HISTORY OF EUROPE. {91 
CHA BR 'vit. 
an Tne ffectual Expedition of the English against the Spanish Island of Porto- 
te 
Rico.—Transactions in the West Indies —Favouralle to the English, loth 
ty Sea and Land.— Great Preparations against England, in the Ports of 
Holland and Spain.—Spanish Fleet defeated ty an English Squadron 
greatly inferior in Strength and Numbers, under the Command of Ad- 
- miral Sir John Jervis.—Other gallant Exploits of this Squadron.—Un- 
fortunate Attempt of the English on the Island of Teneriffe.—Dutch Ar- 
-mament destined, as was supposed, against England.— Puts to Sea, under 
order to join the French Fleet at Brest.—Encountered, dnd after an obsti- 
nate Engagement defeated with great Loss, by an English Squadron un- 
* der Admiral Duncan.—Yet Preparations still continued in Appearance, 
by the French, for an Invasion of England.—Calamities brought on the 
Dutch by their Junction with the French. 
/ 
¥ot 
‘WO months after the reduction 
4 of Trinidad, an expedition 
‘was undertaken against the island of 
‘Porto Rico. The Spanish privateers, 
from this’ place, were numerous, 
and’ greatly annoyed the British 
_ trade in the 
West Indies. The 
planters had repeatedly recom- 
mended an attack of this island, the 
«apture of which they represented 
_as of the highest utility, as it would 
not only deprive the Spaniards of 
an important possession, but clear 
the navigation from the windward to” 
the leeward islands, from much of 
_ the danger attending it. Admiral 
' seventeenth of April. 
Harvey and general, Abercromby 
_ willingly undertook, for these rea- 
sons, to perform soessentiala service. 
They sailed accordingly for Porto- 
Rico, where they arrived on the 
The whole 
‘morthern coast of this island being 
bounded by a reef, it was with 
much difficulty that a narrow chan- 
nel was discovered, through which 
the lighter vessels, with the troops, 
were able to effect their passage 
into a small bay, Here these landed, 
and advanced immediately towards 
the town. But the approaches to 
it were'so strongly fortified, and de- 
fended by so many batteries, that it 
was found impossible to make any 
impression upon them, with the in- 
considerable artillery that had with 
great exertions been brought ashore. 
An attempt was made to bombard 
the town ; but this proved, on ac- 
count of the distance, totally im- 
practicable. 
fore, that no endeavours, however 
vigorous, could surmount these ob- 
stacles, and that no combined efforts 
of the sea and land force could in 
any manner be effectual in the pre- 
sent circumstances, it was judged 
adyisable to desist from the at- 
tempt, 
It appearing, there- | 
