this desperate
condition, the British troops undertook no new expedition, except for
the purpose of procuring provisions. Under the impression, indeed, that
with their diminished forces it would have been folly to have renewed
the strife, or even to have maintained their position, they determined
to leave Charlestown. Accordingly, having agreed to leave it uninjured,
on condition of their retreat being unmolested, they evacuated that town
on the 14th of December; the American army entering it as the British
rear-guard departed from it On their departure solemn thanks were
offered to the Almighty in the different places of worship, by the
citizens and soldiers, and the whole city presented a scene of joy
and festivity; but even after this period; Greene experienced much
difficulty in obtaining provision for his troops; and it was only by his
becoming responsible as an endorser of the contractor's bills, that the
evil was removed. By this measure the troops were fed; but it was the
cause of much subsequent embarrassment, not only to Greene himself while
living, but to his family after his death.

STATE OF THE WAR IN THE WEST INDIES, ETC.

After Rodney's victory the war still languished in West Indies. The
Spanish governor of Cuba effected the conquest of the Bahama islands;
and la Perouse destroyed some defenceless settlements on Hudson's,
Haye's and Nelson's Rivers. On the other hand, the British captured some
forts on the Mosquito shore from the Spaniards, and took Aera, on the
coast of Africa, from the Dutch. In the East Indies the affairs of
the Dutch and the French were in a desperate condition. They had made
extraordinary exertions to expel the English by means of Hyder Ally; but
these were all defeated by Sir Eyre Coote and Commodore Hughes, as will
be seen in a future page. These events contributed materially to make
the court of Versailles desirous of peace.

{GEORGE III. 1782-1784}

MARITIME EVENTS.

During this year, France, Spain, and Holland equipped seventy ships of
the line for active service, in order to reduce the maritime superiority
of Britain. As the forces of the British were inferior on her own coasts
to those of the enemy if united, the plan adopted, was to prevent
their junction, and to weaken them by separate attacks; to protect our
convoys; and to relieve the important post of Gibraltar. To effect the
first of these objects Admiral Barrington sailed from Portsmouth
with twelve