CHAP, in.] WEST INDIES. 177 



selves in great force ; but D'Oyley at length reaching 

 Rio Nuevo, with seven hundred and fifty of his best 

 disciplined soldiers, attacked them in their intrench- 

 ments; carried by assault a strong fortress which they 

 had erected on an eminence over the harbour; and 

 compelled the late unfortunate governor to get back 

 as he could to Cuba, after the loss of all his stores, 

 ordnance, ammunition and colours, and of one half 

 the forces which he had brought with him. Few 

 victories have been more decisive; nor does history 

 furnish many instances of greater military skill and 

 intrepidity, than those which were displayed by the 

 English on this occasion. 



After so signal a defeat, the Spaniards made no ef- 

 fort of consequence to reclaim Jamaica. A party of 

 the ancient Spanish inhabitants, however, still lurked 

 in the woods, and Sasi, their governor, had returned 

 to share their fortunes ; but a body of their fugitive 

 negroes having surrendered to D'Oyley on the pro- 

 mise of freedom, these wretches informed him where 

 fheir late masters were sheltered; and joined some 

 troops that w r ere sent in pursuit of them : thus the 

 poor Spaniards were entirely routed, and the few that 

 survived, bv escaping to Cuba, took their last fare- 

 well of a country, on their fond attachment to which, 

 U is not possible to reflect without emotions of pity. 



By the wise, steady, and provident administration 

 of D'Oyley, the affairs of the island began at length 

 to wear a more promising aspect. The army was 

 now become tolerablv healthy. Some successful ef- 



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Vol. I. /. 



