eter Parker, was
appointed to the command of a squadron of frigates to block up the Dutch
ports.

CAPTURE OF ST. EUSTATIUS.

The Dutch met with a severe punishment for their perfidious conduct at
the hands of Admiral Rodney. Early intelligence of hostilities between
the two countries had been communicated to Rodney; and in conjunction
with General Vaughan he blockaded the island of St. Eustatius with his
whole fleet. Eustatius was a free port, and general depot of West
Indian and American produce, the property of nations both neutral and
belligerent. It was, however, a Dutch island, and that was sufficient to
warrant the seizure. And this was done without any difficulty. De
Graaf, the governor, incapable of making any defence, surrendered at
discretion; and merchandise of all descriptions, at the estimated value
of more than L3,000,000 sterling, which was stored up in the island,
fell into the hands of the British. About two hundred and fifty vessels
also, with much valuable property on board, were captured in the port;
and a fleet of thirty Dutch West Indiamen, that had just sailed for
Europe, was pursued by two ships of the line and a frigate, and every
vessel was taken. Moreover, as General Vaughan kept the Dutch colours
flying at St. Eustatius, a considerable number of Dutch, French, and
American vessels were subsequently decoyed into the harbour, where they
fell into the hands of the conquerors. Finally, the neighbouring small
islands of St. Martin and Saba, Dutch settlements, were reduced;
and about the same time others of their settlements on the rivers of
Demarara and Essequibo, in Guiana, after losing all their shipping and
most of their property, submitted to the governor of Barbadpes.
Among the sufferers by the capture of St. Eustatius were many British
merchants, who, confiding in its neutrality, had there accumulated large
quantities of West Indian produce and European goods. These merchants
stated the hardship of their case to Rodney and Vaughan; but the reply
given them was, that "the island of Eustatius was Dutch, everything in
it was Dutch, everything was under the protection of the Dutch flag, and
as Dutch it should be treated." But this was only the law of the sword.
Suits at law ware subsequently instituted in the British courts,
which decided otherwise; for large sums were recovered by the British
merchants from the admiral. Notwithstanding, though Rodney erred against
strict legal right, he