d be apt to believe that the
stones so affected were limestone. There are, however, some cilicious
sand-stones, in which the grit, or particles of sand, are cemented
together by a calcareous infiltration, which may be the case in these
islands.--E.]

Leaving the Acores, and getting into Spanish sea, or mouth of the bay
of Biscay, the weather proved so bad that the _Advice-ship_ lost
her rudder, which obliged her to go through the Channel in order to
purchase a new one on the coast of England. The French, Danish, and
other ships, generally go that way; but the Dutch ships generally go
round Ireland and north about, from an idea, if they should happen
to meet with stormy weather in the channel, so as to be obliged to go
into an English port, that this might occasion several inconveniences.
Such ships, however, as have sustained any damage at sea, are
permitted to take their way through the channel. The rest of the Dutch
fleet followed the north-about course; and after three weeks, during
which they were involved in perpetual mists and fogs, they had sight
at length of the Orkney islands, where some Dutch ships were still
engaged in the herring fishery. In the latitude of 60 deg. N. they met
some ships of war that waited for them, and convoyed them to the
coast of Holland, where all the ships got into their destined ports
in safety. Those on board of which were our author, and the other
prisoners, came into the Texel on the 11th of July, 1723; and arrived
five days afterwards at Amsterdam, the very same day two years after
sailing on their voyage.

The West-Company immediately commenced a law-suit against the
East-India Company, in behalf of themselves and all the persons
engaged in their service in the foregoing voyage, to obtain
satisfaction for the injury and injustice done them at Batavia. After
a long litigation, the States-General decreed, that the East-India
Company should furnish the West-India Company with two new ships,
completely fitted for sea in every respect, better than those which
had been confiscated by their officers in India, and should pay the
full value of their cargoes. Also, that the East-India Company should
pay the wages of the crews of both ships, up to the day of their
landing in Holland: Together with the entire costs of suit; besides
a considerable sum by way of fine, as a punishment for having abused
their authority so egregiously.[7]

[Footnote 7: Harris has given a report of this law-sui