[37] As this is an office, I believe, hitherto unknown in the navy, I shall explain the reason of its being now established. The Admiral had in a former war experienced the attention and zeal of Mr. Weir, and being well acquainted with the fatigue and danger that would unavoidably be the lot of his surgeon, if he did his duty, he pitched upon him for that office, and as an encouragement he procured permission to appoint a surgeon general to the navy, and his appointment did honour to his discernment. Mr. Weir was indefatigable in attending the wounded and sick in his own ship, and equally ready to visit others; and even where his duty had no demand on him, his humanity led him to give his advice and assistance. In his mode of treatment of that dreadful disease, the yellow fever, he was more successful than was generally the case, as the Boyne lost a less proportion of patients under that afflicting malady than any other ship on the expedition. Point à Pitre is the capital of that part of Guadaloupe called Grand Terre, which is separated from the other part, called Bass Terre, by a narrow arm of the sea, in form of a river; it is called the river Sallée. The town is neat and well built, but in an unhealthy situation, being on the borders of a large extent of swampy land; it has a good harbour called the Carénage, the entrance to which is guarded on one side by an half-moon battery lately erected on Islet a Couchon, or Hog Island, and on the other by the ancient castle of Fort Louis; it is also defended on the land side by a hill called Morne Government, on which is a strong battery. The country on this part of Guadaloupe is remarkably flat, forming a strong contrast to Basse Terre, which gradually rises from the sea-shore till it forms a chain of hills extending from one end of that part of the island to the other. CHAPTER X. THE GENERAL EMBARKS HIS ARMY, AND LANDS ON BASSE TERRE AT PETIT BOURG ... OCCURRENCES ON THE MARCH TOWARDS PALMISTE ... THE ADMIRAL ANCHORS IN ANCE DE BAILLIF ... GENERAL DUNDAS LANDS, AND FORMS A COMMUNICATION WITH SIR CHARLES GREY ... THE PALMISTE TAKEN BY ASSAULT ... GENERAL COLLOT DELIVERS UP FORT SAINT CHARLES AND THE ISLAND OF GUADALOUPE AND ITS DEPENDENCIES TO THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF.