Monthly Chronicle.

ADMIRAL HARVEY ' S LETTERS . „ . ' , Gulphof Paria , Feb . 21 , 1797 . ' I have the honour to acquaint you , for the information of their Lordships , that it having been determined an attack should be made on the island of Trinidad , " both with a view to that colony , and to the Spanish squadron which had been there for some time past , the troops intended for this expedition from Martinique were accordingly embarked in Ihe ships of war and transports , anil sailed from Fort

Royal Bay the 12 th instant , with his Majesty ' s ships the Prince of Wales , Bellona , Vengeance , Scipio , Favorite , Zephyr , and Terror Bomb , under my command . Lieutenant-General Sir Ralph Abercromby embarked with me in the Prince of Wah _ s . ' The Invincible had previously sailed for Barbadoes , with two transports , to embark a part of the 14 th regiment , and the Thorn and Zebra were ordered to receive the detachment from Tobago . The Favorite was sent to St . Vincent to collect some troops from that islandand the whole were ordered to rendezvous

, at the is and of Cariacou , one of the Grenadines , on or before the 13 th ; and , on my arrival at that island , the 14 th , I found all the ships and transports were assembled . 'On the 15 th , in the morning , I sailed with the squadron and transports , passing between Cariacou and Grenada ; and on the 16 th arrived off Trinidad , and stood towards the Gulph of Paria , when , having passed through the Great Bo- ' cas Channel , at half past three in the afternoon , the Spanish squadron were dis-. covered at anchor in Shagaramus Bayconsisting of four sail of the lineunder the

, , flag of a Rear-Admiral , and one frigate . ' As the day was well advanced before I approached the Bay , and the enemy appeared in strength on Gasparaux island , which commanded the anchorage , by batteries erected for that purpose , I ordered the Arethusa , Thorn , and Zebra , to proceed a little farther up the Gulph , and anchor with all the transports . The Alarm , Favorite , and Victorieitse , were ordered to keep under sail above the trans-.

ports during the night , and prevent any vessels sailing from Port Espagne . ' In the evening , just before dark , I anchored with the ships of the line in order of battle , opposite thc enemy ' s squadron , within a random shot of their ships ami batteries , and in constant readiness to prevent their escape during the night , which I suspected they might attempt , as all their sails were bent , and they appeared perfectly ready for sailing . ' At two o ' clock in the ' morning of the 17 th we discovered one of their ships 011 fire , and soon after three others , all of" which burnt with great fury until near

day-light , when they were entirely consumed . One of them having escaped the conflagration , the boats were sent from the squadron , and she was brought out without having received any damage . \ ' I have great satisfaction in acquainting their Lordships that this squadron of the enemy , commanded by Rear-Admiral Don Sebastian Kulzde Apodaca , were destroyed or captured according to the list 1 herewith enclose ; and although this service was effected without a ; y other act on the part of his Majesty ' s squadron under my command , than being placed in such a situation as to prevent their

escape , lam fully convinced that had they remained at their anchorage until ihe next day , the officers and men whom I have the honour to command would have completed , by their exertion and zeal , the capture of the whole , notwithstanding the advantage of their situ , tiion , under the cover of about twenty pieces of cannon , and three mortars , which were mpunted on Gasparaux Island , and had been placed there for the sole purpose of defending the ships in the Bay : that island , ivhich , like the ships , had been abandoned during the night , was taken possession of soon after day-liht ba party of the Queen's iment

g y . reg . General Abercromby , early in the morning , joined the Aretbu _ a , and the troops were ail landed , in the course of the day , under the direction of Captain Woolley , covered by the Favorite sloop , about Ihree miles from the town , without opposition : the General took possession of th-town the same evening , and oji tha 1 Sth the Governor desired 10 capitulaW for the whole island , and the articles