Monsieur De La Touche, the Governor General, who had fallen back upon St. Pierre, with an intent of holding out, soon after surrendered, and the extensive dependencies of that valuable island, very early availed themselves of the benign and faithful tenders of British protection.
The final consent of La Touche was much hastened by the detaching Captain Harvey, in the Dragon, to the harbour of La Trinité, where he landed some Seamen and his Marines, who maintained their ground, and convinced the enemy how unavailing would be their farther obstinacy.
This conquest, which added so much to the lustre of our arms, was obtained at the expence of 7 Officers, 3 Serjeants, and 86 rank and file killed, and 32 Officers, 20 Serjeants, and 337 rank and file wounded.
The enemy experienced a loss of nearly 1000 men.
St. Lucia, St. Vincent, and Grenada, fell soon after, under our dominion, and added to the commercial wealth of the Nation.
Solid were the results that accrued from the repeated triumphs of our Fleets and Armies, during this active year. The Revenue was improved, while the individual became enriched by the conquered territory, and the spoils of our enemies.
The rupture with Spain suggested immediate enterprize against her distant and wealthy Colonies. In this plan, no little or inferior views controuled our Councils, which boldly directed our force at once, against the vitals, and the strong hold of her South American Empire.
Lord Anson having submitted his ideas upon the accomplishment of this great object, they were readily embraced upon the present occasion, and adopted throughout.
The Fleet and Army which were destined to execute these designs, were committed to Admiral Pococke, and the Earl of Albemarle, who sailed from Portsmouth on the 5th day of March. They took only a small force from England, as they were to be joined by those troops who had achieved the conquest of the French Caribbee Islands, to be reinforced by auxiliaries from Jamaica and North America; which, with the Marines of the Fleet that were subsequently landed, constituted an Army little short of 15,000 men.
Admiral Pococke reached Martinique on the 26th of April, where every thing was arranged, fascines made, the troops brigaded, and 500 Negroes collected to perform the rough parts of these laborious duties that were before them.