In addition to the contents of the subjoined note, it is here necessary to remark, that Captain Rowley commanded the
General Sir David Baird, sailed from Cork towards the latter end of 1805, and arrived in Table Bay Jan. 4, 1806. A landing having been effected with little opposition, the army began its march for Cape Town on the 8th; and on reaching the summit of the Blue Mountains, a body of about 5,000 men, chiefly cavalry, with 23 pieces of artillery, commanded by General Jansseris, Governor of the colony, was seen in the plain, in an attitude to oppose its progress. On a charge by the British troops, the enemy fled with precipitancy, and with a loss of about 700 killed and wounded, while the assailants had only 15 slain, and 197 wounded and missing. No other obstacle remaining to the advance of the British, the town surrendered on the following day. Governor Janssens, however, who was not included in the capitulation, took post with the remainder of his forces at a pass leading to Zivellendam, and evinced a disposition to defend the interior country ; but on Brigadier-General Beresford advancing against him, he agreed to surrender the whole colony and its dependencies, on the condition that he and his troops should be sent back to Holland, without being considered prisoners of war. Thus, with little difficulty, possession was obtained of an important colony, which has since been permanently annexed to the British empire.
After the reduction of the Cape of Good Hope, Sir Home Popham, who had been occasionally consulted by the immortal Pitt and his confidential friend the late Viscount Melville, respecting certain designs which they contemplated against South America, but which, from deference to the Emperor of Russia, had been laid aside ; having obtained information of the weakness of the Spanish colonies on the Rio de la Piata, and being animated with the prospect of the commercial and other advantages to be gained in those countries, ventured, without any immediate authority from the government at home, to carry his whole naval force to that quarter ; and he prevailed upon Sir David Baird so far to concur with him as to allow a body of troops under Brigadier-General Beresford, to co-operate in his enterprize. Thus assisted, he sailed from the Cape about the middle of April, and touching at St. Helena, he had the address to procure from the Governor a small reinforcement to his little army, which, after all, did not exceed 1600 men, including sailors trained to the use of small arms, and marines. In the beginning of June, he arrived at the mouth of la Plata; and on the 25th, landed the troops at some distance from Buenos Ayres. Brigadier General Beresford, after dispersing a body of Spaniards, who fled at the first fire, proceeded to the city, which he entered without resistance on the 27th. Favourable terms of capitulation were granted to the inhabitants, and the property of individuals on shore was respected ; but a great booty was made of the public money and commodities, as well as of the shipping in the river.
As soon as the new ministry received intelligence of Sir Home Popham's unauthorized departure from the Cape, and meditated invasion of South
