52*] ANNUAL REGISTER, r773.

ihat could be fpared from the neigh-
bouring iilands for that iervice,
which, with the afliliance of his
Majefiy’s {hips upon that Ration,
were to reduce the Caribbs to a due
fubmiihon to government; or if
their obtiinacy rendered that im-
prafticable, that they might be
removed from the ifland, to fuch
place as ihould be thought molt
proper for their reception; the
firicteli orders being given at the
fame time, that they fhould be fur-
niihed with proper veffels for their
tranfportation, plentifully provided
with provifions and neceiiaries, and
treated with all imaginable hu-
inanity in their paffage; It was
farther directed, that when they
arrived at the place of their defii-
nation, they fhould be liberally (up;
plied. both with every thing necef-
fary for their prefent ‘fubfiftence,
and for their eftabliihment as a.
hew colony. But it does not ap-
pear, that the place to which they
were to be removed was properly
adapted to their reception and ac-
tommodation, or f0 much as clearly
afeertained. I H _

The event of this expedition was
‘hot known, when the affair of St.
Vincent’s became agitated in par-

, liament. Soon after
Dec‘ 9th‘ the opening of the (ef-
lion, upon the prefenting of an
eitimate from the War-Office in the
committee of fupply, of the land-
{ervice for the enfuing year, the
number of troops that were Rated
to be in the Weft-India iflands.
gave an opportunity to the gentle-
men in oppofition to animadvert
hpon this expedition, and to give
hotice that they would, on a future
day, propofe an enquiry into its
haiture, zjultice; and propriety, to-
gather with the motives theft led t0

f0 extraordinary a meaiure. T his
enquiry being agreed to by admi-
nillration, the matter was after-i
warns frequently brought up; but
fiill deferred, in hopes ofcottrining
new intlrmation, and to give an
opportunity of procuring and con-
fidering the neceffary papers.

It was accordingly a conlider-
able time after the Chrifimas re-
cefs, before this aiFair was taken
finally into confidetation; when,
at length, two general officers were
examined, as to the latePt accounts
they had received of the ftate of
their regiment-s, which were then
employed on the fervice againft the
Caribbs. One oithele gentlemen
read part ofa letter, which he had
received upon the fubject from St;
Vincent’s, in which the expedition
was greatly complained of, not
only in reipect of its having been
undertaken in the rainy ieaion,
which had occafioned a great mor-
tality among the troops ; but alfo
with regard to its injuflice and
cruelty, with both of which it was
ftrottgly charged by the writer;
who emphatically complained, that
the poor Caribbs had been very ill
ufed ; andgwiflted, with the energy
charaéteriflic of an ofiicer, that the
contrivers and promoters of the
eitpedition might be brought to a
fpeedy and fevere accountt By the
fame authority it was reprefented,
that the woods were f0 thick that
the Caribbs killed our men, with
the greateft fecurity to themfelves,
and without their being able even
to fee the enemy that defiroyed
them; and that at the time of
writing the letter, which was on
the 14th of November, the troops
had not been able to penetrate
above four miles into their coun-

try
i It