under the command of Admiral Pocock and Lord Albermarle. The Spaniards had in the harbour at the time a fleet of twelve sail of the line, two of them but just launched, two more on the stocks nearly finished, and several merchant ships. The men of war were almost ready for sea; but no account had reached the governor of the intended attack. The place, however, was gallantly defended, and sustained a siege of two months and eight days before it could be reduced; when a capitulation was signed, and along with the city was yielded a district of 180 miles to the westward. This conquest was without doubt in itself the most considerable, and in its consequences the most decisive, of any we had made since the beginning of the war; and in no operation were the courage, steadiness, and perseverance of the British troops, and the conduct of their leaders, more conspicuous. The acquisition of this place united in itself all the advantages which can be acquired in war. It was a military achievement of the highest class. By its effect on the enemy's marine it was equal to the greatest naval victory, and in the plunder it equalled the produce of a national subsidy. Nine sail of the enemy's line-of-battle ships were taken; three of their capital ships had been sunk by themselves at the beginning of the siege; two more were in forwardness upon the stocks, and were afterwards destroyed by the captors. The enemy on this occasion lost a whole fleet of ships of war, besides a number of considerable merchant ships; and in ready money, in tobacco collected at the Havanna on account of the king of Spain, and in other valuable merchandises, the sum lost by the enemy perhaps did not fall short of three millions sterling.

The city of Havana was restored by the peace of 1763; and is of the greatest importance to Spain, being the rendezvous for all their fleets to return from America to Europe, lying at the mouth of the gulf of Florida, through which they are all obliged to pass. Here the navy of Spain stationed in the West Indies ride; and here the galleons, the flota, and other merchant ships from other ports both of the continent and islands, meet in September, to take in provisions and water, with great part of their lading, and for the convenience of returning to Spain in a body. A continual fair is held till their departure, which generally happens before the end of the month, when proclamation is made, forbidding any person belonging to the fleet to stay in town on pain of death; and accordingly, on firing the warning gun, they all retire on board.—The commerce carried on in this port, which is very considerable; may be distinguished into the particular commerce of the island of Cuba, and that more general by the galleons and flota. The former consists in hides, officially styled of the Havanna, which are excellent, and of great value; sugar, tobacco, admirable in its kind, &c. Though strangers are prohibited to trade, yet a contraband commerce is carried on much here than at La Vera Cruz. Some little trade is carried on by other ports of Cuba, but it is very inconsiderable. As to the general commerce this port is the place of rendezvous (as already mentioned) for all ships, particularly from Cartagena, Puerto Velo, and La Vera Cruz, which return to Spain from the Indies. The Havanna is regularly supplied with European goods only by the regular ships from Cadiz and the Canaries. The flota and galleons bring there no more than the refuse of their cargoes, which they had not been able to dispose of at Cartagena, Puerto Velo, or La Vera Cruz. When the fleet is in the harbour, provisions are excessively dear on shore, and money so plenty, that a Spaniard expects half a piece of eight a-day from a male slave, and a quarter from a female, out of what they earn for their labour. The fleet generally sails from thence, through the channel of Bahama, in the month of September; and is the richest in the world; since, in silver and merchandise, there is seldom less than thirty millions of pieces of eight on board, or fix millions seven hundred and fifty thousand pounds of our money.—It is natural to imagine, that a port of so much consequence as the Havanna ought to be well fortified. Since it has been restored to Spain, many new works have been added, to prevent if possible a similar disaster befalling it. W. Long. 82. 13. N. Lat. 23. 12.