that he should have the honour of introducing General Abercrombie to the Governor of the Isle of France sooner than he had expected. But, in a few hours after, the Ceylon was retaken by the English; when the General, thanking Monsieur Hamelen for his kind intention, said he felt extremely happy in being able to return the compliment, by introducing him to Commodore Rowley.
The different divisions from Bombay, Madras, and Bengal, destined for the attack on the Mauritius, having assembled at the Isle of Rodriguez, the fleet, consisting of nearly seventy sail, got under weigh on the 22nd of November, 1810, and stood for their destination.
The coasts of the Isle of France are beset with dangerous reefs; and the French supposing that they rendered a landing impracticable, devoted all their attention to placing Port Louis, the capital, in a posture of defence on the sea face, never anticipating the possibility of being taken in flank. Our gallant and enterprising naval officers, however, discovered a safe anchorage in a narrow strait, between an islet called the Gunner's Coin and the main land, where there were also openings in the reef, through which several boats might enter abreast, the only objection being its distance from Port Louis.
On the morning of the 29th of November, the English fleet came to anchor in this strait. Soon after one o'clock the debarkation commenced; and in three hours ten thousand men, with their guns, stores, ammunition, and three days' provisions, were landed, without opposition from the enemy, who were astonished by the boldness and novelty of the attempt. The troops were instantly put in motion, to prevent the enemy from gaining possession of a thick wood which lay on the road, and using the means it afforded of harassing the flanks of the invading army.
The men were greatly exhausted by their exertions during this advance, the way having lain for four miles among thick brushwood, through which the artillery and stores had to be dragged, with a degree of labour almost
