186 
quered the island of Guadaloupe, 
Bight thousand chosen troops, six 
fine of battle ships, and ‘twelve 
frigates, must yield to that cou- 
Fage, virtue, and iove of liberty, 
that animaté a republican breast. 
‘With so inconsiderable a force, 
But entircly devoted to the tri- 
umph of liberty and equality, we 
have overcome all obstacles, and 
finally driven from this fertile 
and now free country, the re- 
mainder of the English pilfering 
horde. The vile” satellites of 
George, those infamous promoters 
and supporters of all kinds of rob- 
bery, ‘ashamed of their defeats, 
and unable to resist a generous 
enemy, endeavour to satisty their 
insatiaté avidity by plundering, 
onder’ ftivolous pretexts, neutral 
vessels. Nay, they exhaust all 
the resourees of craft and perfidy’ 
in order to rob them with impu- 
nity, and they are treading in 
the footsteps of Charles Gordon, 
commander of St. Lucie. John 
Vaughan, of glorious memory, in 
St. Eustatia, and Benjamin Cald- 
well, pretend to colour this their 
plunder by an insignificant pro- 
clamation, which “declares the 
island of Guadaloupe to be in a 
state of blockade, as if it was 
possible to block up such an exten- 
sive coast. 
What a moment do they choose 
for such an extravagant proclama- 
tion! Have not our sloops of 
war and other armed vesse!s, within 
these few months, taken, sunk, 
and burnt’ eighty. -eight of their 
vessels?——-which may be easily 
proved by the sentences. passed in 
the court of commerce of this 
island, and the registers and other 
papers belonging to the said vessels. 
Are we not ready to attack their 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 
1795. 
own colonies, and there convince 
them of the impossibility of such a 
blockade ? 
But rob they must; that is the 
great principle of the ‘Bnglish mi- 
litary service. In such a corrupt 
government no preferment can be 
obtained but for money, and mo. 
ney must be, had, no matter by 
what means; if hey cannot get 
it from their enemies, they are base 
enorgh to turn pirates and ransack 
neutral vessels, which are not adle 
to defend themselyés. 
From this sketch of the sordid’ 
intentions of the English, the dig-. 
nity and independence of neutral, 
powers require “that they should be 
upon their guard, and provide 
against the perfidious vexation 
which this Peiena blockade pre. 
pares to their trade E ye: 
We do, therefore, on our sides 
declare, that we shall never deviate 
ftom the principles of equity and, 
benevolence, which haye direéted. 
all our operations during and after. 
the retaking of this island, and that 
all neutral vessels shall here be well” 
received and protected, as far as, 
lies inour power. We assure them, , 
that the Englich rhodomontades in- 
spire us only, with perfect contempt, 
and that our enemies shall soon 
have reason to repent of their rash. 
ness and insolence. 
"This our present declaration shall 
be officially sent to the respective 
governments of the islands of St, 
Bartholemew, St. Croix, and St. 
Thomas ; and further, to the con- 
gress and legislatures. of the difs 
ferent States of America, through | 
the means of the French minister 
at Philadelphia. 
Port of Liberty, the 3d day of 
Ventose (21st February, style 
of slaves) in the 3d year of 
. the 
~ 
