Foils 229-231: John Barrett, HMS Experiment, Halifax Harbour. By order of Rear Admiral...

Foils 229-231: John Barrett, HMS Experiment, Halifax Harbour. By order of Rear Admiral Henry he proceeded to Jamaica accompanied by the transports and arrived there on 21 March and then from there to Roatan on 6 April, having procured a Pilot, shifted the Charibs from the John and Mary which was disabled and repaired a leak HMS Experiment had sprung running down from St Vincent. The Prince William Henry transport parted company during the night on their way to Roatan and was captured by 2 Spanish frigates on 12 April and carried into Truxilla. In order to rescue the Charibs he hired an American schooner and sent the Governor and Garrison of Roatan accompanied by Captain Garaghty of the 5th Irish brigade to make an exchange of prisoners. The schooner was detained from 14 to 22 April and returned with the seamen and guard that were on board the transport, but they kept the Master, Mate and all the Charibs. In company with HMS Ganges and the Boyton he went to Truxilla to enforce his demands. They arrived on 27 April and took possession of the Prince William Henry, then landed and took the Fort which they held for some hours. They then saw the Garrison retreating, during which retreat 4 soldiers were killed, 5 wounded and 5 missing. Reports the action the following day after which the Fort signalled an exchange of prisoners. They received their missing men from whom the learnt that they had killed 21 and wounded 42. It was a party of French from St Domingo who had prevailed upon the Spanish to rally and there were 600 men in the Fort and more expected. He proceeded to Roatan with the transport. On 30 April the lookout reported sighing 4 vessels to Lieutenant Morgan , Transport Agent. He ordered the transports to weigh, apart from the Prince William Henry which he had to leave with the Charibs. The Ganges had parted company the previous evening. Reports to capture of 3 out of a party of 10 vessels. He would have taken 4 but the convoy had left him on the mistaken report of the Master of the Sovereign who said he had been taken by the Spanish fleet. The Spanish fleet was bound from Vera Cruz to the Havannagh (?). When he rejoined the convoy he found that the Fortitude was missing. The Masters of the other transports said that they had left her aground. Captain Church of HMS Topaze told him he had seen her clear of the Gulph. He arrived at Halifax on 5 June in order to obtain provisions and material comforts for the invalids. reports on the number of guns at the Forts in Roatan and Truxilla. Commends Lieutenant Morgan, Major Wilson, Captain Garaghty and the other Officers and men of the 5th Irish Brigade. Praises the conduct of his Officers and ship's company, whom he has commanded for over 2 years.

Folios 231-232: enclosure in folios 229-231. Copy of order dated 5 February 1797 from Rear Admiral of the Red Henry Harvey, HMS Prince of Wales, Fort Royal Bay, Martinique, to Captain Barrett, HMS Experiment. Secretary Dundas has signified His Majesty's pleasure that the Charibs should be sent from St Vincents to the Bay of Honduras to be landed somewhere within that bay in order to prevent their return to the Charibee islands. Captain Barrett is ordered to take transports under his convoy and proceed to St Vincents to notify the Governor of his arrival and take the Charibs on board together with provisions and other stores. Once embarkation is complete he is to proceed to the Bay of Honduras and land the Charibs on Roatan or elsewhere in the Bay as most appropriate for their settlement. he is then to return to England with the convoy of transports and proceed to Spithead.

Folio 233: enclosure in folios 229-231. Copy of letter dated 31 March 1797 from Captain George Bower of HMS Canada, Senior Officer of vessels and ships in Jamaica, to Captain Barrett, HMS Experiment. By order of Sir Hyde Parker, Vice Admiral of the Red and Commander in Chief of vessels and ships at St Domingo and Jamaica, hearing that HMS Experiment is ready to put to sea and has been supplied with stores from Port Royal, he is ordered to proceed with the Prince William Henry to Bluefields and join the remainder of the convoy and to execute Admiral Harvey's orders.