[39] After the islands were captured, a small reinforcement arrived, which was to be retained by Sir Charles Grey, if he thought fit; but as he knew it was much wanted to carry on the war at St. Domingo, and as it was insufficient to enable him to undertake an expedition against Cayenne, which he at first intended, he sent it on to Jamaica, under the command of Brigadier General Whyte; and Lieutenant Colonel Lennox, who came out soon after, he dispatched thither also. CHAPTER XI. THE CHARGES OF EXTORTED CONTRIBUTIONS AND OPPRESSIONS, ALLEDGED AGAINST THE COMMANDERS IN CHIEF BY CERTAIN INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS, REFUTED ... THE REAL CAUSES OF THE LOSS OF GUADALOUPE. After having given an account of the glorious success which had crowned the exertions of our gallant commanders and their forces, I now enter upon a less pleasant task, the loss of Guadaloupe, since followed by the capture of some other islands: but I do it the more willingly, because in the simple facts it will be my duty to detail, the real cause of those misfortunes will appear, and a clear refutation ensue of those gross calumnies, originally propagated by avarice, fraud, and falsehood, and repeated by ignorance and malice, which have endeavoured to fix a stigma on two commanders, whose integrity of heart and openness of conduct are as demonstrable, as their bravery is acknowledged. The accusation of plunder, confiscation, and _extorted contribution_, is founded on a tale, of which half only has been told, and that half with intentional inaccuracy. It has always been understood that property found in any place taken by storm or assault became the legal prize or booty of the captors; consequently the Commanders in Chief found no hesitation or difficulty in considering the produce, merchandise, &c. afloat and on shore at St. Pierre and Fort Royal (both which were literally so taken) as justly liable to forfeit and confiscation. The estates of the emigrant royalists had been sequestered, and the produce of them sold by the agents of the republic; consequently all manufactured or collected produce on them became in like manner, by his majesty's gracious bounty, the right of the captors. If what is found in places or vessels taken by assault be not considered as legal prize, what is? Is no booty, no prize money, to be the reward of successful heroism, after the dreadful fatigues, diseases, and dangers of war? Where then will be the spur to noble actions? Where the spirit that impels the soldier and the sailor to brave the horrors of arms and elements, of raging sickness, of excruciating death?