The history of Caledonia, or, The Scots Colony in Darien in the West Indies with an account of the manners of the inhabitants and riches of the countrey / by a Gentleman lately arriv'd.

CHAP. VIII. Of the Advantages of the Scituation of the Fort St. Andrew, and the Interest of preserving it, and the Dangers that threaten it; With the Conclusion of the History. (Book 8)

THE Spaniards, whom it high∣ly concerns, will do their utmost to disturb us, but unless they be assisted by some other Nation, we have no great Reason to fear them; for the daily confluence from all parts, of great Shoals of Peo∣ple, the Strength of the Scituation of Fort St. Andrew, the League with the Indians, and the frequent Defiles

will render it an Enterprize too diffi∣cult for them. They made some fee∣ble Attempts from St. Maria; but we dispatching a few select men, under the Command of Capt. Montgomery, met them in a Plantain Walk, quick∣ly dispersed them, took above 100 Prisoners, and among the rest their Chief Commander Don Domingo de la Rada, who is as yet a Prisoner at Fort St. Andrew, and will be continu∣ed there till we have a Good Account of the Spaniards treatment of Capt. Pinkarton, who commanding the Dol∣phin Tender, was forced by distress of weather under the Walls of Cartha∣gena, and made Prisoner last Februa∣ry, a little before the above-mention∣ed Skirmish hapned.

As we grow stronger, we shall en∣deavour to procure a part in the South Sea, from whence it's not a∣bove 6 weeks Sail to Japan, and some parts of China. So that bating distress of weather, by bringing the Com∣moditys of those Countries over this narrow Isthmus, the Riches of those

Kingdoms may in 4 or 5 months time arrive in Europe.

What Interest England has in con∣curring to the Preservation of this Colony, it's needless to dispute, since they have Arts and Means to share in the Riches of Scotland; And all our Nobility and Gentry must, for their own Interest, attend the Court of England, and consequently disperse their mony among them. All these Circumstances concurring, makes us hope it will be one of the most thri∣ving Colonies in the world, and that all Attempts against it will prove a∣bortive, which ought to be the wish of all the Inhabitants of Great Bri∣tain.