Page:The reign of George VI - 1763.djvu/179

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OF GEORGE VI.
153

not watch, but force the ports of their enemies. The Duke executed his plan with great success; with the loss of only one ship, he burnt nine sail of the line, fifteen frigates, and sixty-four merchantmen. He then entered the Straits, and falling in with a small Spanish squadron, going from Alicant to Gibraltar, to take in their guns, he took four sail of the line, and three frigates, dispersing the rest.

In the West Indies, Admiral Newport met with yet greater success: having landed General Cannon, and his men at New Orleans, he sailed to the island of Cuba, and without any assistance reduced it; that immense island once more came under the dominion of Great-Britain, and with it a prodigious sugar trade. The General having collected the troops of the colony of Louissiana, to the amount of fifteen thousandmen,