| The surrender of the Dutch colony of Surinam to a naval force under Vice-Admiral Lord Hugh Seymour, consisting of the Prince of Wales, 98 (flag), Captain Adrian Renou; Invincible, 74, Captain George William Cayley; Tamar, 38, Captain Thomas Western; Unite, 38, Captain John Poo Beresford; Syren, 32, Captain Thomas Le Marchant Gosselin; Lapwing, 28, Captain Thomas Harvey; Amphitrite, 28, Captain Charles Ekins; Daphne, 20, Captain Richard Matson; and Requin, 12, Lieutenant William Wood Senhouse, conveying troops under Lieut. General T. Trigge. The expedition sailed from Port Royal, Martinique, on July 31st, and made the coast of Surinam on August 11th. After negotiations extending over several days, a capitulation was ratified by the Dutch governor on August 20th, and on the following day the garrison of Fort Amsterdam marched out with the honours of war, and the place was taken possession of. On the 22nd other important ports, including Paramaribo, were occupied, and the whole colony, now known as Dutch Guiana, became, for the time, British. In the river Surinam were found the Dutch brig-sloop Camphaan, 16, and the French Hussard, 20 (later Surinam, 18), both of which were added to the Royal Navy, the former being provisionally commissioned by Lieutenant Richard Thwaits, and the latter by Lieutenant Christopher Cole. |