In the meantime, events in Europe caused Philip V to change his plans for an offensive on Georgia. Unexpectedly, the English agreed to negotiate the Florida-Georgia problem and seemed amenable to making a settlement favorable to the Spaniards. Not wishing to endanger these negotiations, the king rescinded his cedula ordering the attack on Georgia. In February, therefore, the monarch commanded Guemes in Havana to stop his preparations for the expedition. The Cuban governor, however, had completed his plans and had his fleet ready to sail on the night of March 21, the same evening the king’s messenger arrived with the orders to postpone the attack on Georgia. Immediately the agent rushed to the governor’s palace with the royal order, and Guemes called off the expedition. [Note 17: gov of Cuba to gov of FL 3/24/1738] The news went out to the invasion force, anxiously awaiting their departure for Florida the next day. Officers began debarking the more than 1,000 men who had been assembled on the waiting ships. Negro slaves took off cargoes of food and war supplies, depositing them in warehouses on the wharves. Wives and sweethearts returned to the docks to greet their husbands and lovers, saved at the last moment from making an uncertain voyage to Florida. For the Spanish force it was both a festive and disappointing occasion. (Tepaske GSF)