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  over the sand hills, as it was then believed by every officer and man that the enemy were close at hand, ready to oppose them. From this state of suspense they were soon relieved by his re-appearance, and waving for two more men to join him. Atter a second absence of ten minutes, he returned to his gig, with a 9-inch brass mortar, taken from one of the batteries which had been dismantled on the 21st. During this reconnoissance he did not see a single Frenchman; and therefore, as Lieutenant-Colonel Keating says, “the necessity of any further debarkation was prevented.”

Mons. St. Michiel, the military commandant of St. Paul’s, being now disposed to enter into negociations, the preliminary articles were drawn up, some of which it is necessary for us to subjoin; and that officer accompanying Lieutenant-Colonel Keating on board Captain Rowley’s ship, they were there signed by all the parties, subject to confirmation or rejection by the French commander-in-chief, General Des Brusleys, whose chagrin at the success of his intrepid opponents was so great, that he rashly put an end to his existence.

“It is agreed, that in consequence of the town being in possession of the English, and the situation of the inhabitants, a mutual suspension of arms shall immediately take place * * *.

“Art. II. That public property of every description, such as guns, stores, merchandise, and money, in the town of St. Paul, shall remain in the possession of the English.

“Art. III. That the limits of the town are considered to be the Canal running near the Promenade, and from thence to the Cavern.

“Art. VII. That nothing here above mentioned shall be considered as preventing the English from attacking any other part of the island, either by sea or land.”

This latter article was “accepted, under the condition that no disembarkation or movement of troops should take place at St. Paul’s within the limits above mentioned.”

As by this agreement there was nothing to prevent the British from pursuing offensive measures, provided no part of their force marched from within the lines of St. Paul’s, an expedition was determined upon, having for its object the