Captain Willoughby offered him 1000 dollars, if he would persevere and carry the boats in; but still he persisted in his declaration of the impractibillty of the undertaking, and it was therefore reluctantly abandoned. The manner in which risle de la Passe was ultimately taken will be seen by reference to our memoir of Captain Henry Ducie Chads, C.B.
After obtaining possession of that island, the senior officer of the blockading squadron returned to his station off Port Louis, leaving Captain Willoughby to pave the way for “the most important of all our colonial conquests since the commencement of the war[1].”
Between the 10th and 14th Aug., reinforcements were marched from various parts of the Mauritius to Grande Porte; the militia were called out, and the second in command of the island. General Van de Masson, was sent from headquarters to oppose Captain Willoughby. This French officer had upon his line of defence, extending from Grand Port to Grand Riviére, at least 2200 men, including cavalry, protected by Fort du Diable, several other military posts, and a brigade of artillery.
Notwithstanding this immense disparity of force, and his having no field-officer of the army to confer with, la Nereide’s intrepid commander resolved to persevere, though fully sensible that, if taken prisoner when in the act of negociating with the inhabitants, he would suffer the same fate as Major Andrè, in the first American war[2]. The nature of the service in which he was thus voluntarily engaged will be seen by his official letter to Captain Pym, dated Aug. 19, 1810:–
