with much labour. On the twenty- 
third, their whole force being land- 
ed, they advanced into the country, 
expecting, it has been said, to be 
joined by numbers, But if such 
was their expectation, 
greatly deceived. The whole coun- 
‘try was instantly alarmed, and the 
people gathered from all parts 
‘to oppose them. In the course of 
‘the day, more than three thousand 
) men were collected, of whom seven 
hundred were w-ll trained militia. 
Lord Cawdor put himself at their 
“head, and marched directly avainst 
_ the enemy, whom he reached before 
“the setting in of night. But in- 
_ Stead of attempting either attack or 
defence, the French commander in- 
formed him, by a Jetter, brought by 
~ one of his officers, that the circum- 
yeiances, under which the French 
’ - troops were landed, rendering mi-_ 
itary operations - unnecessary, as 
they would only tend to bloodshed 
nd pillase, ail the officers under 
-him, had“ intimated their desire to 
“enter into a negeciation for a sur- 
“fender. 
_ To this message lord Cawdor re- 
plied, by requiring them immedi- 
will to surrender prisoners of war. 
ith this requisition they complied, ' 
d laid down their arms on the fol- 
% gwing day. They had no field- 
_e with them, but brought a 
nantity of powder and ball, suffici- 
t to load seventy carts. One half 
of them were picked veterans, but 
= other consisted, according to 
t, of galley-slaves, and others 
the like sort, taken out of prison 
6n condition of their engaging in 
thisatempt. ‘heir ragged appear- 
ce fully countenanced this surmise, 
Ss the first object that occupied 
them, on their landing, was to pro- 
- Vide themselves with clothes where- 
HISTORY. OF EUROPE. 
they were: 
' 
[89 
eyer they could find any. Various 
motives were assigned for this un- 
dertaking, Whatever they _might 
be, those who were employed in it, 
had only their own prowess and ex 
ertions to rely upon for success,.as 
the ships that brought them, took 
their departure as soon as the de- 
barkation was completed, leaving 
them entirely to the chances and 
protection of their own fortune. 
The most probable of the several 
opinions, formed upon this subject, 
seems that which ascribes to the 
French governmenta determination 
to prove the practicability of eifecting 
a landing in England, notwithstand- 
ing the numerous fleets that guard 
its coasts. Ina trial of this imports 
ance they were willing to risk the 
handful of men that were sent 
to make it. They might not, 
however, imagine that they would 
so readily yield to the first sum- 
mons, and possihly hoped that they 
would be able to occasion much 
confusion before they were subdued. 
While the French were thus 
vainly endeavouring to carry the 
war into the British dominions in 
Europe, the arms of England were 
more successfully employed against 
the possessions of their Spanish allies 
in the West Indies. An expe- 
dition was planned, and took place 
in February, against Trinidad, an 
island ‘of consequence on the 
northern coast of South Ameri- 
ca. The land forces were under 
the comnaand of general’ Aber- 
cromby, and the squadron under 
that of admiral Harvey. The Spa- 
niards, in expectation of an attack, 
had collected a naval force for their 
defence. It consisted of four ships 
of the line, besides frigates, and lay 
at anchor in a bay, protected by 
strong batteries, On the sixteenth 
of 
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