warm and well served. Our Cannoneers always sustained it well and those of our Bastions above all the two in front of the attack, which were the best served and answered their fire with much life. The 12th of March to a new summons from the English Generals, Rochambeau made answer that resigned to the last events of War he and his Garrison were

determined to defend themselves in a manner to deserve the thanks of France and the esteem of the Enemy. The redout was pierced like a Sieve the inner wall absolutely leveled and all the works destroyed the Forts were hardly in a better state, there no longer remained a single building. Fort Convention above all had suffered much almost all the Batteries were dismounted and the Carriages broken. The explosion of four or five powder magazines which had taken fire at different [ti]mes in the two forts had killed and wounded for us many men. We availed ourselves of the armistice which was prolonged until the evening to repair our works and reestablish our Batteries. The fire then commenced with the same warmth from both sides. The Enemy had seventeen Batteries mounted with 87 pieces of Cannon which [torn] and battered us on [torn]. perhaps from 3 to 400.

The 20th of March the Town and Fort Republic were taken, a Deputation of the Constituted Authorities and Citizens of the Town was sent to the General to oblige him to capitulate. The demand was accepted, and Commissioners named on both parts met at the habitation of Dillon designated by General Rochambeau as the place of conference. They lasted two days and the Capitulation was signed by the respective Generals the 23d of March. Your friend etc.

J. L. M. P.

P. S. I learn this instant that General Rochambeau does not go directly to France, reasons of a public nature cause him to go to the United States there to wait the orders of the Executive Council of the French Republic who a[re] informed [of] the place of his destination; this information is positive.

Sir,

Samuel LawTON TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Kingston, Jamaica, April 1st, 1794.

I HAVE to inform you once more of my being here yet and not libeld. the Packet not being ariv'd is the means of our

detention. I shall apply to morrow for my Papers and Cash they have plunderd me of which is now in the hands of James Kingston the Agent. we are here in a most shocking situation with out mony and of cours with out friends and of cours without advise what to do for the best. they have opend the ports of this Island for all kind of Amarican produce of provisions and lumber for six months and all produce of this Island free as in British ships and the ports not shut again under six mont[h's] notice. I have wrote you by so many Vessels before I have but little to write but remain Yours SAM'L LAWTON

all well on board.

[Endorsed,] favor'd by Capt. Merihew.

Sir,

ROBERT NORTHAM TO CHRISTOPHER CHAMPLIN

Baltimore, August 3, 1794.

I ARIVED hear yesterday in the afternoon had 9 day to the Capes and nothing meterel hapned on the Passage, the winds southerly most part of the passage. 4 days after I sail'd I spoke a 40 gun Ship. I judged her to be English and the day following a Schooner from Carrolina with 14 Guns show'd English Cullers. the 9 day came in the Capes took Pilot. when I arived hear I apply'd to Mr. Sears but he is not able to tell what sucses he may meet with in the Sale till she is advertiz'd for Sale but by the next poste I am in hopes to give you a more particular account. freights are lo at present and flour very high but on the fall from 48s to 50s Currency and other provisions in proportion. small Vessels from 50 to 70 tons commands a good price but large ones is not so much wanted as I have not been able to lern the particulars owing to my being hear so short a time and you will pleas to except this and excuse your Most obeadient and Humble ROBERT NORTHAM

Pleas to let the family know that I and all on board is in perfect helth.

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