The _Stafford_, Captain _Knocks_, from _New-England_, bound for _London_. _Anne_, ------ _Gernish_, for ditto. _Dove_, ------ _Grimstone_, for _New-England_. A Sloop, ------ _Alden_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Mosson_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Turfield_, for ditto. A Brigantine, ------ _Tennis_, for ditto. A Ship, ------ ------ _Porter_, for ditto. _Indian Emperor_, _Wentworth_, for _New-England_. A Ship, ------ _Rich_, Master. Ditto, ------ _Bay_. Ditto, ------ _Smith_. Ditto, ------ _Stockum_. Ditto, ------ _Satlely_. A Sloop, ------ ------ _Richards_, belonging to _New-England_. Two Sloops, ------ ------ belonging to _Jamaica_. One Sloop ------ ------ of _Barbadoes_. Two Ships ------ ------ from _Scotland_. Two Ships ------ ------ from _Holland_. The Rovers being now pretty strong, they consulted together about getting some Place of Retreat, where they might lodge their Wealth, clean and repair their Ships, and make themselves a kind of Abode. They were not long in resolving, but fixed upon the Island of _Providence_, the most considerable of the _Bahama_ Islands, lying in the Latitude of about 24 Degrees North, and to the Eastward of the _Spanish Florida_. This Island is about 28 Miles long, and eleven where broadest, and has a Harbour big enough to hold 500 Sail of Ships; before which lies a small Island, which makes two Inlets to the Harbour; at either Way there is a Bar, over which no Ship of 500 Tun can pass. The _Bahama_ Islands were possess'd by the _English_ till the Year 1700, when the _French_ and _Spaniards_ from _Petit Guavus_, invaded them, took the Fort and Governor in the Island of _Providence_, plunder'd and destroy'd the Settlements, _&c._ carried off half the Blacks, and the rest of the People, who fled to the Woods, retired afterwards to _Carolina_. In March 1705-6, the House of Lords did in an Address to her late Majesty, set forth, `That the _French_ and _Spaniards_ had twice, during the Time of the War, over run and plundered the _Bahama_ Islands, that there was no Form of Government there: That the Harbour of the Isle of _Providence_, might be easily put in a Posture of Defence, and that it would be of dangerous Consequence, should those Islands fall into the Hands of the Enemy; wherefore the Lords humbly besought her Majesty to use such Methods as she should think proper for taking the said Island into her Hands, in order to secure the same to the Crown of this Kingdom, and to the Security and Advantage of the Trade thereof.