he colony in 1701. At this time the
Bahama Islands had become a rendezvous for pirates, and a few years
later, King George the First issued a proclamation for their
dislodgment. Governor Bennett accordingly dispatched a sloop, ordering
the marauders to surrender. Those who were on shore on his arrival
gladly accepted the opportunity to escape, and declared that they did
not doubt but that their companions who were at sea would follow their
example. Captain Henry Jennings and fifteen others sailed for Bermuda,
and were soon followed by four other Captains--Leslie, Nichols,
Hornigold, and Burges, with one hundred men, who all surrendered.

In 1710 the Spaniards made a descent on Turk's Island, which had been
settled by the Bermudians for the purpose of gathering salt, and took
possession of the island, making prisoners of the people. The
Bermudians, at their own expense and own accord, dispatched a force
under Captain Lewis Middleton to regain possession of the Bahama Cays.
The expedition was successful, and a victory gained over the Spaniards,
and they were driven from the islands; they still, however, continued to
make predatory attacks on the salt-rakers at the ponds, and on the
vessels going for and carrying away salt. To repel these aggressions and
afford security to their trade, the Bermudians went to the expense of
arming their vessels.

In 1775 the discontent in the American provinces had broken out into
open opposition to the crown, and the people were forbidden to trade
with their late fellow subjects. Bermuda suffered great want in
consequence, for at this period, instead of exporting provisions the
island had become dependent on the continent for the means of
subsistence. This, together with the fact that many of the people
possessed near relatives engaged in the struggle with the crown, tended
to destroy good feelings towards the British government. These
circumstances must be considered in order to judge fairly of the
following transaction, which has always been regarded to have cast a
stain upon the patriotism and loyalty of the Bermudians.

At the outbreak of the American Revolution, two battles were fought in
the vicinity of Boston--Lexington and Bunker Hill, after which all
intercourse with the surrounding country ceased, and Boston was reduced
to a state of siege. Civil war commenced in all its horrors; the
sundering of social ties; the burning of peaceful homes; the butchery of
kindred and friends.