AD. 1779. 639 



of which, we may believe was fbon confiderably augmented, if we con- 

 lider how popular a Spanifli war is at all times with our feamen, and 

 how eafily fhips fitted for the flave trade can be converted into fliips of 

 war. 



The homeward-bound Weft-India fliips were aflembled about the- 

 middle of June at S'. Chriftophers in order to fiil thence under convoj- 

 for England. But Admiral Byron, the commander of the Britifli fleec 

 in the Weft-Indies, confidering how great a force the French then had 

 in thofe feas, and that another French fleet was alfo upon the way from 

 Europe, concluded that it would be extremely dangerous to detach a part 

 of his fleet to convoy the trade home, as it would be in the power of the 

 French admiral to fend off a force fufficicnt to overtake the Weft-Indi:i 

 fleet, or intercept the fliips of war on their return from efcorting them, 

 and alfo to overpower that part of his fleet which he fliould retain, as 

 there was no port in the Weft-Indies capable of proteding them againft 

 a force fo far fuperior, and he therefor determined to convoy the 

 merchant fhips a confiderable part of the way with his whole fleet. But, 

 as no human prudence can at once guard againft every difafter, it ap- 

 peared, that the fafety of this very valuable fleet of merchant fliips was 

 purchafcd at the expence of expofmg our Weft-India fettlements to the 

 enemy ; and two valuable iflands were immediately loft. 



That part of the ifland of S\ Vincents, occupied by the Britifli fettlers, 

 at this time contained 61 fugar plantations; and it had 500 acres in 

 coffee, 200 in cacao, 400 in cotton, 50 in indigo, and 500 in tobacco, 

 befides grounds for raifing yams, plantains, and other articles of pro- 

 vifion. About one third of the ifland was now acknowleged to belong 

 to the Caribs, or Charaibes, the indigenous proprietors of the whole. 

 But many unwarrantable attempts were faid to have been made by fome 

 of the planters to expell thofe people from their poflefllons, which in the 

 year 1772 brought on a petty fanguinary war (to the great difcontent 

 of the officers and foldiers employed in it, who execrated it as a difgrace 

 to their profefllon) which was terminated by an infincere peace in 

 February 1 773. It was, perhaps, owing to the refentment ftill felt by 

 the natives for this invafion of their property, that the ifland, though 

 garrifoned by feven companies of regular troops, now fell, an unrefift- 

 ing prey, to lb fmalla force as 450 men from Martinique, led by a lieu- 

 tenant of the French navy ; as the Caribs, who immediately joined the 

 French, were believed by fome to have invited the attack * (June 1 9'"). 

 The French officer granted liberal terms of capitulation, modeled upon 

 thofe of the marquis dc Bouille on the furrender of Dominica. 



The comte d'Eftaing, the French admiral, being reinforced by the 

 arrival of the fleet expected from France, now faw himfelf the unrivaled 



* It ought, however, to be remembered, that the French were their anticnt friends, with whoc 

 they had formerly had much intcrcourfc, and whofe language many of them had learned. 



