those who thought the coercion of the colonies was perfectly just, so that he entered upon his duty with his heart warm in the cause. It is not meant to say that those members of the executive power were prevented, by a different opinion on the American question, from performing their duty by sea and land; for war, from whatever quarter, places our country on the defensive, calling for the best services of every good subject; and as it was chiefly with the French that our fleets had to do, it would be wrong to suspect that the Keppels and Howes, whatever their political principles might be, were slack in performing their duty.

On the 1st of October, 1779, Sir George

cipitately adopted, charges, and of all recriminating accusations of subordinate officers against their commanders-in-chief; and particularly the mischief and scandal of permitting men who are at once in high civil office and high military command, previous to their making such accusations, to attempt to corrupt the public judgment, by the publication of libels upon their officers in a common newspaper, thereby exciting mutiny in your Majesty's navy, as well as prejudicing the minds of those who are to try the merits of the accusation against the said superior officer.

was appointed commander-in-chief of his Majesty's Leeward Islands and Barbadoes; and as the greatest anxiety was now entertained by the government for the fate of Gibraltar, which was put to great straits by the Spanish and French besieging forces, and for want of provisions, the admiral proceeded, with all despatch, to Portsmouth, to expedite the equipment of the fleet. But before entering into the detail of those brilliant achievements which brought so much honour to himself and advantage to his country, it will be necessary to insert a letter which he had addressed to Lord Sandwich a short time previous to the commencement of the war with France.

TO THE EARL OF SANDWICH.

'May, 1778.

'As hostilities are now commenced between 'Great Britain and France, my duty, as an 'admiral and a subject, obliges me to con'tribute all in my power towards defeating 'the designs of the public enemy, and assist'ing the King's Ministers with what know'ledge and observations my long services in

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the naval department have enabled me to 'make during the two last wars. As no man' has the prosperity of his country more at

heart, permit me, my Lord, humbly to offer 'my sentiments at this critical time, and to point out where, in my opinion, France is 'most vulnerable, and where a blow struck ' at the beginning of the war may be of in'finite consequence to Great Britain, and of 'the greatest detriment to France, and in a 'great measure deprive them of the resources 'for carrying it on, and give Great Britain' 'the key to that part of the world from 'whence they have flowed, and enabled' France to dispute the sovereignty of the' 6 ocean.

'I had lately the honour to present to your 'Lordship a copy of a letter I thought it my 'duty to send to the King's minister before 'the conclusion of the last war, pointing out 'the great consequence of retaining some of 'the conquered islands, particularly Marti-> 'nique or St. Lucie; and though, at that

time, I preferred the retention of Martinique, 'I am now fully convinced that St. Lucie is ' of more consequence to Britain, for the

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' reasons I shall presume to give, viz., Martinique, though in the most flourishing con'dition at the conquest, has, since the last

war, had the dreadful misfortune of being 'pestered with a species of ants*, which have destroyed the country, particularly the wind"ward side, in such a manner as to make it ' almost a desert, and ruined all the proprie'tors in that quarter. The plague still con'tinues, and many of the planters, who used to make three or four hundred hogsheads of sugar, now make none. This island, though 'possessing four harbours, has none equal to 'the carenage of St. Lucie, or so secure and capable of being defended, which alone is

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Martinique was first infested by ants in the autumn of 1763. These insects were brought to the West Indies with the slave ships from Africa, in which country they abound, and raise pyramidical nests in hillocks of considerable size.

Some time before they visited Martinique, they had ravaged Barbadoes to such a degree, that it was deliberated whether that island, formerly so flourishing, should not be deserted.

In Martinique, they destroyed all the culinary vegetables; the quadrupeds were hardly able to subsist; and the largest trees were infested in such a manner that the most voracious birds would not light upon them.

In short, the greatest precautions were necessary to prevent their attacks on men that were afflicted with sores, or on children that were unable to assist themselves.-Vide Southey's Chron. Hist. of the West Indies.

of the utmost consequence to a maritime power; besides, the French, since the last peace, having fortified Mount Garnier, it ' will render the conquest of Martinique more difficult, and take up a longer time; whereas 'St. Lucie, having been greatly cleared and ' cultivated since the last war, will render the 'conquest easier, more healthy for the troops, and, when possessed by his Majesty, be 'such a check upon the French commerce as ' to render Martinique and their other islands

of little use, as his Majesty's squadrons 'stationed at that island will have it in their

power, not only to block up every port in 'Martinique, but likewise-it being equally 'to windward with that island-the cruisers 'from St. Lucie can always stretch to wind'ward of all the other islands, and intercept

any succours intended for them. Add to 'this the infinite consequence of the harbour 'called the Little Carenage, where the largest

ships of war can be careened, be secure during the hurricane months, and always ready to afford a speedy succour to his Majesty's other islands, and a certain se