EXPEDITION TO SURINAM, 



many good laws and inftitvitions ; and had jull begun to C 

 put the colony in a proper ftate of defence (of which at ^ 

 this time it flood greatly in need) againft its domeflic and 

 foreign enemies, when war was declared between France 

 and the United Provinces ; and the fame year the fettlement 

 of Surinam was attacked by Admiral Ducaffe with a ftrong 

 fleet, which, however, Governor Scherpenhayzon very 

 courageoufly beat off, after they had begun to cannonade 

 Fort Zelandia. 



In 1692 Jeronimus Clifford, an Englifliman, was con- 

 demned to be hanged (which fentence was changed to 

 feven years imprifonment in the fortrefs Somelfdyk) on 

 pretence of having infulted a magiflrate who had ar- 

 refted him for debt. On application, however, from the 

 court of Great Britain, he was fet at liberty in 1695, by 

 defire of the King, when he made a demand on the 

 colony of 20,000 guineas, for damages and falfe imprifon- 

 ment; which being refufed, his heirs have continued to 

 claim it fince 1700 to fo late as 1762, but hitherto without 

 obtaining any fatisfacftion. 



During the fucceeding war which happened in 1712, 

 the French Commodore Jaques CafTard, met with the 

 fame reception from Governor De Gooyer, which Ducaffe 

 had experienced from Scherpenhayzon before Zelandia ; 

 but four months after he returned with better fuccefs, 

 and laid the colony under contribution for a fum of about 

 56,6181. flerling. It was on the loth of October that he 



Vol. I. H entered 



