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 the Hornet and Surinam, sloops, in which latter vessel he was sent by Commodore Samuel Hood, to demand the liberation of two British officers, who had imprudently thrown themselves into the power of the brigands at St. Domingo, although instant death was the declared fate of every white person who should then venture to land within the space under their jurisdiction. Having, at the risk of his own life, and by the aid of many presents, ascertained, that one of those officers had been executed, and that the other had escaped to Port-au-Prince, Commander Tucker proceeded from the neighbourhood of Gonahives to Jacquemel, where he rendered such material assistance to the besieged French garrison as procured him most handsome letters of thanks from the commandant and principal inhabitants, the latter of whom concluded their address to him as follows:

“We beg you. Sir, to receive the thanks of all our fellow citizens, for your voluntary stay among us, and for your spontaneous offer daily to harass the insurgents, a measure so necessary towards the security of our women, children, and sick, and the further preservation of the town. We have seen with the most lively interest the effects of a proceeding so noble, and which, whilst it convinces us of the goodness of your private character, assures us at the same time of the union and good understanding between our respective Governments. We have the honor. Sir, to salute you with sentiments of the most perfect consideration.

The following cruel and infamously false charge is alleged against Commander Tucker, in James’s Naval History, Vol. III. p. 411 et seq.

“When, in the middle of the year 1803, intelligence of the declaration of war against Holland reached Port Royal, Jamaica, the lO-gun schooner Gipsy, acting Lieutenant Michael Fitton, was despatched to Curaçoa, to warn any British cruisers that might be lying there, of what had taken place, in order that they might provide for their safety. Arriving in the harbour of St. Ann, the Gipsy found at anchor there the 18-gun ship-sloop Surinam, Captain Robert Tucker. To this officer, in as secret a manner as he could, Lieutenant Fitton communicated the intelligence, and advised him immediately to get under weigh. ‘No,’ says Captain Tucker, ‘I’ll