sent an order to the convoy, directing them to put to sea, which order will be annulled by the present conveyance. Until we receive more authentic information than has yet reached us of the amount of force left by the combined fleet in the West Indies, his Majesty's Government cannot finally decide whether the regiments destined for West India service may with safety be withheld for the present, at least till the unhealthy season in the islands is gone by. In this case, I shall probably receive the King's commands, to desire you to proceed, without any reinforcement or further delay, to relieve Lieutenant-General Nugent in the government of Jamaica. I take it for granted, before this can arrive, orders from the Commander-in-Chief will have reached Cork, directing the embarkation of certain regiments in the room of those before under orders; which force will be directed to proceed, under Sir David Baird, to the Mediterranean in the transports now at Cork; and the tonnage will be immediately replaced, in case we determine to detach to the West Indies. Directions have been given to strengthen the convoy which is to conduct the troops under Sir D. Baird to their destination. I have the honour to be, &c., Lord Castlereagh to Mr. Pitt. CASTLEREAGH. Downing Street, July 22, 1805. My dear Sir-I think it right to send you a representation received from Sir David Baird, on the inadequacy of the force proposed for the reduction of the Cape, in which General Dundas appears to concur; also a Memoir of the General's, written on his return from the Cape in 1803, in which he then stated 8,000 men as requisite to command success. I own the reasoning on which this demand rests does not convince me. In proposing to extend the amount of force, the policy of the attempt itself becomes proportionably questionable. There is only one point of view, however, in which I should wish you to con VOL. VI. K sider this demand. It seems probable that one or two regiments must go to the West Indies, after the unhealthy season is over, to keep up our numbers. These troops might first go to the Cape, assist in its reduction, and reach Barbadoes about Christmas. The only inconvenience will be the loss of their services at home, or in the West Indies, in the intermediate period. The health of the men cannot suffer; and there is tonnage sufficient at Cork to receive them without loss of time, if this arrangement should be deemed advisable. If you approve of the mode in which it has occurred to me to bring the question of the Cape under the consideration of the Cabinet, the papers may be circulated to-morrow evening and Wednesday morning, and a decision obtained at Lord Harrowby's on Wednesday. Might not some time be saved by my writing to the King to-morrow, and receiving his conditional authority, the measure having been already considered by yourself, Lord Chatham, and Lord Barham ? Ever, my dear Sir, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Lord Castlereagh to the Earl of Chatham. Downing Street, July 25, 1805. My dear Lord-If you see no objection to complying with the enclosed, I shall be thankful to you to send the necessary orders to Cork, to have the stores therein mentioned embarked without delay, and the necessary authority will afterwards be sent from this Office, as you may think expedient. I am, CASTLEREAGH. PS. The Diomede is ordered to convey the transport with the detachment of the 20th Light Dragoons from Portsmouth, and to call off Plymouth, to take under her care the transport ordered round to receive the company of artillery and artificers. [Enclosure in the preceding letter.] Five hundred rounds of ammunition per gun, instead of 300; 300 rounds of powder; one million of ball cartridges. In addition, moulds for making musket-balls; two petards. D. BAIRD, M. General. Lord Castlereagh to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Downing Street, July 25, 1805. My Lords-Information having been received by his Majesty's Ministers which renders it expedient, in their opinion, to recommend to his Majesty that an expedition should be immediately undertaken for the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, and his Majesty having approved thereof, and signified his pleasure that the military force mentioned in the margin1 should be commanded by Major-General Sir David Baird, and that the naval force, as stated in the margin,2 should, upon your recommendation, be commanded by Captain Sir Home Popham, I am now to enclose to your lordships a copy of the instructions which have been given to Sir David Baird for his guidance, and I am to signify to you his Majesty's commands, that you do take the necessary measures, in conformity with those instructions. With this view, you will order Sir Home Popham in the Diadem to proceed ostensibly to Gibraltar; you will also direct that the Diomede should take under convoy a transport with 220 dragoons and four provision transports at Portsmouth, and touch at Plymouth for another transport with a company of artillery on board, and proceed ostensibly to the same destination. Your lordships will issue the necessary orders for the Captain of the Belliqueux to proceed with the convoy to India without delay; and, further, you will give instructions to the 1 Not specified in my copy. 2 Diadem, Diomede, Belliqueux, Raisonable, Narcissus, Leda. senior officer of the convoy now at Cork to proceed with the Narcissus and Leda, with the forces that are to act under Sir David Baird, ostensibly for the Mediterranean. You will, at the same time, furnish the said three officers with secret and sealed orders, to be opened in a proper latitude, to the following effect. You will enclose to Sir Home Popham a copy of the orders which have been given to Sir David Baird, and direct him to proceed to Madeira, there to take under his command the Belliqueux and the East India convoy, and also the Narcissus and Leda, and the Cork convoy: and I herewith transmit to your lordships the necessary instructions from the Secret Committee of the Court of Directors of the East India Company to the officers commanding their ships, which Sir Home Popham will communicate when he thinks it expedient. Upon the union of the whole force at Madeira, Sir Home Popham will concert measures with Sir David Baird for proceeding against the Cape in the manner most likely to ensure success. You will issue sealed orders to the Commander of the Belliqueux to proceed, with the convoy under his charge, to Madeira, where he is to wait for the arrival of Sir Home Popham, and, upon his arrival, to place himself under his command. By sealed orders, your lordships will also direct the Captain of the Narcissus to proceed with the Cork convoy to Madeira, there to wait the arrival of Sir Home Popham, and to place himself under his orders; and you will further issue sealed orders to the Commanders of the Diomede and Raisonnable. As the success of this enterprise may depend upon secrecy and surprise, your lordships will particularly enjoin the importance of not suffering the destination of this force to transpire at Madeira, or elsewhere, on its passage. It is desirable that Sir Home Popham should be directed to sail with as little delay as possible; the East India convoy may be despatched as soon as it is deemed safe for a fleet to proceed to the westward; and the Cork convoy be ordered to sail for its ostensible destination as soon as Sir David Baird shall arrive there, to whom your lordships will entrust the sealed orders which are to be sent to the Commander of the Narcissus, and your ostensible orders may be forwarded by the ordinary mail. Draft. I have the honour to be, &c., CASTLEREAGH. Instructions to Major-General Sir D. Baird. July 25, 1805. Sir-In consequence of information having been received that the Cape is now defended by not more than 1,500 regular Batavian troops, not of the best description, and that the militia and the inhabitants look with anxiety for the arrival of a British force, and also from the facility afforded to an operation against that settlement, from the troops now embarked and proceeding to India being applicable, without inconvenience, to this service, in progress to their ultimate destination; it has been determined on to attempt the reduction of this Colony by the combined operation of a force from Cork, added to that now on board the East India Company's ships at Falmouth. I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that his Majesty has been graciously pleased to select you for the command of this expedition, and that directions have been given to embark, with the utmost despatch, the regiments named in the margin,1 in transports now lying at Cork. As the troops to be employed on this service are cantoned in the neighbourhood of Cork, and the transports are kept constantly in readiness, and victualled for six months, I have every reason to hope that the |