had a powerful argument on his side--namely, that
he considered himself justified in confiscating the property of British
subjects, who, for their own private gain, had sacrificed the interests
of their country. This argument was founded in strict truth. Eustatius
had long been the chief magazine whence the Americans had procured
supplies; and in that commerce British merchants, more selfish than
patriotic, had anticipated. But the largest portion of the property
seized belonged to the Dutch West India Company, the Amsterdam
merchants, and Americans, and these had no courts to which they could
appeal for its restoration. Notwithstanding, as before seen, England did
not reap the full advantages of these seizures, as some of the ships in
which the treasures were stored, were captured by the French and Spanish
fleets in the English Channel. The island itself also was surrendered
to the French, towards the end of the year, by Colonel Cockburn, in a
manner that reflects no great honour on his valour.

COMMODORE JOHNSTONE ATTACKED BY DE SUFFREIN, ETC.

During this year the British Cabinet aimed at dispossessing the Dutch
of the Cape of Good Hope. Commodore Johnstone was appointed to this
enterprise; and he sailed with five ships of the line, some frigates,
and smaller vessels, having on board three regiments, under the command
of General Meadows. At the solicitation of their ally, the court
of Versailles despatched a superior force, under M. de Suffrein, to
counteract this design. De Suffrein found Johnstone in the neutral part
of Praya, in the island of St. Jago, and proceeded to attack him. He
advanced as to certain victory; but though the British force was at
first thrown into some confusion, de Suffrein was in the end defeated.
Failing in his attempt, the French admiral sailed to the Cape, which he
succeeded in reaching before his enemy, and where he landed some troops
for the defence of Cape Town. In following de Suffrein, the British
commodore met with five Dutch East Indiamen, richly laden, and
he succeeded in capturing four of them, and in burning the other.
Perceiving, however, that he could not compass the original object of
his expedition, he returned to England. When he first set sail, Johnson
was accompanied by some outward-bound East Indiamen, which, on his
return, he intrusted to Captain Christie, with whom he left a squadron
for their defence. Christie captured a French frigate, and convoyed the
East I