attributed, as the force employed to effect it was certainly far short of what it ought to have been for so great an enterprise. The originally small army was now obliged to be divided, to garrison and secure our newly-acquired possessions; the fatigue became the more burthensome, and the troops that had gone through the campaign with unexampled bravery and patience, at length began to feel the effects of a climate, that even in peaceable times is often found too trying for European constitutions; and which was at this period rendered tenfold more severe by that dreadful malady the yellow fever, which, though it had subsided when we first came to the West Indies, was now, as it were, awakened by the arrival of fresh victims, and acquired more strength from the small resistance that could be made against it by constitutions already broken by fatigue under hardships and difficulties unparalleled.--As there were no expectations of any reinforcements of consequence being sent till November, the General determined to return to England, after he had made a proper arrangement to render the conquests permanent, and secure them against any attempt that might be made by those perturbed spirits that, notwithstanding his utmost vigilance, might remain in the colonies; and which he in a short time effected to his satisfaction, so far as it related to any attempt that could be made by the enemy in these parts: but it is not to be imagined that, with the small number of men he originally brought out, now reduced by a variety of causes to half their number, and daily decreasing in an alarming degree, any resistance could be made against a strong reinforcement, if the French nation should be able to send out one, from Europe[39]. Previous to his return, however, he was determined to leave the islands in the best possible state of defence; and for that purpose he, with the Admiral, visited all the islands in this quarter, inspecting the strong posts and fortifications, while the Admiral paid attention to the naval department in each; and in the beginning of June, after having taken formal leave of the army in general orders, he sailed for Europe. [38] Lieutenant George Vaughan of the Boyne was this day promoted to the command of the Zebra sloop, and the Chaplain of the Boyne was appointed to the chaplaincy of the garrison of Guadaloupe, there being no other chaplain on the expedition; but government at home did not think fit to confirm the appointment. Lieutenant Davers of the Boyne was promoted to be acting commander of the Inspector, from whence he was promoted to the command of the Bull Dog sloop. Lieutenant Ogle was also appointed acting commander of the Assurance.