sailed in to conquer the New World. I found the squadron in a very
sickly state. No less than two-thirds of the crews were living on shore
in huts and tents, suffering from sickness, and since the time they had
left Omoa they had buried upwards of a hundred men, the master of the
Lowestoffe being among them. Altogether I know in a very short time
they lost one hundred and twenty men--while I had not lost one on board
the galleon. Rattan itself was not supposed to be unhealthy, but at
this time there were no inhabitants on it. When the war broke out with
Spain, one of her first acts was to attack our settlements on the coast
of Honduras, and totally to put a stop to our logwood trade. The
merchants and traders connected with that business accordingly earnestly
solicited the commodore to take possession of the Island of Rattan,
which is admirably placed to guard the entrance to the Gulf of Honduras.
It had belonged to the English in the late war, but by the treaty of
peace made at its termination it was restored to the Spaniards, or
rather abandoned, and all the works on it had been destroyed. In
consequence, however, of the requisition of the merchants which I have
spoken of, the commodore, on the 25th of November, 1779, again took
possession of it in the name of his Britannic Majesty, and immediately
set to work to put the place in as good a state of defence as
circumstances would allow. A number of logwood cutters and other
settlers, as well as some merchants and traders, had already arrived
there. These were at once regularly drilled and taught the use of their
arms. Each of the ships of the squadron also launched two of their
guns, which we mounted on the works for the defence of the harbour,
while they were furnished likewise with an abundant supply of ammunition
and stores of all sorts. The harbour of Port Royal is, without doubt,
as good a one as any in the West Indies, and so well formed is it by
nature for defence, that with a small amount of art employed on it, I
should think that it might be made perfectly impregnable from any attack
by sea. At the time of which I speak the island was entirely
uncultivated, and produced only the trees and shrubs nature had planted
there; but from what I saw of the soil and from what others who knew
more about agricultural affairs than I did, I had no doubt that in a few
years it would become a very flourishing spot, and amply repay the
planters who might settle on i