26*]
from our firli poffefiion of the
ifland, extremely fufpicious of our
defigns and proceedings; and this
diflike and fear operated lo ftrongly
upon them, that fome years before,
they had applied to the French go-
i/ernor of St. Lucia, for leave to
fettle on that ifland. For which
ijeafon, thctarrangement propofed
by the Englilh government excited
the molt general alarm amonglt
them.

They now Concluded, that this
Ineafure was only the prelude to
a defign formed, either for their
utter extermination, or for reduc-
ing them to a {tate of ilavery; and
a report was fpread and believed
amongfi them, that the ancient
claim of property, which the Eng-
liih had pretended in the perfons
of their anceiiors, was now to be
revived againlt themfelves. In this
iituation, they applied to the go-
vernor of Martinique for advice
and protection; the latter of which
he abfolutely refufed, and as to the
former, is {aid to have recommend-
ed to them a fubmiffion to govern-
ment. This advice, however, had
no efiefil: upon their conduit. In
anfwer to the applications of the
Tcommifiioners, they faid, that the
Whole ifland was originally their
property; that, however, as they
had permitted the French to (ettle
upon a part of it, their king might
difpofe of that part as he pleafed;
but that as they were not his (ub-
jefts, he had no authority over
them, and confequently could not
grant or difpofe of the part of their
coantryg which they had reierved
‘to themfelves. They concluded,
by abloluely refuling to part with
iheir lands, or to admit of any ex-
tnapnge. '

‘I he cofnmifiiouers, notwithfiantl-

ANNUAL REGISTER, 1773.

ing, proceeded in making the fur-I
vey, and advanced a road into their
country. Though the Caribbs ex-
prefTed great dilfatisfaélion and re-
fentment at this meafure, they
feemed very unwilling to proceed
to actual violence Their behaviour
and countenance became, however;
at length f0 alarming, that it
was thought necelTary, in the be-
ginning of Nlay r769, to fend an
officer with forty men to protect
the furveyors and their people.
This {mall detachment, having
taken poi’: in the heart: ofthe Ca-
ribbee country, where fome tempo-
rary huts had been erected for their
reception, found themfelves imme-
diately fo eftiecltially furrounded,"
by a flrong body of well-armed
Caribbs, that all communication
with their own people, and all
means of (ubfifience, were entirely
cut ofF, f0 that they were little leis
than prifoners. »’The prudence and
temper ofthe ofiicer, who confider-
ed theinequality of his force, and
the extreme tinwillingnefs which
the Caribbs had hitherto fhewn, ,0?
bringing matters to the laft extre-
mity, not only preferved the de-
tachment from being cut ofi“, but
prevented the imalleft violence
from being ofFered on either fide.
In the mean time the furveyors
and their people were f0 terrified,
that they abandoned their work,
and were permitted to retire in
fafety ; but their huts were demo-
lifhed, and the new roads brokeyup,"
f0 far as time would admit.

The fituation and uncertain fate
of the detachment caufed an uni-
verial alarm, and the Englilh fet-
tlers having taken up arms, and
joined the few regular troops that
were in the illand, marched imme-

diately to its relief. However. as
than
. .9,