68 JAMAICA. 



the pofl, repafled the river Minho, after killing feveral of the 

 enemy, and the lofs of fome of their own officers. In the mean 

 time the militia, difpatched by the governor, having arrived, ad- 

 vanced againft the French; and, notwithflanding the fatigue of 

 their long march from Spanifh Town, they charged the enemy 

 with fuch fury, as obliged them to retreat. The two following 

 days a few flight Ikirmilhes happened ; and on the 2 2d, the French 

 attacked a brick houfe, then occupied by a Mr. Hubbard, which 

 •was bravely defended by twenty-five men, who killed and wounded 

 feveral of the French, among whom were fome officers of di- 

 flinftion. The French retired for a while, threatening to renew 

 the afl'ault; and, in the meantime, a detachment from the EnglifTi 

 troops, of fifty picked men, was thrown into the houfe, and aiv 

 ambufcade prepared with the reft. But the enemy, intimidated 

 ■with their lofs of men and officers, feeing no probability of being- 

 able to effedl any further advance into the country, fuddenly re- 

 treated to the fhore, re-embarked with the utmofl expedition on 

 board their fliips, and on the 24th, their whole fleet got under fail 

 for Hifpaniola. The whole lofs fuflained by the French in this 

 fliort time, by their different engagements and ficknefs, amounted 

 to near feven hundred men. On the part of the Engtifli, one 

 hundred were killed and wounded. Captain Elliot, who had been 

 a prifoner at Petit-Guava, and made his efcape from thence in a 

 fmall canoe, brought the firfl: intelligence to Sir William Beefl:oa 

 of the intended invafion ; for which he was afterwards recompenfed 

 by king William III. with a gold chain and medal, of one hundred 

 pounds value, and five hundred pounds in money. 



The government of Jamaica immediately fet about framing fe- 

 veral aits for better guarding the coafl:s ; and, among others, one 

 for enabling the inhabitants of Vere to ere£t a fortification for their 

 defence; in confequence of which, Carlifle Fort was built the fol- 

 lowing year. This fortrefs, for want of repair, has been under- 

 mined by the fea, and for many years in a ruinous condition, the 

 guns being all difmounted, and fome of them buried in the fand : 

 nor will it probably be reftored to a proper ftate for defence till after 

 fome future invafion ; the general rule of oeconomy, purfued in 

 this iflaud, having been to let the preparations for defence always 



follow, 



