D U N K I R K. 1750. 15^ 



lowed them. But the fituation of the place 

 naturally brought to ray mind the reafons why 

 England would not permit it to continue for- 

 tified. 



The town is fituated on an open harbour: 

 the entrance is difficult; and the pilot afked 

 fix hundred French livres for his trouble. But 

 befides that the privateers in time of war can 

 do a great deal of harm from hence, it is very 

 conveniently fituated for the Englijh fmugglers, 

 who run the French liqueurs, &c. over to Eng- 

 land, where there is a high duty laid upon 

 them. Not to mention that the Aujlrian Ne- 

 therlands can be provided from this place, as 

 a free port, in great plenty, to the difadvan- 

 tage of a neighbouring nation. 



From hence we failed, the 2 2d of April, 

 with fo good a wind that we were able to an- 

 chor on the fouth fide of Madeira, at Funchal y 

 the 4th of May. The fhip happened to be {o 

 ftationed that the country exhibited the finefl 

 profpect I ever faw. 



It rifes like an amphitheatre : below is 

 adorned with fine fields, gardens, and vine- 

 yards, to which nature has given an advan- 

 tageous 



