SETTLEMENTS ON THE DEMERARY, &C. 325 



being: they were to remain under her orders, until the expedi- 

 tion, which had sailed from Barbadoes, should arrive, as they 

 would be found essentially necessary for landing the forces, in 

 case any opposition on the part of the Dutch rendered such a 

 procedure necessary. 



A great parade of determined resistance was now made, so 

 much so, that the English inhabitants felt themselves awk- 

 wardly situated, and began to fear, there was more in it than 

 they were aware of ; as the force the Dutch had, if properly 

 arranged and commanded, could make it a matter of consider- 

 able doubt, whether the English force would be successful, 

 owing to the bulwarks of defence which nature had provided, 

 in the shallowness of the coasts, and the litde effectual aid the 

 colonists themselves could give, (though three fourths of them 

 had been originally British subjects) on account of the oath 

 of allegiance they had been obliged to take to the Batavian 

 government. 



These fears and doubts were soon expelled, for on the 18th 

 of September, a flag of truce came into the river from the fleet, 

 which was still out of sight, with a summons to the governor 

 and council to surrender the colonies; a council of war was 

 again called, and a deputation sent off with full powers to ca- 

 pitulate. 



