| Citation |
SG(H.783.023
14 Aug 1783:41,42 (2/96)
From the Gazette de la Havana, April 25, 1783.
Extract of a letter from Cape Francois, dated the 6th inst.
The English squadron, commanded by Admiral Hood, appeared
yesterday off this port, and they anchored in our road, that
Prince William Henry, who was on board, might satisfy his
desire of seeing this island, and the French and Spanish
generals. Upon his landing, the General of the French
troops received him with military honors, and sent word to
Don Bernardo de Galvez, of the desire which the Prince
expressed of seeing the Spanish hero, as he called him; our
General waited immediately upon his Highness, and was most
graciously received. In the evening there was a most
splendid ball at his house, of which Lady Galvez did the
honours, with that peculiar grace by which she is so
peculiarly distinguished. The next morning our illustrious
General wrote to the Prince . . . [3/4 column: exchange of
letters remitting death sentences of English prisoners,
other visits in West Indies.]
The gazette gives a particular account of the several
entertainments that were given on the occasion; the account
contains three folio pages of a very small print, and
concludes thus:
"We know very well, that if we were to give every
particular of the conduct of the Prince, and of the
principal officers, during the short period of two days, to
describe with a minute exactness every barge and galley,
tell the number of cannon that were fired, the dimensions
and ornaments of the houses, the number of candles that were
lighted, the colours of the dresses of the ladies, who began
and who closed the ball, the number of individuals who were
there, their ages and their sexes, what partner such a one
and such another danced with; in a word, if we were to
relate every particular motion of every one, their words and
looks, no doubt our account would be more agreeable to the
vulgar; but we content ourselves with relating what is
essential, &c. &c.
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