Thus was the unparalleled good order and discipline with which the army and navy had abstained from plundering the towns of St. Pierre, Fort Royal, and Trinité, &c. rewarded! This was the recompence of the ruinous and expensive service in which the officers had engaged; of the unexampled sufferings and dangers which they and their brave men had undergone. Is not contribution in lieu of booty, the custom of war? Was it not the case with Prince Ferdinand in a former war, through every town and village of Germany[41]? Did not the Marquis de Bouillé levy a heavy contribution on the island of St. Christopher's, when taken by the French in 1782? Where then could contribution ever be proper if not here? Here was no capitulation; but, though the islands fell by storm, the Commanders, acting on the purest principles, to save the persons and property of the inhabitants from the plunder[42] of an enraged soldiery, agreed to accept as a recompence due to the forbearance and good conduct of that body, a composition the most easy to the conquered; and yet their fame has been vilified, and the hard-earned pittance of booty snatched away! for none of the contributions were ever paid, except a part at St. Lucia, _which was afterwards refunded_. Surely this is small encouragement for such a desperate service! If such be the future prospects of our army and navy, their spirits will droop, and half that ardour that generates success subside! [41] Of this General Sir Charles Grey himself shared. [42] During the time that Fort Bourbon was besieging we sent a summons to the town of St. Pierre, which was rejected with an uncommon degree of insolence, and Captain Mason (the General's aid de camp, who went with the flag of truce) was insulted. About a fortnight afterwards the place was taken by storm, without any capitulation, consequently subject to plunder by the custom of war; but so far from any irregularity being suffered, a drummer was hanged by order of General Dundas for attempting it; and such exact discipline and quiet behaviour was maintained among the troops, that the shops were opened the day after the capture. From the time of the refusal of the summons to the final capture, the republicans continued to load all the property and produce on board vessels under American colours, which they did constantly, in order to deprive the captors of their just rights, in case the place should be taken.--Interested American merchants were continually endeavouring to wrest the hard-earned prize money from the army and navy, while they were supplying the enemy with provisions and other necessaries.