1786. frustrated through the precaution of the Spanish admiral. Don Solano, apprehenfive though not informed of the danger, instead of proceeding to Fort Royal bay, prudently stopped fhort on his approach to the nearest iflands; and difpatched a frigate to inform count de Guichen of his fituation, and to require a speedy junction of the fleets where he then was. The French commander failed directly, with 18 ships of the line, and keeping close to leeward of the islands, joined the Spaniards under Dominique.

June

The combined fleets amounted to 36 fail of the line, which with their united land forces, formed fuch an apparent fuperiority, as nothing in thofe feas or iflands seemed capable of refifting. But the Spanish troops being too much crowded on board their tranfports, together with the length of the voyage, the change of climate and diet, and other circumstances, a most mortal and contagious diforder was generated, which first infect-ing their own feamen, at length fpread, though not entirely with fo fatal an effect, through the French fleet and land forces. Befide the great mortality on the paffage, the Spaniards landed no less than 1200 fick on their first arrival at Dominique, and a much greater number afterward at Guadaloupe and Martinico. Thus the fpirit of enterprife was damped, and some part of the means taken away. Still the combined forces had a fufficient fuperiority to enable them to proceed to of fenfive operations with the profpect of fuccefs. George Rodney on the junction of the enemies fleets retired to St. Lucie, where he was equally well fituated, either for pbferving their motions and counteracting, according to his ability, their defigns on the other iflands;

Sir

or

or for felf-defence fhould they venture upon an attack. 1780, But they remained totally inactive in Fort Royal bay till the 5th of July, when they put to fea in the night, with- July out making fignals or fhowing lights. Had they im- 5 proved their opportunity, Jamaica muft undoubtedly have fallen; but a misunderstanding between the Spanish and French admirals, rendered their junction and fuperiority of little importance. Count de Guichen accompanied Don Solano as far as St. Domingo, and then left the Spanish fleet to proceed fingly to the Havannah, while he with the French put in at Cape François. Here he remained till a large convoy was collected from the French iflands, with which he proceeded directly for Europe. Sir George Rodney, entertaining a mistaken apprehenfion either from his own conjecture or from information, that de Guichen was bound to North America in order to join adm. Ternay at Rhode Island, had no fooner received certain intelligence of his departure from Cape François; than he failed himfelf with eleven capital ships and four frigates for New York.

The combined fleets in the European seas have been more fuccefsful. A rich and confiderable convoy for the Eaft and Weft Indies failed from Portsmouth in the latter end of July, under the conduct of capt. Moutray of the Ramillies and two frigates: the whole were intercepted on the 9th of Auguft by the combined fleets Aug, under Don Louis de Cordova. The convoy included, 9 beside the merchantmen, eighteen victuallers, ftorefhips and tranfports, deftined for the fervice in the Weft Indies. Five East Indiamen made a part of it, and together with arms, ammunition, and a train of artillery, conveyed a large quantity of naval ftores, for the fupply

1780, of the British squadron in that quarter. The East India and fifty West India fhips, including those upon governmental account, were taken. The Ramillies, with the frigates, and a few West India fhips escaped. Such a prize never before entered the harbour of Cadiz. A British fleet of near 60 fhips led captive by a Spanish fquadron, was extremely flattering to a people, to whom naval captures from fuch an enemy were an unusual fpectacle. The appearance of the numerous prifoners rendered the triumph more complete, and made the fight ftill more fingular. They confifted of 1250 feamen, officers included; of 1255 foldiers, and 74 officers; of 149 women; and of 137 paffengers of both fexes, among whom were fome married and unmarried ladies of condition. The whole amounted to 2865 perfons. The value of the faleable commodities was great, but the lofs of the military and naval fupplies was much more confiderable, as they could not be replaced in time. Advantageous purchases will undoubtedly be made out of this capture for the fervice of the American army.

The ftrong appearances of an approaching ftorm, with which adminiftration was threatened, having fubfided; and every thing going on fmoothly and profperously, there was reafon to expect that elections for a new parliament would go greatly in favor of the court. A diffolution of the prefent was therefore determined Sept. upon; but the design was kept a profound fecret. When 1. the proclamation for the diffolving of it appeared, it

-wrought like a thunder clap, with respect to suddenness and furprise, on those who were unacquainted with the defign. A new prorogation had taken place within a

few

few days, which ferved to render the ftroke ftill more 1780. unexpected. The elections went much in favor of the court. One hundred and thirteen new representatives obtained feats in parliament.

6.

Mr. Laurens was taken on his way from congrefs to Holland, in the beginning of September, on the banks of Newfoundland. A package of papers, when thrown overboard, not finking fuddenly, was faved by the boldnefs and dexterity of a British failor, and most of them were recovered from the effects of the water. On his arrival in England, he was committed upon a charge of Oct. high treafon, as a state prifoner to the Tower, under an order figned by the three fecretaries of state. He claimed the privileges of his public character, as a commiffioner from the United States of America; and declined anfwering any queftions whofe tendency he could not immediately perceive, fo that little information was obtained from him. But by the medium of his papers the administration came to the knowledge of the eventual treaty of amity and commerce between America and Holland. The papers relating to this business were delivered about the beginning of November to the prince of Orange, who on the 5th laid them before the ftates of Holland and Weft Friefland. On the 10th Sir Jofeph Yorke prefented to the States General a memorial concerning them. He demanded in the name of the king, his master, not only a formal difavowal of [what was pronounced] fo irregular a conduct, as that which was charged upon the ftates of Amfterdam, of carrying on a long clandeftine correfpondence with the American rebels, and of giving inftructions and powers for entering into a treaty with thofe rebels; but alfo infifted

B 3

1780. fifted on a speedy fatisfaction, and the punishment of the penfionary Van Berkel and his accomplices. This conduct was declared to be no lefs contrary to the most facred engagements of their high mightineffes, than repugnant to the Dutch conftitution.

The reference to fuch engagements feems to have been ill timed, as the royal order of the 17th of April laft had declared Holland to be on the footing of other neutral powers; and had difannulled the efficacy of fuch engagements for the prefent, by fufpending till further orders all the particular ftipulations refpecting the fubjects of the States General, contained in the several treaties then fubfifting. The States General difavowed the intended treaty of the city of Amsterdam, and engaged to profecute the penfionary according to the laws of the country. This not being deemed fatisfactory, Sir. Jofeph Yorke received orders to withdraw from the Hague; and on the 20th of December, a manifesto against the Dutch was published in a London Gazette Extraordinary, followed by an order of council-" That general reprisals be granted against the ships, goods and fubjects of the States General." A few days before the publication, the States General had acceded to the con→ federation of the armed neutrality.

On Tuesday October the 3d, Jamaica was visited with a complicated calamity. A. most extraordinary fwell of the fea, ten feet higher than its common level, fucceeded by an earthquake and hurricane, brought dreadful destruction on particular parts of the island. Savannah La Mar, a confiderable trading town on the fouth fide of the island in Weftmoreland parish, was totally destroyed, by the fea's fuddenly bursting through

all