Their admiral, Apodaca, was a foolish old devotee.

Their crews numbered 1600 men, 400 of whom were in hospital with yellow fever, and many only convalescent.

The terrible Victor Hugues, it is said, offered a band of Republican sympathisers from Guadaloupe: but Chacon had no mind to take that Trojan horse within his fortress.

'We have too many lawless Republicans here already.

Should the King send me aid, I will do my duty to preserve his colony for the crown: if not, it must fall into the hands of the English, whom I believe to be generous enemies, and more to be trusted than treacherous friends.' What was to be done?
Perhaps only that which was done.