Some Account of the Public Life of the Late Lieutenant-General Sir George Prevost, Bart. / Particularly of His Services in the Canadas, Including a Reply to the Strictures on His Military Character, Contained in an Article in the Quarterly Review

by E. B. Brenton

No. XIV.

Resolutions of the Patriotic Club, and Letter of the Chairman to General Prevost, p. 10.

Patriotic Fund, Lloyd's, May 14, 1805.

At a Special General Meeting of the Committee held this day,

Joseph Marryat, Esq. in the Chair, Read, from the London Gazette of the 7th of May, a letter from Lieut.-General Sir William Myers, Bart. commanding His Majesty's troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands, to Earl Camden, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, inclosing a letter from Brigadier-General Prevost, Governor of Dominica, relating to the vigorous and gallant resistance made by the troops and militia under his command, against the very superior force with which the French landed at Roseau, on the 22d of February last; his retreat to the fort at Prince Ruperts; and the resolution he expressed, in answer to the summons of General Lagrange, of defending it to the last extremity; in consequence of which the enemy abandoned the enterprise, and evacuated the Island.

Resolved,

That a Sword of the value of 100l., and a Piece of Plate, of the value of 200l., with appropriate inscriptions, be presented to Brigadier-General Prevost, for the distinguished gallantry and military talents he displayed on that occasion, by which the sovereignty of the Island was preserved to His Majesty's arms.

That a Sword of Fifty Pounds value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of 100l., with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his option, be presented to Major Nunn, wounded while faithfully executing the orders of General Prevost, "Not to yield to the enemy one inch of ground."

That a Sword of 50l. value, and a Piece of Plate, of the value of 100l., with appropriate inscriptions, or that sum in money, at his option, be presented to Captain O'Connell, whose wound did not induce him to forego the honour of the command to which he succeeded on Major Nunn being disabled; and in which he resisted the repeated charges of the enemy, notwithstanding their great superiority in numbers, till he obliged them to retire with great slaughter.

That the sum of 100l. be presented to Captain Colin Campbell, wounded.

That the sum of 40l. each be given to the men whose wounds have been attended with disability or loss of limb.

That the sum of 20l. each be given to the other men severely wounded.

And the sum of 10l. each, to the men slightly wounded, including the Militia of the Island.

That Brigadier-General Prevost be requested to advise the Committee of the mode in which the Resolutions respecting himself, Major Nunn, and Captain O'Connell, can be most acceptably carried into effect—to distribute the sums voted to the men wounded, and draw for the amount—furnishing the Committee with the names of the parties, and the sums respectively paid them—and to forward to the Committee the best information he can procure respecting the families of the men killed, including the Militia of the Island, that relief may be afforded to such widows, orphans, and aged parents, as depended upon them for support.

Joseph Marryat, Chairman.

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(Copy.)

London, May 15, 1805.

"Sir,

"I have the honor to inclose you the resolutions of the Committee of the Patriotic Fund, on their taking into consideration the official account of the gallant and successful defence, made by you, and the brave men under your command, against the very superior force with which the enemy invested Dominica, on the 22d February last. That the sovereignty of the Island was preserved to the British Crown, must be in a great degree ascribed, under Divine Providence, to the talents with which you conducted the military operations; to the confidence which those who served under you had in those talents; and the animation with which they were inspired by your example.

"The primary object of this Fund being the relief of the wounded, and the families of those killed in the service of their country, the Committee, on every occasion, restrict their votes of honorary marks of distinction for gallant conduct, to the commanding officers. This, they trust, will satisfactorily explain to those brave officers, to whose merit you bear such honorable testimony, the reason of their not being noticed in these resolutions.

"The Committee, cannot but remark the very distinguished manner in which the inhabitants of Dominica have displayed those gallant exertions against the enemy, to which they so readily came forward to animate others, by contributing to this fund. The Committee trust, that in attending to the other objects of the inclosed resolutions, you will be particularly careful to recommend to their consideration, the distressed relatives which any of the Militia of the Colony may have left unprovided for. Your bills, at three days sight, on Sir Francis Baring, Bart., Chairman of the Patriotic Fund, at Lloyds, for the amount of the sums voted to the wounded men, will be immediately honored. As those who are disabled, will be invalided and sent home, the Committee submit it to your discretion, whether the gratuities to them had not better be paid them on their arrival here, under your certificate of their claims.

"You will be pleased to accompany your draft, with a letter, giving the names of the parties wounded, and the sums respectively paid to each; which the Committee leave to your judgment, according to the nature and extent of the injuries they have received, instead of waiting for further information to act upon themselves.

"I have the honor to be, Sir,
"Your most obedient humble servant,
"Joseph Marryat,
Chairman."
"Brigadier-General Prevost."