The convoy, with another large proportion of the St. Eustatia prize property, was taken by the French on its passage to England. An act was passed, "To continue several laws relating to the opening and establishing certain free ports in the island of Jamaica- to the allowing the free importation of sago-powder and vermicelli from his Majesty's colonies in North Americato the free importation of raw hides and skins from Ireland, and the British plantations in America-to the allowing the exportation of provisions, goods, wares, and merchandize, to certain places in North America, which are or may be under the protection of his Majesty's arms, and from such places to Great Britain, and other parts of his Majesty's dominions," &c. By an act passed in Jamaica, v. 3. act 91, any slave guilty of felony, robbery, "compassing or imagining the death of a white person, or any other capital offence," to be sent to prison by one justice, and tried by two, and five freeholders- the major part of whom, one being a justice, to give sentence of death, or such other punishment as they think proper, and to cause the same to be carried into execution. The justices may respite, not exceeding thirty days, or until the pleasure of the commander-in-chief is known. Two days' notice of the trial to be given to the owner, and £40, if the slave is condemned to death, and considered worth so much, to be paid by the parish. The number of Negroes in Barbadoes, as given in by Mr. Agent Brathwaite on oath, was 63,208, being 5076 less than the year before. Upon the 1st of August, Jamaica was again desolated by an hurricane. The West India planters and merchants petitioned the King, complaining that a sufficient naval force was not kept in that country for the protection of the island. They declared, "That the remaining islands are still so unhappily destitute of protection, that at no moment of the war have they been exposed to more imminent danger, than in the present awful conjuncture.” Major-General Campbell succeeded St. John Dalling, Bart. as governor of Jamaica. Wm. Brown, Esq. was appointed governor of the Bermuda Islands, upon the 3d of March, in the room of J. G. Bruere, Esq. deceased. April the 14th, Thomas Morley, Esq. was appointed captaingeneral and governor-in-chief of the Leeward Caribee islands. Report of the Lords of the Committee, 1789, Supplement to No. 15. Edwards, vol. i. p. 234. Annual Register, 1781, pp. 103. 207. 319. May the 9th, Thomas Shirley, Esq. took the oaths in council as captain-general and governor-in-chief of his Majesty's Leeward Caribee islands. On the 2d of March, the colonies of Demerary and Essequibo were surrendered to Captain Pender, of his Majesty's sloop Barbuda, and Lieutenant Forrest, who had been sent by governor Cunningham, with a flag of truce, from Barbadoes, to the Dutch governor Van Schuylenburch. The exports from Essequibo and Demerary to Holland and Zealand employed seven ships, and consisted of 1602 hhds. of sugar, 460 tierces and 10,250 bags of coffee, and 756 bales of cotton. Sir George Rodney having discovered that some British merchant in the West Indies had agreed to supply the French islands with provisions, ordered that no flag of truce should be allowed for the future to go to those islands, under pretence of exchanging prisoners, without a proper authority from General Vaughan or himself. The common price for a flag of truce was fifty johannes: by this illicit commerce the French got most accurate information. The Jews were deeply concerned in it. The inhabitants of St. Christopher's were so much offended with Admiral Rodney, that all his remonstrances could not induce the governing powers at that island to supply Negroes to get the cannon and stores which had been landed at Sandy Point up to the fortress at Brimstone Hill. The consequence was, that the French found them at the bottom of the hill when they landed, and used them to reduce the fortress. The conduct of Admiral Rodney and General Vaughan at St. Eustatia was brought before parliament, December the 4th, by Mr. Burke, who moved for an inquiry into the confiscation of property in the island, and of the sale of that property to his Majesty's enemies. The motion was opposed by Lord G. Germain. Whilst actions were depending in the courts below to obtain damages for the seizures, Lord George said, any decision of parliament must be injurious to one of the parties. Mr. Burke replied, that to abstain from interfering, upon that account, would be dishonourable. The outrages committed were without precedent. The merchants and traders were compelled to give in an account of all their plate, jewels, and ready money, all which was declared to be confiscated. Governor Meynell was supposed to have died in consequence of his sufferings. The Dutch were banished because they were Dutch, and the Americans because they were the King's enemies. Mr. Hohen, a Jew, had been caught in the attempt to hide some money about Bolinbroke's Voyage to Demerary, Appendix Beatson's Memoirs, vol. v. pp. 21. 23. quoting Sir G. Rodney's Letters.—pp. 172. 176. Adolphus's History of England, vol. iii. p. 370. his person, and was ready to attend at the bar of the house to give evidence of the treatment he had received. The cases of Mr. Gouverneur and of Mr. Curzen were also brought forward; and Mr. Burke asserted, that the French and Americans had been supplied with stores by the British conquerors, at the rate of 50 per cent. cheaper than they used to get them from the Dutch. Admiral Rodney said, that when he appeared before St. Eustatia, it was for the purpose of cutting off supplies from the enemy, and with the fixed resolution not to grant any terms to the inhabitants, who had a rooted aversion to us. Some of them were Englishmen, who were not ashamed to disgrace themselves and their country by assisting her enemies. Some weeks before the capture of the island, an application had been made to the inhabitants to purchase stores for the fleet. Their answer was, they had none; and yet when the island was taken, great quantities were found. Some English merchants engaged in traffic with the rebels in America, he seized and sent home, to meet the justice of the laws they had daringly offended. He thought, when the property was seized, that it would all belong to the King: it was for his country, and not for himself, that he had been acting. It was pretended that he had permitted the stores to be circuitously conveyed to the enemy: this was the very reverse of the truth. He had given orders that none should be sold, but all be sent to his Majesty's yard at Antigua, and every vessel which cleared was examined by a commissioned officer, to see that she had none on board. To insure obedience, he had deprived the ships, destined to convey them, of their provisions, save a bare sufficiency for the voyage. Instead of remaining inactive, as had been insinuated, he had planned two expeditions, one against Curaçoa, the other against Surinam, when he received advice that a French fleet of ten or twelve sail, with about seventy transports, was sailing for Martinico, and dispatched Sir S. Hood, with fifteen sail, to encounter them. His intention afterwards to fight De Grasse was disconcerted by intelligence conveyed to the French admiral: and he detailed facts which fully shewed him exempt from blame in not succouring Tobago. The attacks against his character, he said, were impotent and wicked; but he was honourably sheltered from their malignity by the approbation of a gracious prince, and a free and generous people. Major-General Vaughan declared that he was guiltless of every charge brought against him: he had not gained one shilling by the surrender of the settlement. As to the Jews, it was manifest they had not been treated with cruelty, because he had received an address, signed by the warden and rulers of that people, in which they expressed their gratitude for the clemency and goodness which he had shewn them; and he defied his enemies to prove that he had sullied his character, either as an officer or as a private individual. Mr. Burke's motion was rejected by a majority of 163 to 89. Captain Lawrence Græme, of his Majesty's sloop Sylph, escorted a detachment of troops, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Ferguson, which was sent against the French island of St. Bartholemew. On the 17th of March, it surrendered on the first summons. Its harbour had been a rendezvous for the enemy's privateers, who had annoyed the British trade considerably. April the 12th, Thomas Shirley, Esq. was appointed captaingeneral and governor-in-chief of the Leeward Caribee islands, in the room of William Matthew Burt, Esq. deceased. An act was passed to continue several laws relating to the opening and establishing certain free ports in the island of Jamaica. There was a hurricane at Jamaica on the 1st of August: it began from the southward, and veered round to S.E. Seventy-three Beatson's Memoirs, vol. v. p. 175. The following characteristic description of a hurricane, and of the loss of his Majesty's ship Phoenix, was written by the first lieutenant of that ship: will clear up at noon, or else blow very hard afterwards.'-'I wish it would clear up, but I doubt it much: I was once in a hurricane in the East Indies, and the beginning of it had much the same appearance as this; so take in the topsails- —we have plenty of sea-room.' "At twelve, the gale increasing still, we wore ship to keep a as near mid-channel, between Jamaica and Cuba, as possible: at one, the gale increasing still; at two, 'harder yet- -it still blows harder!' reefed the courses, and furled them; brought to under a foul mizen-staysail, head to the northward. In the evening, no sign of weather taking off, but every appearance of increasing, prepared for a proper gale of wind; secured all the sails with spare gaskets; good rolling tackles upon the yards-spanned the booms; saw the boats all made fast; new-lashed the guns. double-breeched the lower-deckers; saw that the carpenters had the tarpaulines and battens all ready for hatchways; got the top-gallantmasts down upon deck ; jib-boom and spritsail-yard fore and aft; in fact, every thing we could think of to make a snug ship. "October the 2d, spoke to the Barbadoes off Port Antonio in the evening. At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a monstrous heavy appearance from the eastward-close-reefed the topsails. Sir Hyde sent for me What sort of weather have we, Archer?' It blows a little, and has a very ugly look: if we were in any other country but this, I should say we were going to have a gale of wind.' 6 Aye, it looks so very often here, when there is no wind at all; how ever, don't hoist the topsails till it clears a little-there is no trusting any country.' At twelve I was relieved the weather had the same grum look: however, they made sail upon her, but we had a very dirty night. At eight in the morning I came up again - found it blowing hard from E. N. E., with close reefed topsails upon the ship, heavy squalls at times. Sir Hyde came upon deck . Well, Archer, what do you think of it?'-' Oh, Sir, 'tis only a touch of the times - we shall have an observation at twelve o'clock: the clouds are beginning to break — it "The poor devils of birds now began to find the uproar in the elements, for light vessels were driven on shore, two loaded ships sunk, twentyfour ran on shore, between the Salt Ponds and Mosquito Point. Annual Register, 1781, p. 92. numbers came on board of us, both of sea and land kinds: some I took notice of, which happened to be to leeward, turned to windward like a ship — tack and tack for they could not fly against it; and when they had come over the ship, dash themselves down on the deck, and never attempt to stir till picked up; and when let go again, would not leave the ship, but endeavour to hide themselves from the wind. At eight o'clock a hurricane—the sea roaring, but the wind still steady to a point: did not ship a spoonful of water. However, got the hatchways all secured, expecting what would be the consequence should the wind shift: placed the carpenters by the mainmast with broad axes, knowing from experience, that at the moment you may want to cut away to save the ship, an axe may not be found. Went to supperbread, cheese, and porter: the purser frightened out of his wits about his bread-bags; the two marine officers as white as sheets, not understanding the ship's working so much, and the noise of the lower-deck guns, which by this time made a pretty screeching to people not used to it: it seemed as if the whole ship's side was going at each roll. Wooden, our carpenter, was all this time smoking his pipe and laughing at the doctor; the second lieutenant upon deck, the third in his hammock. At ten o'clock I thought to get a little sleep; came to look into my cot it was full of water; for every seam, by the straining of the ship, had begun to leak; stretched myself, therefore, upon deck between two chests, and left orders to be called should the least thing happen. "At twelve, a midshipman came to me- Mr. Archer, we are just going to wear ship, sir.'-' Oh, very well, I will be up directly; what sort of weather have you got?'. . It blows a hurricane.' Went upon deck, found Sir Hyde there: It blows damn'd hard, Archer.'-' It does indeed, sir.'-' I don't know that I ever remember its blowing so hard before; but the ship makes very good weather of it upon this tack, as she bows the sea; but we must wear her, as the wind has shifted to the S. E., and we are drawing right upon Cuba; so do you go forward, and have some hands stand by; loose the lee-yardarm of the foresail, and when she is right before the wind whip the clue garnet close up, and roll the sail up.'- Sir, there is no canvas can stand against this a moment; if we attempt to loose him, he'll fly into ribbands in a moment, and we may lose three or four of our people; she'll wear by manning the fore-shrouds.'-' No, I don't think she will.' I'll answer for it, sir; I have seen it tried several times on the coast of America with success. ' Well, try it; if she does not wear, we can only loose the foresail afterwards.' This was a great condescension from such a man as Sir Hyde. However, by sending about two hundred people into the fore rigging, after a hard struggle she wore found she did not make so good weather on this tack as the other, for as the sea began to run across, she had not time to rise from one sea before another dashed against her. Began to think we should lose our masts, as the ship lay very much along, by the pressure of the wind constantly upon the yards and masts alone; for the poor mizen-staysail had gone in shreds long before, and the sails began to fly from the yards through the gaskets into coach-whips. My God! to think that the wind could have such force! "Sir Hyde now sent to see what was the matter between decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As soon as I was below, one of the marine officers calls out, Good God! Mr. Archer, we are sinking; the water is up to the bottom of my cot.'' Poo, poo, as long as it is not over your mouth you are well off; what the devil do you make this noise for?' I found there was some water between decks, but nothing to be alarmed at; scuttled the deck, and let it run into the well found she made a great deal of water through the sides and decks; turned the watch below to the pumps, though only two feet of water in the well; but expected to be kept constantly at work now, as the ship laboured much, with hardly a part of her above water but the quarter-deck, and that but seldom. |