| On January 2nd, 1794, Commodore Ford detached the Penelope, 32, Captain Bartholomew Samuel Rowley offering terms of capitulation to Port au Prince. These were refused; and, in consequence, the Commodore blockaded the harbour. On February 3rd, Cape Tiburon was taken, after slight resistance; and on the llth Aoul was carried. On May 31st, the Europa, 50, Commodore Ford, Captain George Gregory; Irresistible, 74, Captain John Henry; Belliqueux 64, Captain James Brine; Sceptre, 64, Captain James Richard Dacres (1), and three frigates and three sloops, with 1465 effective troops on board under Brigadier-General White, arrived in the Bay of Port au Prince from Cape Nicolas Mole. On June 1st, the Belliqueux, Sceptre and Penelope opened fire on Fort Brissoton, the Europa and Irresistible, under sail, lending occasional assistance; and, in the course of the day, troops were disembarked under the direction of Commander Thomas Affleck, of the Fly, sloop. The operations were interrupted at 6 P.M. by a most tremendous storm; but, in the consequent confusion and obscurity, the fort was rushed and carried. On the 3rd, the Hermione, 32, Captain John Hills, and the Iphigenia, 32, Captain Patrick Sinclair, bombarded a work at Bernadou to make a diversion during the advance of the troops; and, on the 4th, Port au Prince was taken possession of. There was little loss, the Hermione having 5 killed and 6 wounded, and the Belliqueux 10 wounded. |