NAPARIMA COLLEGE FOREVER |
"Say to the Governor that I see with sorrow that his troops are without hope of being able to carry out his wishes, that the undeniably superior force under my command has rendered me master of the town, and it is surrounded on all sides by sea and land without the slightest chance of assistance. there is no possibility of resistance with such unequal forces, and before causing a considerable amount of bloodshed without any hope of ultimate success, I beg him to name a place of conference. I offer him an honourable capitulation, such as is due to good and faithful soldiers, who otherwise will be sacrificed in vain".Chacon surrenders, at Valsayn House near st. Joseph on Feb. 18, 1797.
Whites............................2,086Immediately before the capture of Trinidad, there had been an influx of French loyalists of all classes, displaced from British military actions in islands further north.
Free Coloured.................4,406
Slaves..........................10,000
Caribs and Arawaks... ....1,082
Total........................ ....17,643