Page:The English Reports v1 1900.pdf/1056

Royal manifesto of this day's date, and being determined to take the most vigorous measures for vindicating the honour of his Crown, and for the procuring reparation and satisfaction, by attacking and subduing such of the Dutch possessions in the West Indies, as the Commanders of his Majesty's land and sea forces in that quarter shall be of opinion may be attempted with success; and Lord George Germain, one of his Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, having informed us, that, in a secret dispatch of the above-mentioned date, he has signified to Major General Vaughan, his Majesty's pleasure, that he should consult with you upon the best means of carrying his Majesty's intentions into immediate execution; you are therefore, in pursuance of his Majesty's commands, signified to us by his Lordship's above-mentioned letter, hereby required and directed to consult with Major General Vaughan, or the Commander of his Majesty's troops, upon the best means of attacking and subduing the possessions of the States General of the United Provinces within your command; and whatever island or territory you and he shall concur in opinion may be attacked with success, you are, with his Majesty's ships under your command, or such of them as may be necessary, to co-operate and give all possible assistance to the Commander of the land forces in attacking and subduing the same, and when subdued, in keeping possession thereof, if you and he shall judge it necessary and proper to do so; the islands which present themselves as the first objects of attack, are St. Eustatius and St. Martin's, neither of which, it is supposed, are capable of making any considerable resistance against such a land and sea force as you and the General can send against them, if the attack be suddenly made, and carried on with that vigour and intrepidity which your high characters leave no room to doubt will be exerted upon such occasions; and as the enemy have derived great advantages from those islands, and it is highly probable considerable quantities of provisions and other stores are laid up there, or are upon their way thither, which may fall into our hands if we get possession speedily, it is his Majesty's pleasure that we should, and we do hereby accordingly recommend to you the unmediate attack [425] and reduction of those islands, as of very great importance to his Majesty's service.

To Sir George Brydges Rodney, Bart. Knt. of the Bath, Admiral of the White, etc. or to the Commander in Chief for the time being, of his Majesty's ships and vessels at Barbadoes, the Leeward Islands, etc.

Sir,

The King having taken into consideration the many injurious proceedings of the States General of the United Provinces and their subjects, as set forth in his Royal manifesto of this date, and being determined to take the most vigorous measures for vindicating the honour of his Crown, and for procuring reparation and satisfaction, by attacking and subduing such of the Dutch possessions in the West Indies as you and the Commander of his Majesty's ships shall concur in opinion may be attempted with success; I am therefore commanded to signify to you his Majesty's pleasure, that you do, immediately after the receipt of this letter, consult with Sir George Rodney, or the Commander of his Majesty's ships in the Leeward Islands, upon the best means of carrying his Majesty's intentions into the most speedy execution, by attacking and subduing the possessions of the States General of the United Provinces within your command; and whatever island or territory you shall concur in opinion may be attacked with success, that you do employ such part of his Majesty's troops under your command upon that service as you shall judge necessary to effect it, and may be spared without danger to his Majesty's possessions in the Leeward and Caribbee Islands, and, in conjunction with the Commander of his Majesty's sea forces who will have orders to co-operate with you, attack and subdue the same; and when subdued, keep possession thereof, if you and the Commander of his Majesty's ships shall judge it necessary so to do. The islands