Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/306

 276 INTRODUCTION. chap, v ii. while ; Rhet with two small armed vessels sailed 1704. round by sea, with orders to meet the ship in Sewee bay. Fenwick came up with the party on shore, charged them briskly, and drove them to their ship, which on the appearance of Rhet, struck without firing a shot. The prize, with about ninety prisoners was brought up to Charleston. Thus, with the loss of near three hundred men killed and taken prisoners, among the latter of whom were the general himself and some naval officers, was terminated the inva- sion of Carolina by njonsieur le Feboure. It seems to have been undertaken in the confi- dence that the colony was too weak for resist- ance, and to have been conducted without skill or courage. Governor Johnson acquired great reputation for the talents and intrepidity dis- played on the occasion, and he publicly thanked the militia for the unanimity and courage they had shown in repelling their invaders." 1 Though this invasion was of short duration, yet the vigorous exertions made for the de- fence of the province produced an expense exceeding its ordinary revenue. No tax on lands or persons had hitherto been imposed, and the duties on commerce were entirely ap- propriated to the current expenditure, and towards sinking the bills of credit which had been emitted to defray the extraordinary debt ni Chalmer..„Smil/i.