CAP. in.] WEST INDIES. 195 



Casse, the governor of that island, in person. Ac- 

 cordingly, on the 17th of June 1694, a fleet of three 

 men of war and twenty privateers (having on board 

 150O land forces) appeared off Cow-bay, where eight 

 hundred of the soldiers were landed, with orders to 

 desolate the country as far as Port Morant. These 

 barbarians obeyed their instructions to the full extent 

 They not only set fire to every settlement they came 

 to, but tortured their prisoners in the most shocking 

 manner, and murdered great numbers in cold blood, 

 after making them behold the violation of their wives 

 by their own negroes. Such at least is the account 

 transmitted by Sir William Beeston, the governor, to 

 the secretary of state. Unfortunately, the militia of 

 this part of the country had been drawn off to guard 

 the capital ; whereby the French continued their ra- 

 vages without resistance, and having set fire to all the 

 plantations within their reach, and seized about one 

 thousand negroes, Du Casse sailed to leeward, and 

 anchored in Carlisle Bay, in the parish of Vere. This 

 place had no other fortification than an ill-contriyed 

 breast-work, manned by a detachment of two hun- 

 dred men from the militia of St Elizabeth .and Cla- 

 rendon, which Du Casse attacked with all his force. 

 The English made a gallant resistance ; but colonel 



O o 



Cleyborn, lieutenant colonel Smart, captain Vassal, 

 and lieutenant Dawkins being killed, and many others 

 dangerously wounded, they were compelled to re- 

 treat. Happily, at this moment, arrived five compa- 

 nies of militia, which the governor had sent to their 

 assistance from Spanish Town. These, though the; 

 had marched thirty miles without refreshment, iin- 



