FALKLAND ISLANDS. 



235 



sels present. Some of the French colonists remained, but the 

 greater part preferred returning to France, and passages were 

 given to them on board Spanish ships. 



In 1770, a Spanish armament attacked the British colony 

 at Port Egmont, and obliged its small garrison to surrender 

 to an overpowering force, and quit the place. England, indig- 

 nant at the insult, armed for war, and demanded satisfaction 

 from Spain for the injury inflicted. At first Spain argued and 

 temporized ; but finding that Great Britain continued firm, 

 and that the English people were even more disposed for action 

 than their Government, she relinquished her views — disavowed 

 the act of her ofiicer—and restored Port Egmont. England 

 was satisfied — or rather, the court party professed to be satis- 

 fied; but the opposers of government angrily declared that 

 Spain had not done enough ; and that, though compelled to 

 make restitution, her insult was unatoned for. 



In 1774, finding the establishment at the Falklands expen- 

 sive, and almost useless,'* England quietly withdrew it ; but 

 the marks and signals of possession and property were left 

 upon the islands, and when the governor departed, the British 

 flag remained flying, and various formalities were observed, 

 intended to indicate the right of possession, as well as to show 

 that the occupation of them might be resumed. 



The reports made by officers employed at Port Egmont 

 were of such a discouraging tendency, that no person at that 

 time entertained the least wish to have any further concern 

 with the islands — and for years they were unnoticed — though 

 not forgotten by England. Spain, however, jealous of in- 

 terference with her colonial possessions, and regarding the 

 Falklands as a vantage-ground, from which those in the south 

 might be suddenly or secretly invaded, maintained a small 

 garrison at the eastern extremity of the Archipelago, where 

 her ships occasionally touched, and from time to time recon- 

 noitred the adjacent ports, in order to ascertain whether any 

 visitors were there. At what precise time the Spaniards with- 



* The fact was, it was injudiciously situated, and therefore seldom 

 visited, except by a few fishermen. 



