After the strong orders the Commander in Chief issued during the time he was preparing for the commencement of the campaign at Barbadoes, in which, among other things, he declared his determination to punish with the utmost severity any one who should presume to maraud or plunder the inhabitants, it is surprising that on the first day's march any soldier should have had the temerity to offend against that order: but we had a melancholy instance of it in William Milton of the tenth light dragoons, and Samuel Price of the black dragoons, who were tried and convicted of a robbery in the house of Jacques, an inhabitant of Sallée; and the General, being determined to put an early stop to such enormities, had the sentence put in execution, and they were both hanged in view of the whole army on February 8th[9]. [9] Vide Appendix, pages 10, 11, 12. On the capture of Islet aux Ramieres, or Pigeon Island, the Admiral sailed with the rest of his fleet from Ance d'Arlet on Wednesday, Feb. 12th, and anchored in Fort Royal Bay, off Pigeon Island, by which means he could co-operate with his colleague, and supply the army with ammunition and provisions at pleasure. As the ships worked into the bay, several shells were thrown at them from Fort Louis, but happily without doing any mischief.--It is impossible to conceive a more beautiful scene than presented itself on our entrance into this fine bay. On the north side we saw Fort Louis and the town of Fort Royal; and immediately behind it, on the top of a steep hill, was the strong fortification of Fort Bourbon, which, with the tri-coloured flag waving on its walls, formed a conspicuous object in the landscape; the parapet being built of white stone, strongly contrasted with the vivid glow of verdure on the surrounding hills. To the westward rose majestically prodigious mountains, called Les Pitons du Carbet, the hills on the side of which were cultivated, while the mountains themselves were covered with wood to their summits. Eastward the bay opens to several bays and harbours, into which some noble rivers discharge themselves, and pleasant islands of different dimensions and forms, embellish the whole. Pigeon Island, or Islet aux Ramieres, is situated on the south side of the bay of Fort Royal, about two hundred yards from the shore, and is a steep rock, inaccessible except on one side by a ladder fixed against a perpendicular wall. The summit is about thirty yards above the level of the sea, and is three hundred paces round. It contained the following ordnance, viz. Eleven forty-two pounders, six thirty-two pounders, four thirteen-inch mortars, and one howitzer, with an immense quantity of stores and ammunition, and a large stove to heat shot; it also had good barracks. It is famous for having prevented Admiral Rodney with twelve sail of the line from entering the bay in 1782.