104 
HISTORY OF THE [book iii, 
<s told me it was well I had not mentioned it ashore, 
fc for their power could not have protected me; 
s£ that it was impossible ; the Dutch had before at- 
* s tempted it, but were glad to retire. They like- 
“ wise told me, two French sloops had the day be- 
" fore we came, been amongst them, gave them 
“ arms and ammunition, and assured them of the 
tc whole force of Martinico for their protection 
sc against us. They told them also, that they had 
tf drove us from St. Lucia, and that now we were 
u come to endeavour to force a settlement there ; 
iC and notwithstanding all our specious pretences, 
te when we had power, we should enslave them; 
<c but declared they would trust no Europeans; that 
£C they owned themselves under the protection of 
“ the French, but would as soon oppose their set- 
(( tling amongst them, or any act of force from them, 
« as us, as they had lately given an example, by 
“ killing several; and they further told me, it was 
« by very large presents the French ever got in their 
« favour again; but they resolved never to put it 
« in the power of any European to hurt them. 
They advised me to think what they said was an 
« act of friendship. This being all I could get 
« from them, I dismissed them with such presents 
“ as his Grace ordered for that service, with a dis- 
fe charge of cannon, and received in return as re~ 
« gular vollies of small shot as I ever heard. In 
se the night the Winchelsea drove from her anchors, 
<c which as soon as I perceived, and had received 
* £ captain Watson from the shore, I got under sail, 
<£ and stood to the man of war." 
