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by foreign powers, the king was to interpose his authority. Finally, all members, officials, and servants of the company were to be declared free from taxation or impressment for twenty years; and all foreigners who became members of the company were to be considered as denizens of Scotland. The Act was touched by the royal sceptre, had the Great Seal of Scotland affixed, and became law on the 26th of June.

In the meantime the English East India Company had taken the alarm-an alarm which soon rose almost to a frenzy, and spread to both Houses of Parliament, who addressed the king on the subject in a narrow-minded and foolish manner, urging that Scotland would thus be made a free port for all East India commodities; even that from Scotland would come all the saltpetre which would furnish the means of war to the fleets and armies of contending nations; that the English commerce in tobacco, sugar, cotton, wool, skins, masts, &c., would be utterly lost, as Scotland would become the magazine of all merchandise.

prayers of relations and friends. Many seamen and soldiers, whose services had been refused because more offered themselves than were needed, were found hid in the ships, and when ordered ashore clung to the ropes and timbers, imploring to go without reward with their companions."

The Scottish squadron reached the Gulf of Darien, and on the 3rd of November the armed colonists disembarked at Acta, a secure and capacious harbour, equally distant from Portobello and Carthagena, after a voyage that seemed longer in those days than is one to the Antipodes now, and set up the white cross of St. Andrew. They were well received by one of the greatest princes in the country, who wore "a red coat, a pair of cotton drawers, and an old hat," and who was attended by twelve courtiers who were stark naked. He was immediately propitiated by the gift of a new hat, blazing with gold lace.

On a small peninsula, three miles long by a quarter of a mile broad, they fixed the site of that New Edinburgh which they hoped would become the emporium of the Indies. They dug a trench to separate it from the main-land; constructed a fort, named Fort St. Andrew, mounted with fifty pieces of cannon; and within they built houses thatched with palm-leaves; and succeeded in making friends with the aboriginal race.

The internal government of the colony was or

The Spaniards also took alarm at the promise of the future greatness of New Edinburgh, as the intended capital of New Caledonia was to be named. Its vicinity to the great marts of Spain in South America, and the possibility which its situation afforded for cutting off all communication between these and the port of Panama on the South Sea, whither the treasures of Peru were annually con-ganised according to a plan devised by the direcveyed, filled the Court of Madrid with apprehension. Warm remonstrances were made on the subject by the Spanish Ambassador to the English Ministry, although the land of the intended Scottish colony belonged to no European nation, but to a tribe who were the bitterest foes of the Spaniards.

Though the fleets and arsenals of the latter were now in a wretched condition, Scotland, unsupported by England, could not have maintained a war with that country; and it was evident that both England and King William, in pursuance of his grudge against Scotland, would either leave her to fight her own battles, or seek to crush, her colony.

In spite of all their discouragements, the Scots were determined to proceed with their favourite scheme; and the opposition of the English was viewed but as the true test of its excellence. Six vessels, armed, and carrying from thirty to sixty guns, freighted with provisions and military stores, and having on board 1,200 men, 300 of whom belonged to the first families in Scotland, sailed from the Firth of Forth on the 26th of July, 1698, and on that day we are told that "the whole city of Edinburgh poured down upon Leith to see the colony depart, amid the tears, the praises, and the

tors in Scotland; and when intelligence reached Edinburgh, on the 25th of March, 1699, that the colony was actually founded, a paroxysm of delight filled the people, and thanks to God were offered up in every church in the city.

The winter passed, and the summer of 1699 brought the sickly influences of the climate on the colonists. Diseases unknown to the temperate clime from which they had come began to thin their ranks and paralyse their industry. Among those who perished was Ensign Coult, of the regi ment now named the Scots Fusilier Guards.

Unused to manual labour, many of the gentlemen were among the first to succumb; hence much of the ground remained uncleared, and provisions began to fall short, as they had no aid or resource but such as came from Scotland. A messenger was sent home to crave supplies; but ere he returned they were attacked by a force of Spaniards, whose ambassador had repaired to King William at Kensington, and had there denounced in the bitterest terms the formation of the Scottish colony.

The persons composing the latter, led by a Scottish officer of some experience, named Cap

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tain James Montgomery, opened a fire of cannon and musketry from their fort, and completely repulsed the Spaniards, whose unexpected attack rendered them apprehensive that they would be unable to resist continued hostilities, and hence they became despondent, "though emigrants from various quarters were coming in," says Macaulay; "and the population of New Caledonia had already increased from 1,200 to 10,000. The riches of the country-these are the words of a newspaper of that time-were great beyond imagination. The mania in Scotland rose to the highest point. Munitions of war and implements of agriculture were provided in large quantities, and multitudes were impatient to emigrate to the land of promise."

Misfortunes thickened at Darien. A Scottish ship, the Dolphin, 14 guns, laden with provisions, was unfortunately cast away at Carthagena. She and her cargo were seized; Pinkerton, her captain, and her crew were put in chains, and after being compelled to sweep the streets, were sent to Spain to be tried as pirates. Naturally resenting such lawless conduct, the Council of New Caledonia issued letters of marque and reprisal against the Spanish shipping; and, as Macaulay has it, "the Scottish flag had been planted but a few months on the walls of New Edinburgh, and already a war which Scotland, without the help of England, was unable to sustain, had begun."

The horrors of starvation began to menace the luckless settlers, who never doubted that by purchase they would receive supplies from the English colonies in the west; but they found to their consternation that the king, with a barbarity that was infamous, had issued strict and special orders to the Governors of Jamaica, Barbadoes, New York, and other places, prohibiting in his name all the settlers under their respective jurisdictions "from holding any intercourse with the Scottish colony at Darien, or giving them any supplies of provisions, ammunition, or arms!"

This stroke proved decisive. After struggling for a short time, during which they were indebted for food to the charity of the friendly Indians, the colony, notwithstanding the earnest remonstrances of William Paterson, was broken up, after having subsisted eight months.

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rot at New York; but the Caledonia reached Scotland with the poor survivors of the expedition. In the meantime, a large vessel which had been dispatched from Leith with 300 recruits, and a cargo of provisions and military stores, reached New Edinburgh, which the crew to their astonishment found deserted, the huts in ruins, the fort covered with wild bushes; "and the site marked out for the proud capital, which was to have been the Tyre, the Venice, the Amsterdam of the eighteenth century, was overgrown with jungle, and inhabited only by the sloth and the baboon."

Still resolute to persevere, the Scottish company fitted out another expedition. It consisted of 1,300 armed men, who sailed from Rothesay in the Isle of Bute on board of four vessels, the Rising Sun, Captain Gibson; the Company's Hope, Captain Miller; the Hamilton, Captain Duncan; and the Hope, of Borrowstounness, Captain Dalling.

The 24th of September, 1699, saw them out of the Clyde; the 9th of November brought them to the English settlement of Montserrat. The moment the Scottish flag was seen they were ordered off, and denied either water or provisions by the governor, who for this barbarity pleaded the orders of the king. He told them that it was useless for them to proceed, as the settlement had been abandoned. Discrediting this, they bore on, and on the 30th of the same month reached Darien; and their hearts certainly sank when they found the place a wilderness, for they had come to recruit a colony, not to found it anew. However, on being joined by Captain Thomas Drummond, one of the original Council, with two small sloops laden with provisions, they landed and proceeded to settle themselves.

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A new fort was constructed on the old ground, and within its ramparts were built ninety huts, each measuring twelve feet by ten. Many reduced Scottish officers were among these colonists; on hearing that the Spaniards were marching to attack them, Captain Drummond proposed to these gentlemen that their movements should be anticipated. This bold and politic scheme was frustrated by the jealousy of those to whom the conduct of the expedition had been entrusted. At this juncture, Captain Campbell, of Finab, a brave and resolute officer, who had served in the Marquis of Argyle's regiment in Flanders, arrived in the colony, and prepared, with only 200 men, to take the field against the invaders of the settleEre the St. Andrewment, which even the French-Scotland's ancient allies-were anxious to crush, on the plea that if English and Dutch merchants took shares in the design, it would have strengthened the confederate

The Scots all left Darien on board of four armed ships belonging to the Company, named the Caledonia, St. Andrew, Unicorn, and Pink. Severe and perilous was their voyage.

reached Jamaica she had thrown 100 corpses overboard, and many more died after. The other vessels lost about 300 men. The Unicorn was left to

interest by having the mines of the West Indies | struggle went on, and the communication between and the trade between the North and South Seas the Scots and their watering-place was completely at their command. cut off.

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landed a military force. The little band of Scots now found themselves invested beyond all hope of relief. Yet they did not despair. A drummer came with a message, which proved unintelligible to the besieged, who stoutly refused to capitulate.

The musket and the cannon were now resorted to, and on the 29th of February some sallies were made, in which the Scots, notwithstanding the terrible disparity of numbers, were victorious. But pestilence, as well as the bullet, thinned their ranks fast; and on the 17th of March, when a last sally was made, they were defeated with slaughter. The Spaniards now gained ground rapidly, and by the 24th obtained fresh ammunition and more cannon from the fleet. For four more days the hopeless

which the Scots bound themselves to evacuate Darien for ever in fourteen days; but only 300 men were surviving to march out with their colours flying. In four months 1,000 had perished.

Captain Campbell, dreading the vengeance of the Spaniards, made his escape to New York. On the 11th of April, 1702, the survivors set sail from Darien, but took different courses, some to Jamaica, and others to New York. board the vessels at sea. The rest sought shelter in English ports, where a few remained; others were made prisoners by the Spaniards: and it was not until the lapse of many months that the remnant of the expedition, consisting of only thirty men, reached their native shores.

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that the hopes of the exiled Stuarts began once more to revive; and loud were the outcries which were raised on all sides against the pernicious influence of English councils on the affairs of Scotland. It was clear that proper leaders were only wanting to rouse the whole kingdom in arms, and effect another revolution. In the most virulent language, William was accused of duplicity, ingratitude, and of inhumanity.

The Spaniards came in for a large share of this indignation; and on tidings reaching Edinburgh of the defeat of their forces at Tubacante, the city was illuminated, and the windows of all members of the Government were smashed. The mob proceeded to the house of the Lord-Advocate, and

were brought to trial, after long delay. One was condemned to be scourged, and three to be pilloried; but their sentence partook more of the character of a triumph than a punishment, "the State mob," says Carstairs, in his Papers, "huzzaing them all along, and throwing flowers and roses on the iron, and wine going about like water."

The mind of the people was long in a state of just exasperation; and when the Scottish Parliament assembled on the 29th of October, the table was loaded with angry addresses and petitions, and in these the king, the English Parliament, and the Spaniards were furiously denounced as the enemies of the nation.

CHAPTER LXXXVIII.

THE IRISH AT CREMONA, 1702.

THOUGH they were not serving under the British | neglected. Of the whole garrison, sunk in every flag, the defence of Cremona by the Irish was one of the most brilliant deeds performed at the opening of the eighteenth century.

When the Duke of Anjou ascended the Spanish throne, under the title of Philip V., the King of France had the pleasure of beholding the influence of the house of Bourbon extended from Antwerp to Gibraltar, and from Naples to the Baltic. But war ensued. The Emperor of Germany refused to acknowledge his title, and his army was strengthened by the talents of Prince Eugene, who having been injured by Louis XIV., had entered the imperial service. Marshal Villeroi having succeeded Catinat as head of the French army in August, 1701, and having, with his usual rashness, attacked Eugene's camp at Chiari, he was defeated. Both parties retired into winter quarters; Eugene encamping so as to blockade Mantua, and while there he conceived the idea of possessing Cremona by surprise.

Situated on the left bank of the Po, near its junction with the Adda, this city was the centre of the French forces, and from its strength was supposed to be beyond storming. The place was large. It was then, and is now, surrounded by walls flanked by bastions and girt by ditches, and is defended by a citadel, the tower of which, according to the "Atlas Geographus, 1711," the inhabitants were wont to boast as being the highest in Europe. In 1702 it had a pontoon bridge across the Po, with a tête du pont, and an armed bastion to defend it. A Spanish officer was governor; but LieutenantGeneral the Count de Revel was at the head of the French garrison, which mustered 8,000 bayonets, and was under the immediate superintendence of the Marshal Duc de Villeroi, .whose quarters were in the city.

Under the Marquis de Crequi, a large portion of the army was posted between the city and Alessandria, so that Cremona appeared beyond all chances of a surprise "Security and love of pleasure," says the the author of "The Military History of the Irish Nation," "induced the garrison to forego the cautions prescribed by the rules of war. No patrols scoured the neighbourhood; no rounds on the ramparts, or through the open streets, secured the vigilance of the sentinels and corps de garde; and except the squares, the gates, and the tête du pont, the rest of the town, bastions, and outworks were wholly

species of licentiousness and revelry, the two Irish regiments of Burke and Dillon, stationed near the Po gate, alone observed the rigour of military discipline, and were alone found regularly under arms on parade or at the posts assigned them. They had not been corrupted by example, nor debauched by the luxuries of a country in which they were perfect strangers, of which they spoke not the language, and from the excesses of which their humble means and low pay, as well as unrefined manners and uncouth appearance, probably excluded them."

Information of this state of matters was conveyed by spies to Prince Eugene, and he resolved to profit by the opportunity for taking Cremona by a coup de main. He knew that if successful he would destroy the main strength of the French army, isolate Mantua, and capture the whole Duchy of Milan; but Irish bayonets and Irish bravery marred the carrying out of his plan. An aqueduct conveyed the débris of the street gutters of Cremona into the fosse without the walls. It was the work of the Romans, and old perhaps as the days of Vespasian, as it was broad and lofty, and resembled the sewers of ancient Rome. It passed under the house of a priest named Cassoli, near the gate of St. Margaret.

The spies of Eugene had observed all this, and furnished him with a map of the town, showing the position of the corps de garde and of the quarters of Villeroi and other officers of rank. He first secured the adherence of the ecclesiastic Cassoli, either by tempting his avarice or inflaming his patriotism for the expulsion of the Gallo-Spaniards. Whatever was his desire, the bait took, and Cassoli, secretly in the night, through the unsavoury avenue described, introduced a party of Imperialists, and concealed them in his house till the plan of treachery was matured. Through the assistance of some confederates he introduced more, disguised as peasants; and so careless was the garrison that the appearance of these strangers never excited the attention of a single officer.

On the 30th of January, 1702, the Austrians at Urliano, and along the river Oglio, which flows from the Rhaetian Alps between Brescia and Cremona, were all in motion, as if bent on some great enterprise; and Marshal Villeroi supposing that Eugene meant to beat up Crequi's quarters

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