L I B R i^ I^ Y
OV Till'.
• Theological Seminary
PRINCETON, N. J-
Book k/ ' ^
A DONATION
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^'V^^VVjWTJBIiBOTHAM.
AN
UI'STORICAl,
GEOGRAPHICAL, COMMERCIAL,
PHILOSOPHICAL
VIEW
OF THE
UNITED STATES of AMERICA,
AND OF THE
EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS
IN*
AMERICA AND TPiE WEST-INDIES,
BY
V -
^ W- WINTERBOTHAM.
THE FIRST AMERICAN EDITION. WITH ADDITIONS AND
CORRECTIONS.
/
m FOUR VOLUMES.
VOL. IV.
NEW- YORK;
Printed bv TIEBOUT and O'BRIEN
^OK JOHN REID, BooKSH..Ka and Sxaxi^x.k,
No. 106, Water.-Str£et.
CONTENTS.
VOL. IV.
TAG?.
BISTORT ef the Britijh Settlements in America
Upper and Lower Canada
Cape-Breton
J^Ieiv-Britain
No'^a-Scotia
St. John
Jt^eivfoundland
Qreenland ^
Spanijh Dominions in North-America . • 4
JEaJi andWeJi'Florida - • • * '
Loui/iana
Mexico, or NeiV'Spain • • • '
View of South-America
Spanijh Dominions in South-America
Terra Firma - • • ' ' ' ^^
Peru . • • * , i6i
Chili ..•••• ^ ,67
Paraguay, or La Plata . * * c . r
Observations on the Government, Trade, ^c, oj
South-America • • * ' '
Portuguese Settlement in South-America
Brafil • • * * *
French Peffejfm^ in South-America ■ ■ -■-
Cayenne ••'.,'. 21c
Dutch Poffeffiom in Scuth-Amerua -^ -^ ,^^
Surinam • • ' * * ^ 221
Aboriginal America » - ' ' ' .^^
Amazonia . • • *
I
12
16
3S
43
44
46
117
118
ib.
3^
171
CONTENTS,
Patagonia
Weji-India Jflands
Britijh We/Undies
jfamaica
Bar badoes
Si. Chrijtopher^s
Antigua
Grenada
DQ7ninica
St. Vincent
Nevis
Montferrat
Barbuda
Bermudas
Spanifi Wejl-Indies
French WeJl-Indies
Dutch WeJl-lndies
Bamjh Weft4ndies
Hi/lory of American ^adrupeds
—- the Birds of America
Reptiks of America
Treaties between America and Foreign Nations
Indi
'o.ex.
JPAGE
ib.
242
248
266
271
280
282
284
297
308
325
381
402
409
HISTORY
Britifh Settlements in AmerlGa,
.i^-<--< ■<•■<.•<-«>■• <-4« ^ >J>..i^">->">">->-— ->
SITUAtlON AND EXTENT.
-l HE Britifti dominion in America extending over a traft o^
country tailed, for the purpbfe of diftinftion, by the genera!
name of Britifh America, comprehends the vaft and unknown
Extent of Country, bounded fouth, by the United States of Ame-
rica, and the Atlantic ocean ; eaft, by the fame ocean and Davis's
Straits, which divide ii from Greenland ; extending north to thd
northern limits of the Hudfon*s Bay charter : and weftward to
an unknown extent — lying between 42^ 30' and -y^ north lati-
tude • dnd between 56*^ and 165^ weft long, from Greenwich 9
and between 25** eaft and 30'' weft long, frdm Philadelphia.
It is divided into foUr pro"(''incc5j viz. i. Upper Canada ; — .
s. Ltiwer Canada, to which is annexed New Britain, or the
iountry lying round Hudfon's Bay^ and the Iftand of Cape Bre-
ton ; — 3* New Brunfwick ; — and 4. Nova Scotia, to which is
annexed the Ifland of St. John's. — Betides thefe there is the
Ifland of Newfoundland, which is governed by the admiral for
the time being, and two lieutenant governors, who refide at
Placentia nnd St, John's. The troops ftationed at Newfound-
land, however, are fubjeft to the orders of the Governor-general
of the four Britifti provinces.— Of each of thefe provinces our
intention is to enter into a brief defcription,
Vol. IV, B
3": GE-N^ERAL DESCRIPTION OF
r R O Y I N C E S
O F
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA,
SITUATION, EXTENT, AND BOUNDARIES.
- The provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, conflituted by act-
of pailiiiTient in .1^.9,1, comprehend the territory heretofore calk-d
Canada, or the Province, of Quebec ; fituated between 42^ 30'
an'l 50'^ north latitude, and 61'* and 81° we fl longitude froin.
London: or 14^ eaft, and 6" weft from Philadelphia. Their
length is about fix hundred mlleSj and their breadth five hundred
andTifty.
Thefe provinces are bounded on the north, by New Britain ;
en the eafl;, by the Gulph of St. Lawrence, and part of the Pro-
\-ince of New BrunTwicIc ; on the ibuth-eaft and fouth, by the
diftrift of Maine, New Hampfliire, Vermont, NcW-York, and
the lakes : the wcilcrn boundary is undefined. The Province of
Upper Canada is the fame as what is commonly called the Upper
Country. It lies north of the great lakes, betweeti the latitudes
of 42*^ 30 'and 50'', and is feparated from New York bv the
river St. Lawrence, here called the Cataraqui, and the Lnkcs
Ontario and Erie.
Lower Canada lies on both fides (he river St. Lawrence, be-«
tween 61*' and 71^ W. Ion. from London; and 45*^ and 52'''
N. lat. and is bounded fouth by New Brunfwick, Maine, New
Hampfliire, Y'crmont, and New York ; and weft by Upper
Canada.
The line whicb divides Upper from Lower Canada commences
at a -ftone boundary, on the north bank of the lake St. Francis,
at the coVc. weft of Poiiiti: au Bdudct, in the limit between the
townfhip of Lanqafler and the Seigneurie of New Longuevil,
running along the faid limit in the dlre&ion of. north thirty-four
dcffrccs v;cft, to tlic weflernmoft angle of the faid lSei|;ri.eurie of
New Longuevil ; thenee along the north-weftcrn boundary of the
Selgneuiie of Vahdrcuii, running north, twenty-five degrees eal"^,
uiitil "li: feilces the Ottavv'as river ;,toaf€end' the faid river into
the lal;:? Tdniircanning •, and from ' the Iread of the faid lake by a
lino di-a\Vn due north, until it flrikes the boundary line of Hud-
fmrs New Britain. Upper Canada^ t
;trcmcly numerous, and many of them very
large and deep. The principal arc, the Ouattauas, St. John's,
Seguinay, Defpaires, and Trois Rivieres; but all thcle are Iwal-
lowed up by the great river St, Lawrence. This river iffues
from the lake Ontario ; and, taking its courle north-eaft, walhes
Montreal, where it receives the Ouattauais, and forms many
fertile iflands. It continues the fame courte, and meets the tsde
upwards of four hundred miles from the fea, where it is navi^
gable for large veflels ; and below Quebec, three hundred and
fvvfntv miles from the lea, it becomes fo broad and ib deep, that
{hips of the line contributed in the laft war to reduce that city.
After receiving in its progrefs innumerable flreams, it at laft
falls into the ocean at Cape Rollers, where it is ninety miles
broad, and where the cold is intenl'e, and the lea boiftercus.
This river is the only one upon which any fetilemcnls of note
+ ,. 'J iH .ii'
are as yet forrned. ,
A river has been lately furveyed, by the deputy Survey ov-
General cf Canada, from its entrance into the Bay of Rcnty,
near Carciaraqui, to its iuurce of Ldke St. Clie ; froi?i whicti
there is an ealy and fliort porfsge acrofs N. W. to the N. F.
angle of I,ake Huron ^ and another that is neither lc)ri« nor dif-
ficult, to the ibuthvvard, to the old fettlcment of Toroptp,
This iz a Hiort rout from Fort Frontinac to Michillimakkir.ak.
PP.INCIPAL TOWNS.
<2 u :■: B £ c ,
■Quebec is the capital, net only of ^ Lower Canada, but of ail
Britih America ; it is fituatcd at the ronilyrnte ef th«-tiVev5
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA, 7
St. Lawrence and St. Charles, or the Little River, about
three hundred and twenty miles from the Tea. It is built on a
rock, partly of marble, and partly of Hate. The town is di-
vided into an upper and lower. The houfes in both are of
flone, and built in a tolerable manner. The fortifications are
ftrong, though not regular. The town is covered with a regu-
lar and beautiful citydel, in which the governor relides. The
river, which from the Tea hither is four or five leagues broad,
narrows all of a fuddcn to about ». mile wide. The haven,
which lies oppofitc the town, is fafe and commodious, and about
five fathoms deep. The ha 1 hour is flanked by two baflions,
that are raifed twenty-five feet from the ground, which is about
the height of the tides at the time of the equinox.
From Quebec to Montreal, which is about one hundred and
fcventy miles, in failing up the river St. Lawrence, the eye is
entertained with beautiful landlcapes, the banks being in many
pbices very bold and ftecp, and fhaded with lofty trees. The
farms lie pretty tlofe all the way, fcveral gentlemens' houfes,
neatly built, ihew themlclves at intervals, and there is all the
appearance of a flourifning colony ; but there .re few towns or
villages. It is pretty much like the well fetfled parts of Vir-
ginia and Maiyland, where the planters arc wholly within
themfelves. Many beautiful iflands are interfperfed in the
channel of the river, which have an agreeable effe6l upon the
eye. After pa ffing the Richelieu iflands, the air becorries fo
mild and temperate, that the traveller thinks himfelf tranfported.
to another climate ; but this is to be uriderflood only of the
fummer months.
TROIS RIVIERES.
The town called Trois Rivieres, or the Three Rivers, is
about half way between Quebec and Montreal, and has its name
frem three rivers which join their currents here, and fall into
the ti¥tv St. I/awrence. It is much reforted to by feveral na-
tions of Indians, who, by means of theie rivers, come hither
and trade with the inhabitants in various kinds of furs and
fkiTiS. The country is pleafant, and fertile in corn, fruit, &c.
and great numbers of handiome houl'es fland on both fides the
river.
M O N T il E .V L .
Montreal fi.anJs on an Ulund in the river St. Lawrence,,
which is ten leagues in length, and four in breadth, at the foot
of a inountam whicji gives name to it, about half a league from
8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
the fouth fhore. While the French had poffeflTion of Canada^
both the city and ifland of Montreal belonged to private pro-
prietors, who had improved them lo well, that the whole ifland
had become a mod deliglitful fpot, and produced every thing
that could adminifter to the conveniencies of life. The citv
forms an oblong fqunre, divided by regular and well-formed
ftreets ; and when taken by the Englifh the houfes were built
in a Very handlome manner ; and every houfe might be feen at
one view from the harbour, or from the fouthernmofl: fide of
the river, as the hill on the fide of which the town ftands falls
gradually to the water. This place is furrounded by a wall and
a dryditch ; and its fortifications have beeil much improved by
the Jinglifh. Montreal is nearly as large as Quebec, but fincc
it fell into the hands of the Englifh it has iuffered much by
fires.
The principal towns in Upper Canada are Kingfton, on Lake
Ontario, Niagara, Ijetween Lake Ontario and Lake Erie^ and
Detroit, fituated on the weftern bank of Detroit riverj be-
tween Lake Erie and Lake Huron, and nine rhiles below Lake
St. Clair.*
POPULATION.
Upper Canada, though an infant fettlerftent, is faid by fome
to contain forty thoufand, by others, only twenty thoufand in-
habitants. The truth probably is between them; Lower Ca-
nada, in 1784, contained one hundred thirteen thouland and
twelve fouls. Both provinces maj^ now contain about one hun-
dred and fifty-two thoufand fouls, which number is multiplying,
both by natural increafe and by emigrations.
RELIGION.
About nine tenths of the inhabitants of thcfe provinces arc
Roman Catholics, who enjoy under the prefent government thfc
fame provifion, rights, and privileges, as were granted them jnt
*7 745 ^y ^^^ '"^ '^^ 14th of George III. The reft of the peo-^
pie are Epifco'palians, Prefbyterians, and a icw of ahr.oft all the
tlifFerent iec^s of Ghrillians.
TRADE.
The comrnodities required by th« Canadians from' Europe are,
■wine, or rather rum ; cloths, chiefly coarle ; linen ; and wraught!
iron. The Indian trade requires rum, tobacco, a fort of dufHl
blankets, guns, powder, bails, and flints, krttles, hatchets, toys,
* Niagara and Derroit, though at prefent in poffeflion of the Britifli govci'a.
tnent, contrarj to tk^ treaty of ptacj, arc, without any pollibk doubt, both withij
the limits of t- . Uuv.cd Stares.
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. 9
and trinkets of all kinds. While the country was in poffeflion
of the French, the Indians luppUed them with poultry ; and
ihe French had traders, who, like the original inhabitants, tra-
verfed the vaft lakes and rivers in canoes, with inctedible induf-
try and patience, carrying their goods into the remoteft parts of
America, and among nations entirely unknown to us. Thefe
again brought the furs, &c. home to them, as the Indians were
thereby habituated to trade with them. For this purpote, people
from all parts, even from the diflance of one thoufand miles,
came to the French fair at Montreal, which began in June, and
fometimes lafted three months. On this occafion many folemni-
tifes were oblerved, guards were placed, and the governor afli lied
to preferve order in fo great and various a concourfc of favage
nations. But fometimes great diiorders and tumults happened :
and the Indians frequently gave for a dram all that ihey were
poffeffed of. It is remarkable, that many of thefe nations a£lu-
ally paffed by the then Englifh fettlement of Albany in New-
York, and travelled two hundred miles further to Montreal^
though they could have purchased the goods they wanted cheaper
at the former.
Since Britain became pofleffed of Canada, her trade with that
country has generally employed from thirty to forty fhips,. and
about four thoufand feamen.
The amount of the exports from the province of Quebec, as
far back as in the year 1786, was three hundred forty-three
thoufand two hundred and fixty-two pounds, nineteen fhjllings
and fix-pence. 'Ihe amount of imports in the fams year was
thre« hundred twenty-five thoufand one hundred and fixteen
pounds. The exports confided of wheat, flour, bifcuit, fl?x-
feed, lumber of various kinds, fifh, potafh, oil, ginfeng and
other medicinal roots, £ut principally of furs and
PELTRIES, to the amount of two hundred eighty-five thou-
fand nine hundred and ieventy-leven pounds.* The imports
• Should America infift (as no-doubt fiie will) on Great Britain furrcndering
the frontier forts, and thole lands and fettlements which fhe has hitherto held in
defiance of the moft folemn treaties, there cannot remain a doubt but ninc-
tenths of the fur trade, will pafs into the hands of the Americans. This will
prove a moft fcverc blow to the Canadian commerce, as well as to the re-
venue of Great Britain, while the Americans, grown wile by experience, fend-
ing their furs direft to France, Germany, &c. inftead of caufing them to pofs
through the hands of Britifli merchants and brokers, will be able to
divide an additional profit of from tiiirty to tifty per cent, between tliem-
^io GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
confifled of rum, brandy, molaffes, cofFee, fugar, wines, to-
bacco, lalt, chocolate, provifions for the trooos, and dry
goods.
GOVERNMENT.
By the Quebec aft,, paffad by the parliament of Great Britain
in the year 1791, lo much of the aft of the 14th of George
III. pafled in the year 1774, as relates to the appointment of a
council for the government of the province of Quebec, is re-
pealed ; and it is enaftcd that there fliall-be within each-of the
provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, a LegiflHtive Council,
and an AfTcmblv, who, with the content of the Governor,
appointed by the King, Ihall have power to make laws. The
governor may give or withhold his majefly's affent to bills palled
by the leijiflative council and airembly, or referve them for his
majrfty's plcafure. Bills referved are to have no force till his
rnajcfty's affent is hgnified by the governor, which, to be valid,
mull be hgnified within two years from the time the bill is prc-
fented to the governor. The governor mufl tranfmit to the
fecretary of ftste copies of fuch bills as have been alfented to,
•which his Majefty in council may declare his dirallcwance of
within two years from the receipt.
The Lec^illative Council is to confift of not fewer than feven
members for Upper, and fifteen for Lower Canada, to be fum-
moned by the Governor, who mufl; be authorized by the King.
Such members are to hold their feats for life, unlel's forfeited by
four years continual ablence, or by fwearing allegiance to foine
foreign power.
Ihe rioufe of i^flembly is to confifl of not lefs than fixteen
members from Upper, and not lels than fifty from Lower
Canada, choien by the freeholders in the fevcral towns and
felvrs and the merchants of thofe countries.— A profit which is now exclufively
enjoved by Britifh fubjscls, or foreigners refiding in Great Britain, as interme-
diate agents ; but, it iTiay be faid, that the icarcity of fpecie in America, and
their <^reat demand for Englifh manufaftures, will fecure the fur trade to Great
Britain fuch, however, fliould remember, that the rapid progrefs of manufac-
tures in tlu: United States, aided by the prefent fpirit of emigration in Europe,
will foon lelTcn this demand, and leave the Americans at liberty to carry their
ftirs and other articles to a market which will rapidly increafe their fpecie fuffi-
cient to enable them to range the European and other markets with that advan-
tage which the Britifh merchant has long experienced almofl without a rival —
indeed, it is impoffible to confider the rapid advances which America has made
lince her independence, without at the fame time being convinced, ti-rat inftead
of drawing her fupplies of manufatiured goods from Grtat Britain, flie will,
er'c long, become her rival in the molf import-ant articles in almoll every other
European market.
UPPER AND LOWER CANADA. ii
diflrifts. The council and affembly are to be called together at
lead once in every year ; and every affembly is to continue four
years unlefs fooner dilfolved by the Governor. All queRions
are to be decided by a majority of votes of the members preltnt.
His Majefly may authorize the Governor to fix the time and
place of holding the elcftions, (fubjeft, however, to fuch pro-
vifions as^ may hereafter be made by the Legiflature) and to
fix the times and places of holding the fefTions of the ailembly,
and to prorogue and diffolve the fame whenever he fliall judge
it necefluiry.
The Governor, together with fuch of the executive council
as fhall be appointed by the King, for the affairs of each
province, are to be a court of civil jurifdiftion for hearing and
determining appeals, fubjeft, however, to fuch appeals from
their judgment as heretofore exifted. All lands in Upper
Canada are to be granted hereafter in free and common foccage ;
and alfo in Lower Canada, when the grantee fhall dellie it, tub-
jeft neverthelefs to alterations by aa aft of the Legiflature.
Britilh America is fuperintend'ed by an ofHcer ftiled Gover-
nor General of the four Britifh provinces in North-America,
who, befides other powers, is commander in chief of all the
Britilh troops in the four provinces and the go\'ernments attach-
ed to them and Newfoundland. , Each of the provinces hc^ve a
Lieutenant Governor, who, in the abfence of the Governor
General, has all the powers requifite to a chief magiftrate.
C 2
12 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
THE I:S L AND
OF
CAPE BRETON;
ANNEXED TO THE PaO*VINCE OT LOVVfiR C-i^ADAi
SITUATION, EXTENT, &c.
The ifland, or rather colleftion of iflaxids, called by the
French Les J_f.es de Madam, which lie lo contiguous as that
they are commonly called but one, and comprehended under
the name of the Ifland of Cape Breton, lies betvveen lat. 45**
and 4'jO N. and between 59^ and 60°, W. long, from Lon-
don, or 14^ and 15° E. long, from Philadelphia, and about 45
leagues to the eaftward of Halifax. It is about one Hundred
miles in length, and fifty in breadth ; and is feparated from
Nova Scotia by a narrow fl;rait, called the Gut of Canfo, which
is the communication between the Atlantic Ocean, and the
Gulph of St. Lawrence,
It is furrounded with little fliarp-pointed rocks, feparated
from esch other by the waves, above which fome of their tops
are vifible. All its harbours are open to the eaft, turning
towards the fouth. On the other parts of the coaft there are
but a few anchoring places for fmall vefTels, in creeks, or
between iflets. The harbour of St. Peter's, at the weft end
of the ifland, is a very commodious place for carrying on the
fifhery.
CLIMATE.
Except in the hilly parts, the furface of the country has but
little folidity, being every v/here covered with a light mois
and with w;ater. The dampnefs of the foil is exhaled in fogs,
without rendering the air unwholelome. In other refpefts, the
climate is very cold, owing either to the prodigious quantity of
lakes, which cover above half the ifland, and remain frozen a
long time ; or to the number of forefts, that totally intercept
the rays of the fun ; the efFeft of which is befides decreaied by
perpetual clouds,
HISTORY OF ITS SETTLEMENT, -&e»--
Though fome fiflaermen had long reforted to this ifland evej:js,
fumm^r, not more than twenty or thirty had ever fixed there^-
Ths Fxench, who took pofl"effion of it in. Augufl: 1713^- were,
UPPER AI^D LOWER CANADA. i^ .
properly the firft inhabitants. They changed its name into that
of Jjle Royale, and fixed upon Fort Dauphin for their principal
fettlement. This harbour was two leagues in circumference.
The fliips came to the very fhore, and were fheltered from
winds. Forefts affording oak lufficient to fortify and build a
large city, were near at hand ; the ground appeared lefs barren
than in other part?, and the fifhery was more plentiful. This
harbour might have been rendered impregnable at -a trifling ex-
pence ; but the difficulty of approaching it (a circumftance that
had at firft made a ftronger impreflion than the advantages reiult-
ing from it) occafioned it to be abandoned, after great labour had
been beftowed upon the undertaking. They then turned their
views to Louifbourg, the accefs to which was eafier; and con-
venience was thus preferred to feeurity : the fortification of
Louifbourg, however, was not begun till 1-720.
In the year 1714, fome fifhermen, who till then had lived in
Newfoundland, fettled in this ifland. It was expefted that
their number would loon have been increafed by the Acadians,
who were at liberty, from the treaties that had been granted
them, to remove with all their effefts, and even to difpofe of
their eftates ; but thefe hopes were difappointed. The Acadi-
ans chofe rather to retain their poffeflions under the dominion
of Britain, than to give them up for any precarious advantage
they might derive from their attachment to France. Their
place was lupplied by fome diftreffed adventurers from Europe,
who came over from time to time to Cape Breton, and the num-
ber of inhabitants gradually increafed to four thouland. They
were fettled at Louifbourg, Fort Dauphin, Fort Touloufe,
Nerucka, and on the coafts where tliey found a proper beach
for drying the cod.
This ifl.ind was attacked by the Englifh in 1745; and the
event is of fo fingular a nature, that it deferves a particular
detail. The plan of this firft invafion was laid at Bofton, and
New-England bore the exoence of it. A merchant named
Peppcrd, who had excited, encouraged, and direfted the enter-
prizc, was intrufted with the command of an army of fix thou-
sand men, which had been levied for this expedition.
Though thefe forces, convoyed by a fquadron from Jamaica^
brought the firft news to Cape Breton of the danger that threat-
ened it; though the advantage of a furprife would have fecured
the landing without oppofition ; though they had but fix hun-
dred regular troops to encounter, and eight hundred "inhabitants
haftily'- armed, the fuccefs of the undertaking was ftill prcca-
rious» What great exploits, iudced, could be expc£ted -Fi'om a
14 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
xnilitia fuddenly affembled, who had never feen a fiege or faced
an enemy, and were to aft under the direftion of fea-ofEcers
only.. Thefc unexperienced troops ftood in need of the affif-
tance of feme fortunate incident, which they were indeed
favoured with in a fingular manner.
The conftruftion and repairs of the fortifications had always
been left to the care of the garrilon of Louifbourg. The fol-
diers were eager of being employed in thefe works, which they
confidered as conducive to their lafety, and as the means of
procuring thern a comfortable fubfiftence. When they found
that thofe who were to have paid them, appropriated to them-
felves the profit of their labours, they demanded juftice. It
■was denied them, and they were determined to affert their
light. As fhefe depredations had been fhared between the chief
perfons of the colony and the fubaltern officers, the foldiers could
obtain no redrels. Their indignation againfh thefe rapacious ex-
tortioners rofe to fuch a height, that they defpifed all authority.
They had lived in an open rebellion for fix months, when the
Bntifh appeared before the place.
This was the time to conciliate the minds of both parties, and
to unite in the common caufe. Tine Soldiers made the firft
advances ; but their commanders miftrufted a generofity of
which they themfclves were incapable. It was firmly believed
fhst the foldiers were only dcfirous of fallying out, that they
might have an opportunity of deferting ; and their own officers
kept them in a manner prifoners, till a defence lo ill managed
had reduced them to the neceffity of capitulating. The whole
ifland fhared the fate of Louifbourg, its only bulwark.
This valuable polTeffion, rcflored to France by the treaty of
Aix la Chapelle, was again attacked by the Britifli in 1758, and
taken. The poffeffion was confirmed to Great Britain by the
peace in 1763; fince which the fortifications have been blown
up, and the town of Louifbourg diimantled.
SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, &c.
The inhabitants never applied themfelvcs to agriculture, the
foil being unfit for it. They often fowed corn, but it Ifcidom
came to maturity ; and when it did thrive fo much as to be
worth reaping, it had degenerated io confiderahly, that it was
not fit for feed for the next harveft. They have only continued
to plant a few pot-herbr- that are tolerably well tailed^,* btitmuft
be renewed every year from abroad. The poornefs and fcarcity
of paftures has likevvile prevented the increafe of cattle. In a
word, the foil of Cape Breton leems cak-ulated' to •^inviteimGlne'
but nfhermen. ■ • ; ! ... ., -■.>
Upper a nd lower Canada, \^
Tliougii the iiland was entirely covered with fore (Is before it
was inhabited, its wood has (carce ever been an obj^ft of trade,
A great quantity, however, of ibft wood was found there fit for
firing, and fprne that might be ufcd for timber: but the oaTc has
always been fcarce, and the fir rvever yielded much refin. TKe
peltry trade was a very inconfiderable objeft. It confifted only
in the fkins of a few lynxes, elks, mufk-r^ts, wild cats, bears,
otters, and foxes both of a red and filvcr-grey colour. Some of
thefe were procured from a colony of Mickmac Indians who had
fettled on the ifland with the French, and never could raile more
than fixty men able to bear arms. The rtlt came from St. John's
or the neighbouring continent. Greater advantages mit^ht pofli-
bly have been derived from the coal mines, which abound in the
ifland. They lie in a horizontal direftion ; and being no move
than fix or eight feet below the furface, may be worked without
digging deep, or draining off the waters. Notwithftanding the
prodigious demand for this coal from New-Enfi.land, from the
year 1745 to 1749, thele mines would probably have been for-
faken, had not the fhips which were fent out to the French
iflnnds wanted ballaft. In one of thefe mines a fire has beea
kindled, which could never yet be extinguillied.
The people of Cape Breton did not fend all their fifh to Eu-
rope, they fent part of it to the French fouthern illands, on board
twenty or twenty-five fliips from feventy to one hundred and
forty tons burden. Befides the cod, which made at leafl half
their cargo, they exported to the other colonies timber,, planks
thin oak boards, faked falmon and mackrel, train-oil and fea-
coal. All thcle were paid for in fugar and coffee, but chiefly ia
1 urn and molaifes. The ifland could not confume ?11 thele com-
modities. Canada took off but a fmall part of the overplus • it
was chiefly bought by the people of New-England, who gave ia
exchange fruits, vegetables, \vood, brick, and cattle. Tiiis trade
of exchange was allowed ; but a fmuggling trade was added to
It. carried on in flour, and fait fifh,
POPULATION, CPIIEF TOWNS, &c.
On this ifland there are about one thoufand inhabitants, w!io
have a lieutenant-governor reiident among them, appointed bv
the king. The principal towns are Sidney, the caoital, and
Louifbourg, Which has the befl haibour in the ifldnd.
Tltis ifland ttvay be confidered as the key to Canada. aAd thfe
very vallisbie ftfhcry, in its neighbourhood, depends for its pi'otec!''^
tion on the polTcihon of this ifland; as no nation can carry it on
wiihejut fomc convenient harbour of flrcngth to fupply and pro-
tctl It ; and Louifbourg is the principal one for tlicie pufpbfds.
i6 GENERAL DESC R2 PTION OF
NEW BRITAIN;-
ANNEXED TO THE GOVERNMENT OF LOWER CANAdA,
The country lying round Hudfon's Bay, or the country of th«
Efquimaux, comprehended Labrador, New North and South
Wales, has obtained the general name of New Britain', and
is attached to the government of Lower Canada. A lupevin-
tendant of trade, appointed by the Governor-General of the
four Britifh Provinces, and refponfible to him, refides at
Labrador.
CLIMATE.
The climate, even about Haye's riv'^er, in only lat. 517®, is,
during winter, exceflively cold. The fnows begin to fall in
Oftober, and continue falling by intervals the whole winter :
and, when the froft is moft: rigorous, in form of the fineft fand.
The ice on the rivers is eight feet thick. Port wine freezes
into a folid mafs ; brandy coagulates. The very breath falls on
the blankets of the beds in the form of a hoar froft, and the
bed-cloaths often are found frozen to the wall. The fun rifes,
in the fhorteft day, five minutes paft nine, and fets five minutes
before three. In the longeft day the fun rifes at three, and fets
about nine. The ice begins to difappear in May, and hot
weather commences about the middle of June, which at times
is fo violent as to fcorch the faces of the hunters. Thunder is
not frequent, but very violent. But there is a great difference
of heat and cold in this vaft extent, which reaches from lat.
50, 40, to lat. 63 north. — During winter the firmament is not
without its beauties. Mock funs, halos are not unfrequent ;
they are very bright, and richly tinged with all the colours of
the rainbow. The fun rifes and fets with a large cone of
yellowilh light. The night is enlivened with the Aurora Borea-
lis, which fpreads a thoufand different lights and colours over
the whole concave of the fky, not to be defaced even bv the
Jplendout of the full moon ; and the ftars are of a fiery rednefs.
In this feafon it however frequently happens, that the air is
fo full of watery vapours, that the fun will be obfcured for fcve-
ral weeks together. This is occafioned by the rime, which afcends
fiom the open fea water, and being condenfed by the cold, is
driven by the wind to a confiderable diftance at times, from forty
to fifty miles.
The climate is very perceptibly milder in the intei ior, than in
t}-ie parts on the fea coaft. The fnow is not half fo deep, nei-
N E JV B R 1 T A I N.- - 17
tKer are the hottefkclays in'fummer fo fviltry. If -a man is frozen
in the upper country, it is owing to his not having taken proper
Care of himfelf ; whereas upon the fea cpaft, with every ^eceffary
precaution, a man will frequently have his nolc. fac'c, or fiiigeis-
ends fkinned.
The heavens, in cold winter nijht?, do not exhibit that lumi-
nous appearance, which, as before remarked, is obfcrvable on
the ffea coaft ; nor do the flars fhine with that refulgent luftre.
The Aurora Borealis i* not fo common nor fo brilliant ; the Par-
helia and Parafeierres are Icfs frequent; and fogs in the winter
are unknown.
In fliort, the fea coaft: and the upper country will admit of no
comparifon : ono is temperate and Ivealthy, the land dry, plcafant,
and fertile in fporitaneous productions, and tlie animal creation
various and excellent for the lupport of man : in it, a pcrfon
who could live retired, might pafs his days with eafe, contenr,
and felicity, and if he did not enjoy an uninterrupted ftate of
health, it would not be the fault of the air he lived in. On the
other hand, the lower country is one endlels hog, where the_ la-
vage animals therafelves are fometimes conflantly fvrampt. The
finefl; fummer's day will begin with a fcorching heat, and termi-
nate with a cold cafterly fea fog. The weather ufually inqidcnt
to autumn and midfummer, is experienced in their different ex-
tremes during the fliort fpace of twelve hours. The inhabitants
frequently fall a prey to the fcverity of the froft. The whole
country furnifhes hut one I'pecies of quadruped fit for the lupport
of man ; and the Europeans are accurfed with an afilifting epi-
demical diforder, which they very emphatically term '■ The
Country Diftemper."
FACE OF THE COUNTRY, SOIL, &c.
As far inland as the Hudfon Bay Company have fettlemcnfs,
which is fix hundred miles to the weft of Fort Churchill, at a
place called Hudfon lloufe, lat. 53°,"lon. 106^ 27 'W. from Lon-
don, is. flat country : nor is it known how far to the eailward
the great chain of mountains feen by the navigators from the Pa-
cific Ocean branches off. From IMoofe River, or the bottom of
tli^ bay, to Cape Churchill, the land is flat, marfhy, and v/ooded
with pines, biich, larcii, and willows. The pine trees, which arc
©f different kinds, arebutimall; near the fea-'coalb they gene-
rally run knotty, and are unfit to be ufed in the flruftureof good
buildiogs. I'he fame may be faid of the juftiper trees, growing
in the lame fituation.
: . J5;yt on leaving the m»rfhy ground, and retiring inland to t]-,e
.-jjfeuthward, the trees are of a more ftately growth ; a^id shout
Moofe and Albany Forts, they are found of all diameters. Here
D
i9 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
the climate is much more temperate than at York Fort atts who come to the Englifh fettiements to trade, -
will neither eat fifh, water-fowl, nor any amphibious anim^al, '
How far the foil of this country may be favourable to the cul-'
ture of vegetables, we are not able to advance. Experiments, ■
which fliould be aur principal guide to knowledge in thcie matters^
never having been much made ule of, though we may venture to
affert, that many parts would admit of cultivation. The Hudfon's
Bay Company fefvants have tried Indian corn and barley, by way
of experiment, which came to perfeftion ; potatoes, turnips, ca3%»i, ^
rots, radifhes, onions, Sec. have been lately reared^ aiid found as
good as thofc in Canada. ' «^^
The fruits which fpontaneouily flioot up, are not in'Tuch greai**
^rariety in the. wiidcrnefles of Canada, as in the country wc arc
fpeaking of. The natives colleft vaft quantities of a kind of wild" ..
.cherries and bring them in for iale. The Hudfon's Bay people
make an excellent beverage of them, which is grateful to the
tafte, and is an excellent antifcorbutic. Raipberries, fkrawberries,
currants, cranberries, and an infinity of other kinds are to be
found every where. So that a perion, without the help of ait^mu^
nition, may in the fumrner feaion procure a very comfortable
fubfiilence, were he bewildered, and alone. Should any one be
in this iituation, almoft every pond of water would furnifli
him with eggs of ducks, &c. apd every thicket with a latiety
of delicious fruit.
The eaftern coan; is barren, pad the efforts of cultivation. The
furface is every Avhere uneven, and covered with maffe's of ftone
©f an amazing fize. It is a country of -fruitlefs and fright;||*l
mountains, fome of an aftoniflring height*j The vallies are full of
lakes, formed not from iprings, but rain ■jl'S^ inow, lo chilly as to
be produftive of a few fmall trout only. The mountains have
bere and there a blighted flirub, or a little mofs. The vallies are
full of crooked, flunted trees, pines, fir, birch, and cedars, or
rather a Ipecies of the juniper. In latitude 60'* on this coaft,
vegetation ceaies. The whole fliore, like that on the weft, is
faced with iflands at fomc diftance from land,
D 2
2<5 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
T.hp principal rivers which water this cotintr)', arc the Wager,
Monk. Seal, Pockerekefko, Churchill, Nelfon, Hayes, New Severn,
Albany, and Mooie rivers, all which empty into Hudfon's and
James Bay from the w?{t. The mculhs of all the nvers are filled
with ihoals, except Churchill's, in which the largeft fliips may lie ;
but ten miles higher the channel is obiLruQied by fand banks. All
the -rivers as far as they have been explored, are full of rapids
and cataracls, from ten to fixfy feet perpendicular. Down thcfe
rivers the Indian traders find a quick paffage ; but their return is
a labour of many months.
INHABITANTS, QUSTOMS, &c.
The inhabitants jfmong the mountains are Indians ; along the
coafts, ILfquimaux. The Hudfon's Bay Indians, in all probability,
were originally tall, properly proportioned, ftrongly made, and of
'as mmlv an appearance as any people whatever. This, however, .
•was before their commerce with Europeans had enervated and de-
baied their minds and bodies, by introducing fpirituous liquors
among them, and habituating them to fevere couri'es of drinking.
They are naturally much addifted to this fatal cuftom ; but when
'^-is encouraged and enforced by thofe who call themfelves an en-
'•lighrened people, it certainly is not only blameable, but highly
qjiminal. Were common fenfe but made uie of to direft the con-
duft of thofe who are benefited by the trade carried on with the
Indians, fclf-intereit and good policy would teach them to difcou-
rage, as much as poffible, a habit fo prejudicial to them, and fatally
deftruflive to thefe miferable people. They are generally of a
benevolent difpofition, and eafy to be perfuaded by perfons who
. underftand their language; but as a mofh uncpnfcionablc gain is
got bv trading in fpirits with llrem, it is not to be fuppoied the
faftors will ever be induced to put a flop to this unchrillian prac-
tice. An Indian v/ill barter away all his furs, nay even leave him-
lelf without a rag to cover his nakednefs, in exchange for that
vile unwhoiefume ftufF, called Englifh brandy. If by fuch ex-
ceiTive intoxication they only irreparably injured their own con^^
ftitutions, and debilitated their race, the confequences, though
pernicious, would not be io dreadful as they ufually are ; but
during their intoxication not only freili auarrels enfue, old gricv=.
ances are alio renewed, and dedth is frequciuly the conlequcnce
of former bickerings, which but for this llimulator had been,
buried in oblivion.
. By thii diabolical commerce the country is impoverished of
inhabitants, the trade of courfc imperceptibly declines, and this
i;xtenuve fettlement is in a great meafurc prevented from rIvalUng
afjiany of our other foreign (ifkablifiiments,
N E W B R I T A I N. 21
The natives are however a people of a middle fize, of a cop-
per complexion, their featiwes regular and agreeable, an^ fe\v
diftorted or deformed perCons are leen among them. V/hen
young they have exceflive large bellies, which is to be attributed
to the enormous quantity of food they devour ; but as they grow
towards puberly this part decreafes to a common fize. Their
conftitutions are (Irong and healthy, and their diforders few ;
the chief of thefe is the dyfentery, and a violent pairi in the
-breaft, which the Englilli call the Country Diflemper. The
latter is fuppofed to proceed from the cold air being drawn into
ihe lungs ; which impeding the veiTcls from fpreading through-
put that organ, hinders the circulation, and renders refpiration
extremely painful and diilicult. They feldom live to a great age,
but enjoy all tlieir faculties to the laft.
In their difpofitions they are mild, affable, and good-natured,
when fober ; but when intoxicated they are loft to every focial
quality, anddifcover the greateft propenfity to quarrelling, theft,
and the worft of vices. V/hen we view the fair fide of their
charafters, we find them kind, courteous, and benevolent to
each other, relieving the wants and neceiTities of their diftreffed
brethren with the greateft good-nature, either by counfel, food,
or cloathing. The good eft'efts of this excellent difpofition are
frequently experienced by themfelves ; for, as in their mode of
life no one knows how foon it may be his own fate to be reduced
to the verge of extremity, he lecures for himfelf a return of
kindnefs, fliould he experience that vicilTitude. On the other
1 hand they are fly, cunning, and artful to a great degree ; they
glory in every fpccics of furacity and artifice, efpecially when
the theft or deception has been fo w^ell executed as to efcape
deteftion. Their love to their ofisprings is carried to a very
gi'eat height. From the ftate of childhood to maturity they fel-
dom or never correft their children, allcdging that when they
grow up they will know better of themielvcs. Neither is this
indulgence made a bad ufe of when refleftion fucceeds the irre-
gularities of youth ; on the contrary, fentimcnts of reverence,
gratitude, and love, link their afFeftions to the authors of their
being ; and they fclJom fail to give the utmoft aftiftance to their
aged parents whenever their imbecility requires it.
With refpeft to their corporeal abilities, they arc almoft with-
out e>;ccption great v.nlkcrs ; they patiently endure cold, hunger,
and fatigue ; and bear all misfortunes with admirable fortitude
and refignation, whic'i ciiables them bravely to encounter the
profpeft of ill, and j "■ idcrs the mind fercne under the prefTure
oi advcrfity. As t.'cir countjy abouutls wu]j innumerabrc
S2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
herds of deer, elks, and buffaloes, they frequently make great
flaughter among them ; and upon theTe occafions they have no rcr
gard to futurity, or providing for an unfuccefsful day. Whether
they happen to be pining under the grafp of pinching neceffity,
or enjoying themfelves in all the happinefs of health and plenty,
they kill all they can, having an incontrovertible maxim among
them, which is, " the more they kill, the more they have to kill :'*
and this opinion, though diametrically oppofite to reafon or com-
mon feriie, is as pertinacioufly held by them, as his tenets are by
the moft bigotted enthufiaft. Indeed, they too frequcutly ftnd it
to their coft to be grounded On folly, as they iometimes iuffer ex-
treme hunger through it ; nay, many have been ftarved to death,
and others have been reduced to the fad neceffity of devouring
their own offspring.
As a great part of the Faftory provifions confifts of geefc killed
by the Indians, the Englifh fupply them with powder and fliot
for thisr purpofe, allowing them the value of a beaver ikin for
cveiy ten geefe. they kill ; accordingly, after the Indian has got
this fupply, he fets off from his tent early in the morning into the
inarfhes, where he fets himfelf down, with a degree of patience
difficult to be imitated, and being flieltered by a few willows,
waits for the geefe. They ffioot them flying, and are fo very dex-
terous at this fport, that a good hunter will kill, in times of plenty,
fifty or fixty in a day. Few Europeans are able to endure cold,
fatigue, hunger, or adverfity in any ffiape, with an equal degree
of magnanimity and compofure to that which is familiar to the
natives of this countiy. After being out a whole day on a hunt,
expofed to the bleakeft winds and moft penetrating cold, and that
without the lead thing to latisfy the calls of nature, an Indian
comes home, warms himfelf at the fire, fmoaks a few pipes of to-
bacco, and then retires to reft, as calm as if in the midft of plenty ;
but if he happens to have a family, he cannot always boaft of this
equanimity ; when reduced to extremity, his afleftion for them
predominates over his philofophy, if it might be fo called,, and it
gives way to the moft pungent lorrnw.
A belief i;i fome over-ruling invifible power bears a principal
•fhare in the charafter of thefe unpoliflied Indians. By this he is
itiduced to impute every occurrence of his life to fupernatural
eaufes. His good or bad liiccefs in hunting, the welfare of his
friends and family, his duration in this mortal ftate, &c. all depend
upon the will and pleasure of ibme inviiible agent, whom, he iup-
pofes to prefide over all his undertakings^: for inftance, one man
will invoke a conipicuous ftur. another a v/olf, one a bear, and
tJ E W B R 1 T A 1 N. 23
indther a particular tree ; in which he imagines the Great Being
refides, and influences his good or ill fortune in this life.
The religious fentiments of thefe people, though confufed, are
in fome refpefts juft. They allow that there is a good Being, and
they fometimes fing to him ; but not out of fear or adoration, for
he is too good, they fay, to hurt them. He is called Kitch-c-man-
e-to, or the Great Chief. They further lay, there is an evil
Being, who is always plaguing them ; they call him Whit-ti-cs»
Of him they are very much in fear, and leldom eat any thing,
or drink any brandy, without throwing fome into the fire for IVhit-
ti-co. If any misfortune befals them, they fing to him, imploring
his mercy ; and when in health and profpeiity d© the fame, to
keep him in good humour. Yet, though obfequious fometimes,
at others they are angry with him, efpecially when in liquor ;
they then run out of their tents, and fire their guns in order t©
kill him. They frequently perfuadc themfelves that they fee
his track in the mols or fnow, and he is generally defcribed in
the moft hideous forms. They believe that both the good and the
bad Being have many iervants ; thole of the former inhabiting the
air, but thofe of the latter walking on the earth. They have like-
wife an opinion that this country was once overflowed ; an opi-
nion founded on meeting with many fea fhells far inland.
They have no manner of government orfubordination. The fa-
ther, or head of a family, owns no fuperior, nor obeys any com-
mand. He gives his advice or opinion of things, but at the fame
time has no authority to enforce obedience: the youth of his
family follow his direftions, but rather from filial affeftion or re-
verence, than In confequence of any duty exafted by a fuperior.
When fevcral tents or families meet to go to war, or to the Fac-
tories to trade, they choofe a leader, but it is only voluntary
obedience they pay to the leader lo chofen ; every one is at liber-
ty to leave him when he pleafes, and the notion of a commander
is quite obliterated as foon as the voyage is over. Merit alone
GIVES THE TITLE TO DISTINCTION ; AND THE POSSESSION OF
QUALITIES THAT ARE HELD IN ESTEEM IS THE ONLY WETH01>
TO OBTAIN RESPECT. Thus a pcrfon who is an experienced
hunter ; one who knows the communication between the lakes
and rivers ; one who can make long harangues; is a conjuror j
or if he has a fatnily ; fuch a man will not fail of being followed
by leveral Indians, when they happen to be out in large parties ;
they likcwife follow him down to trade at the fettlements ; he
is, however, obli^,ed to fecure their attendance upon this
occafion by promifes and rewards, as the regard paid to his
abilities is of too weak a nature to command fubjefiidn. — ■
34 GEN£RAL DESCRIPTJO'N OF
In war a mutual refentment agairrft their etieinies forms fLeir unioft
for perpetrating their revenge. Per/anal courage, patience under
hardJhtpSy and a knozi.'icdge of the manners and country of their ad-
verfaric.'!, are the qualifications fought afitf in the choice of a I'ader.
They follow him, whom they have thus chofen, with fidelity, and
execute his piojefts with alacrity; but their obedience does not
proceed from any right in the leader to command, tt is folcly
founded on his merit, on the affeftion of his followers, and their
deft re of fubduing their enemies. Thcfe fentiments aftuate every
breaft, and augment the union, while in more civilized nations
fuch a compaft is effefted by a flavjfh fubmifiion to military laws ;
for as the ioldier has no choice in his commander, it frequently
happens that neither his abilities nor his charafter are calculated
to gain tlicir efteem.
The Indian's method of dividing the time, is by numbering
the nights elapled, or to come ; thus, if he be afl^ed how long
he has been on his journey, he will anfwer, " f o many nights."
From tin's nofturnal divifion, they proceed to the lunar or
monthly divifion, reckoning thirteen of thefe in the year, all of
which are exprefllve of fome remarkable event or appearance,
that happens during that revolution of the moon.
Their method of computing numbers is rather abflrufe, as they
reckon chiefly by decades ; as follows : — Two tens, three tens, &c.
Ten tens, or an hundred tens. A few units over or under, are
added or fubflrafted. Thus, thirty-two in their tongue is ex-
preffed, by faying three tens and two over,
Thofe Indians of whom we have now been treating and of whom
the Peltries are obtained, are known by the following names, viz.
The Ne-Jteth-azv-a, the AJlnne-poeivc, the Fall, the Suffee, the
Black-feet, the Paegaii, and the Blood-Indians. Thefe are the
only Indians with which tiie Company trade, and confcquently
the only ones whofe manners, cuftoms, &c, are known.
The laudable zeal of the Moravian clergy induced them, in the
year 1752) to fend mifTionaries from Greenland to this country.
Thev fixed on Nelbit's harbour for their fettlement ; but of the
firft party, fome of them were killed, and others driven away.
In 1764, under the proteftion of the Britifli government, ano-
ther attempt was made. The miffionaries were well received by
tire Elquimaux, and the miffion goes on with fuccels.
A N I iM A L S.
The animals of thefe countries are, the moofc deer, fl^gs, rein
deer, bears, tygers, bulfaloes, wolves, foxes, beavers, otters,
lynxes, martins, fquirrels, ermines, wild cats, and hares. The
NEW B R I T A I N, 25
rein deer pafs in vaft herds towards the north in October, fceking
the extreme cold. Tlie mnle polar bears rove out at fea, on the
floating ice, mod of the winter, and till June ; the femnles lie
concealed in the woods, or beneath the hanks of rivers, till March,
when they come abroad with their twin cubs, and bend the>r
courfe to the fca in fearch of their conlbrts. Several are killed
in their paffage ; and thofe that are wounded fliow vaft fury, roar
hideoufly, and bite and throw up in the air even their own pro-
geny. The females and the young, when not interrupted, con-
tinue their way to the fea. In June the males return to fliore,
and by Augufh are joined by their conforts, with their cubs, by
that time of a confiderable fize. The feathered kindij are, geefe,
buftards, ducks, growfe, and all manner of wild fowls. Indeed
multitudes of birds retire to this remote country, to Labrador
and Newfoundland, from places more remotely fouth, perhaps
from the Antilles ; -and fome even of the moft delicate little fpecies.
Moft of them, with numbers of aquatic fowls, are feen returning
fouthward with their young broods to more favourable climates.
The favagcs in fome refpe£ls regulate their months by the appear-
ance of birds ; and have their goofe-month, from the vernal ap-
pearance of gcefe, from the fouth. All the growfe kind, ravens,
cinereous, crows, titmoufc, and Lapland finch, brave the fevereft
winter ; and feveral of the falcons and owls feek fhelter in the
woods. Of fifli, there are whales, morfes, leals, cod-fifh, and a
white fifh, preferable to herrings ; and in their rivers and freflx
waters, pike, perch, carp, and trout.
All the quadrupdeds of theie countries are clothed with a clofe,
foft, warm fur. In lummer there is here, as in other places, a va-
riety in the colours of the feveral animals ; when that feafon is
over, which holds only for three months, they all affume the li-
very of winter, and every fort of beads, and mod of their fowls,
are of the colour of the Ihow ; every thing animate and inani-
mate is white. This is a furprifing phenomenon. But what is
yet more furprifing, and whnt is indeed one of the mod ftriking
tilings, that draw the moft inattentive to an admiration of the
wifdom and goodnefs of Providence, is, that the dogs and cats from
Britain that have been carried into Iludfon's Bay, on the approich
of winter have entirely changed then- appearance, and acquired a
much longer, fofter, and thicker coat of hair than they had
originally.
DISCOVERY AND COMMERCE.
The knowledge of thefe northern feas and countries v/as owing
to a projeft ftartcd in England for the difcovery of a horth-wcft
E
«6 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 01
paflage to Cliina and the Eaft-Indies, as early as the year 1576.
Since then it has been frequently dropped and as off.en I'evived,
but never yet compleated ; and from the late voyages of difcovery
it feems probable, that no prafticable palT.igc ever can be found,
Forbin:ier difcovered the Main of New Britain, of Terra de Labra-
dor, and tliole Hieights to which he has given his name. In 1585,
John Davis failed fronn Fortfmouth, and viewed that and the more
northern conlls, but he feems never to have entered the bay.
Captain Hudfon made three voyages on the fame adventure, the
firft in 1607, ibe (econd in 1608, and his thiid and laft in i6io.
This bold and judicious navigator entered the flreights that lead
into the bny kno\¥n by his name, coafted a great part of it, and
penetrated to eighty degrees atid a half, into the heart of the
frozen zone. His ardour for the difcovery not being abated by
the difficuliies ];e ftruggled with in this empire of winter, and
v/orld of froft and (now, he fliycd here until the eniuing fpiing,
and prepared, in the beginning of 1611, to purfue his difcove-
ries ; but his crcvv^, who fuifered equal hardfliips, without ths
fame fpirit to fuoport them, mutinied, feized upon him and
feven of thnfe who were moft faithful to him, and committed
them to the fury of the icy feas in an open boat. Hudfon and
his companions were either fwallowed up by the waves, or gain-
ing tJie inhofpitable coaft, were deftroyed by the lavages ; but
the fliip and the reft of the men returned home.
Other attempts towards a dilcovery were made in 1612 and
iGS'j ; and a patent for planting the country, with a charter for
a company, was obtained in the year 1670. In 1646, Captain
Eilis wintered as far north as 57 degrees and a half, and Captain
Chriftopher attempted farther difcovcries in 1661. But beilJes
thefe voyages, we are indebted to the Hudfon's Bay Company
for a journey by land ; whicli throws much additional light on
this matter, by ai^ording what may be called deraonllration, how
much farther North, at lead In fome parts of their voyage, fliips
mufb go, before they can pafs from one fide of America to the
other. The northern Indians, who came down to the Compa-
ny's fa£lories to trade, had brought to their knowledge a river,
which, on account of much copper being found near it, had ob-
tained tiie name of the Copper Mine river. The Company
being defirous of examining into this matter with prrcifion, di"
reeled Mr. Hearne, a young gentleman in their fervice, and
who having been brought up for the navy, and ferved in it
the war before lafl, was extremely well qualified for the purpofe
to proceed over land, under the convoy of thofe Indians, for
tjiat river ; which he had orders to furvey, if poffible, quite
down to its exit into the fea ; to make oblcrvations for fixing
NEW B R I T A 1 N. £7
l\it latitudes and longitudes; and to bring hoaie mips and draw-
ings, both of it and the countries through which he fliould pa[t«,
Accordingly Mr. Hearne fet out fiom Prince of Wales's
Fort, on Churchill river, latitude 58° 47V north, and longi-
tude 94*^ n\f weft from Greenwich, on the -yth of Decemoer,
1770. Mr. Hearne on the 13th of July reached the Copper
Mine river, and found it all the way, even to its exit into the
Tea, incumbered with Ihoals and falls, and emptying itfelf into
it over a dry flat of the fhore, the tide being then out, which
feemed, by the edges c*f the ice, to rife about twelve or four-
teen feet. This rife, on account of tlie falh, will carry it but
a very fmall way within the river's mouth, fo that the water ia
it has not the lead brackifli tafte. Mr. Hearne is, neverthelcis,
fure of the place it emptied itfelf into being the iea, or a branch
of it, by the quantity of whalebone and ieal Ikins which the
Efquimaux had at their tents ; and alfo by the number of fcals
which he faw upon the ice. The fea, at the river'b mouth, was
full of iflands and fhoals, as far as he could fee, by the aJliftance
of a pocket telefcope : and the ice was not then (J«aly 17'h)
broke up, but thawed away only for about three quarters of a
mile from the fliore, and for a little way round the ifiand and
fhoals which lay off the river's mouth. But he had the moft:
extenfive view of the fea when he was about eight miles up the
river, from M'hich fiation the extreme parts of it bore N. M''.
by W. and N. E.
By the time Mr. Hearne had finifhed his furvey of the river,
which was about one o'clock in the morning on the 18th, ther«
came on a very thick fog and drizzling rain ; and as he had
found the river and fea, in every relpecl unlikely to be of any
utility, he thougiit it unnecelTary to wait for fair weather, to
determine the latitude more exaftly by obfervation : but by the
extraordinary care he took in oblerving the courfes and diftances,
walking from Cotigecathawhachaga, where he had two very good
obfervations, he thinks the latitude may be depended on within
30' at the utmoft. It appears from the map which Mr. Hearne
conftrufted of this fingular journey, that the mouth of the
Copper Mine river lies in latitude 72*^ N. and longitude 2.^^ W.
from Churchill river ; that is, about 119^ W. of Greenwich.
Mr, Hearne's journey back from the Copper Mine river to
Churchill, Lifted till June 30th, 1772; fo that he was abfent
aimoft a year and feven months. The unparalleled hardfliips he
luffered, and the efTential fervicc he perfiirmed, have met with
a fuitable reward from his mafters. He has been feveral vears
governor of Prince of Wales's Fort on Churchill river, where
^c Vv-as taken prifoner by the French in 1782.
fi8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
Though the' adventurers failed in the original purpofe for
which they navigated this bay, their projeft, even in its failure,
has been of advantage to England. The vaft countries which
furround Hndfua's Bay, as we have already ob(erved, abound
with animals, whofe fur and fkins are excellent. In 1670, a
charter was granted to a company, which at prefent confill of
only fcven perions, for the exclufive trade to this bay, and they
have aftcd under it ever hnce M'ith great benefit 10 the privaie
men who compofe the company, though comparatively with lit-
tle advantage to Great-Britain.
Prince Rupert was their firfh Governor; the Duke of Albe-
marle, Lord Craven, Lord Arlington, and leveial other noble
"perionages, conflituted the firfl committee. The tenor of ^heir
charter is as full, ample, and comprehenlive, as words can well
make it ; and, as if they fufpctlcd the intrufion of fome adven-
turers on tlieir territories, to participate in this valuable trade,
the moft fevere penalties, with forfeiture of property, are laid
on all thofe, who fhall haunt, frequent, or trade upon their
coaAs ;' how far their iuccelfors have been entitled to theie ex-
clufive immunities, or how far their confined manner of carry-
ing on the trade has proved beneficial to the countr), we fliall
endeavour to point out.
The- firft traders to thefe parts afted upon principles much
UTore laudable and benevolent, than their luccefTors fecm to have
been aftuated by. They appear to have had the good of the
country at heart ; and to have endeavoured by every equitable
means, to render their commerce profitable to the mother coun-
try. Their inftrutlions to their faftors were full of fentiments
of Chriftianity, and contained dircftions for their ivfing every
means in their power, to reclaim the uncivilized Indians from
a flatc of barbarilm, and to incidcate in their rude ininds the
husnane precepts of the golpcl. They were at the fame time
admonifhed to trade with them equitably, and to take no advan-
tage of their native funphcity. They were further inftrucled to
explore the country, and to reap fuch benefit from 'the loil and
produce thereof, as might rcdovuid to the inteiefi: of the Eu-
glifh nation, as wdl as contribute to their own emolum.ent.
A'nd la^ftly, they were directed to be particularly careful in
feeing that the European fcrvants behaved orderly, and lived in
fobriety and temperance, obfcrving a proper veneration for the
ffeSrVriH^df' God, which was ordered to be collcftively performed
it dVeiy fealoirablc opj^ortunity.
Thefe were iujunftiors worthy tlie exalted flations and rank
in life'bf thofc who had the firft direction of the afitairs of the
Company f ^nd rcflcdcd much honour on their charafters, as
NEW BRITAIN, 29
men and chrlflians : and had thefe piaile-vvorlhy eftablifliments
been adhered to, the country granted them might at this day
have been a ^eal advantage to Great-Britain. But ihflead of
encouraging the 'trade, by a mild, equitable, and engaging de-
portment towards the natives ; — inlleyd of ingratiating them-
lelvcs by affability and condeicenfion with a harmlefs people, the
Hudfon's Bay Company ule them with undeicrved rigour, cauf-
ing them frequently to be beat and maltreated, although they
have come Come hundreds of miles in order to barter their fkins,
and procure a few neceflarles to guard again ft the fe verity of the
approaching winter : owing to this conduft the trade has mate-
rially declined of late years.
Another reaion why the Company's trade has declined, is 4
want of'lpirit in themfelves, to pufh it on with that vigour the
importance of the contefl deferves. The merchants from
Canada have been heard to acknowledge, that was the Hudfon's
Bay Company to prolecute their inland trade in a fpirited man-
ner, they muft be foon obliged, to give up all thoughts of pene-
trating into the country ; as from the vicinity of the Company's
faftories to the inland parts, they can afford to underfell them
in every branch.
To explain this emulation between the company and the
Canadian traders, it will be neceffaiy to review the ftate of the
Company in the year 1773. About that time the Canadian
traders from Montreal, actuated by a laudable fpirit of induftry
and adventure, and experiencing the pecuniary advantages that
refulted from their exertions, had become fo numerous and in-
defatigable at the head of the rivers which lead to the Company'^
fettlements, that the trade of the latter was in a great meafure
cut off from its ufual channel. The Indians being lupplied with
every thing they could wilh for at their own doors, had no
longer occaiion, as they hitherto had done, to build canoes, and
paddle feveraLhundred miles, for the fake of cultivating a com-
merce with the Company ; in which peregrination they were
frequently expofed to much danger from hunger ; fo much fo,
that at one time leven canoes of upland Indians perifhed on
their return to their own country.
Ever fince the above period, the Canadian adventurers have
annually increafed in the upland country, much to their own
emolument, and the great lofs of the Company: who, it
may be faid, are fleeping at the edge of the fea, without fpirit,
and without vigour or inclination to affert that right, which their
exclufive charter, according to their ozvn account, entitles them to.
It is true, the Hudfon's Bay Company have at this time a few
cflablifl:iments in the interior countrv ; but thefe arc carried on
30 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
in fuch a languid manner, that their exertions have hitherto
proved inadeq^uate to the purpofe of fupplanting their oppo-
nents.
The Company fignify to their Faftors, that they have an in-
diiputable light to all the territories about Hudfon's Bay, not
only including the Straits and Bay, with all the rivers, inlets,
&c. therein, but likewife to all the countries, lakes, &c. inde-
finitely to the weftvvard, explored and unexplored. They
therefore ftigmatize the Canadian merchants with the infulting
epithets of pedlars, thie\»es, and interlopers ; though the quan-
tity of furs imported by themlelves, bears no comparilon to
thofe fent from Canada. If this unbounded claim, to which
they pretend, be founded upon juflice, wliy, in the name of
equity do ihey not affert thefe pretenfions by a proper applica-
tion to the Britifli Parliament to remove the induftrlous pedlars,
whom they would feem to look upon with iuch ineffable con-
tempt, and prevent their any longer encroaching on their ter-
ritories ; but the fhock they received from the parliamentary
application of th,e patriotic Mr. Dobbs, in the year 1749, has
given them a diffcafte to parliamentary inquiries They know
the weaknefs of their claim, and the inftability of their preten-
fions; it is therefore their interell to hide from an inquifitive
but deluded nation, every invefligation which might tend to
bring to light the futility of their proceedings.
If the Canadian traders can adduce any profit to themfelves
by profecuting this inland bufinefs, what are not the Hudfon's
Bay Company enabled to do, with every advantage on their fide,
would they profecute the trade with vigour ?
York Fort at this time has four fubordinate fettlements ; at
which fettlements, conjointly, the Company allow one hundred
iervants, whofe wages amount to about one thouiand eight hun-
dred and iixty pounds per annum ; befides a floop of fixty tons,
that makes a voyage once a year between York Fort and Severn
Faftories. In the year 1748, the complement of men at that
fetttlement was no more th-m twenty-five, whofe wages amounted
to four hundred and feventy pounds per annum, and the trade
then flood at thiity thoufand fkins one year with another. The
other eftablifiimcnts which the Company maintain in the Bay,
have iulfered the like proportional change, all decreafing in trade,
and bearing additional incumbrances.
To exhibit at one view a ftate of their feveral eflablifliments
in the Bay at prclcnt, the following table is fubjoined.
NEW B R I T A I iV,
31
TABLE.
Settlements.
Slfuj
La N.
t ion .
Lo. W.
'Jrade on
Average.
Skins.
10 000
1 25,000
5,600
> 7.000
-d ^
4
2
2
Ships cou-
ligned to.
6loops inthe
Country.
N'o.i
Servj
100
40
25
Churchill
York Fort 1
Severn Houfe J
Albany Fort
Moofe Fort "^
Eaftmain j
59 o
57 ^o
56 12
5218
51 28
53 24
94 30
93 00
B857
8518
83 »5
78 50
(lup. tons.
1 of 250
1 I of 2^0
. I of 280
fhip. tons.
I of 70
j.i of 60
1 of 70
I of 70
47,600
3 — 780' 4—270
240
The following is the ftandardof trade, by which the Governor
or Fa6lor, is ordered by the Company to trade with the natives.*
Bcav,
Beav.
Glafs beads
lb.
1 as 2
Orrice lace
yd
i|
a:> 1
China ditto
1 6
Brafs rings
No
3
Brafs kettles
^ ^i
Files
1
Coarfe cloth
yd. 1
^ 3
Tobacco boxes
1
Blankets
No.
1 7
Awl blades
8
Tobacco Brazil
lb.
f 1
Box barrels
3
Ditto leaf
1 I
Hawks bells
pr.
12
Ditto Eng. roll
1 1
Sword blades
No,
1
Check ihirts
No. ,
I 2
Ice chiffels
1
White ditto
I 2
Gun worms
4
Yarn (lockings
pr.
t 2
Coarfe hats
1
Powder
lb.
I I
Small leather
trunks
1
Shot
i
[ 1
Needles
1 2
Duffels
yd.
L 2
Hatchets
1
Knives
No. .
t 1
Brandy
gall.
1
Guns
I 14
Medals
No.
1 2
Combs
1
1
Thimbles
6
Flints
i(
3 1
Brafs collars
1
Vermillion
lb. 3
16
Fire fteels
3
Piftols
No. 1
7
Razors
a.
Small burning o]
0 0
alfes ]
1
Thread
lb.
1
Gartering
yd. t
i ^
A
* This is intended to keep up the appearance of a regular fettled plan of
trade; b.ut thongh this farce may be played oft to thoic who have not had
the opportunities of knowing the deception, it will not h»\s that cffcfl upftn
a perfon any ■(vay acquainted with the bufincfs.
32 GENERAL DESCRIPTION^ OF
Notvvithftanding this pretended ftandard is in itfelf fufficicnt-
ly hard upon the Indians, and dilcouraging to the trade, yet the
faftors, and' the company, in conjunftion. do not think it fo ;
for out of this a pernicious overplus trade muft he raifed ; ^\'h^ch.
as Mr, Robfon juftly obferves, " is big with iniquity, wnd (Irik-
ing at the very root of their trade as a chartered company :" it
is intended to augment the emoluments of the gevernor, at the
cxpenfe of jufticeand common honefly : it oppreffes the Indian
who lives a mod wretched life, and encounters a variety of dif-
ficulties, cold, hunger, and fatigue, to procure a few neceffaries
for himfelf and indigent family.
This overplus trade, as it is called, is carried on in the fol-
lowing m.anner; for inftance ; fuppofe an Indian would trade
one pound of glafs beads, it is fet down in the flandard at two
beaver fkins ; but the confcientious faftor will demand three,
or perhaps four beaver fkins for it ; if the Indian alks for a
blanket, he muft pay eight beavers ; and if he vwould purchafe
a gallon of brandy, he muft give after the rate of eight beaver
fkins for it, as it is always one half, and fometimes two-thirds
water. The confequence of this griping >vay of trade is in the
end very hurtful to themfelves, as the Canadians, in the inte-
rior country, underfell them in every article.
Before the Canadian merchants purfued the fur trade with
fuch diligence as they now do through the lakes, and had pene-
trated into the interior parts of Hudlbn's Bay, a great number of
Indians ufed annually to come dov/n to the company's lettle-
ments to barter their fkins. And though the company have
now in a great mealure loft the benefit of this lucrative traffic,
it may not be amifs to mention the manner in which Indians
prolecute their voyages to the faftories.
In the month of March, the upland Indians aftemble on the
banks of a particular river or lake, the nomination of which
had been agreed on by common confcnt, before they feparatcd
for the winter. Here they begin to build their canoej;, which,
are generally completed very foon after the river ice breaks.
.They then commence their voyage, but without any regularity,
ail ftriving to be foremoft ; becaufe thofe who are firft have the
beft chance of procuring food. During the voyage, each leader
canvaffes, with all manner of art and diligence, for people to join
his gang ; influencing fome by prefents, and otiiers by promifes ;
for the more canoes he has under his command, the greater he
appears at the faftory.
Being come near their journey's end. they all put alhore; the
women to go in the woods to gather pine-brufli for the bottoms
I^ E W B R I T A I N, 33
pf the tents ; while the leaders fnioke together, and regulate the
proceffion. This being fettled, they re-evnbark,; and foon after
arrive at the faftory. If there is but one captain^ ^is H'tuat^ipi^
is in the center of the canoes ; if. more, they place themfelves
on the wings ; and their canoes are diftinguifhed by having a
fmall flag haifted on a ftick, and placed in the ftern.
When they arrive within a few hundred yards of the fort,
they difcharge their fowling-pieces, to compliment the Englifh ;
who, in return, falute them by firing two or three fmall dan-
non. The leaders leldom concern themfelves with taking out
the bundles, but the other men will affift the women. T! . fac-
tor being informed that the Indians are arrived, fends the trader
to introduce the leaders with their lieutenants, who are ufually
their eldeft fons or neareft relations. Chairs are placed for them
to fit down on, and pipes, &c. are introduced. During the
time the leader is fmoking, he fays very little, but as foon as
this is over, he begins to be more talkative ; and fixing his eyes
immoveably on the ground, he tells the faftor how many canoes
he has brought, what Indians he has feen, afks how the Eng-
lifhmen do, and fays he is glad to fee them. After this the
governor bids him welcome, tells him he has good goods and
plenty, and that he loves the Indians, and will be kind to them.
The pipe is by this time removed, and the converfation becomes
free.
Duri-ng this vifit, the chief is drefl; out at the expenfe of the
faftory in the following manner : a coarfe cloth coat, either red
or blue, lined with baize, and having regimental cufFs ; and a
waiflcoat and breeches of baize, the whole ornamented w;th
orris lace. He is alfo prefented with a white or check fliirt ;
his {lockings are of yarn, one of them red, the other blue, and
tied below the knee with worfled garfers ; his Indian -fhoes arc
fometimes put on, but he frequently walks in his ftocking feet ;
his hat is coarfe, and bedecked with three oftrich feathers of
various colours, and a worfted fafh tied round the crown ; a
fmall filk handkerchief is tied round his neck, and this com-
pletes, his drefs. The lieutenant is alfo prefented with a coat,
but it has no lining; he is likewife provided with a fliirt and
cap, not unlike thofe worn by mariners.
The guefts being now equipped, bread and prunes are brought
and fet before the captain, of which he takes care to fill his
pockets, before they are carried out to be fhared in his tent ; a
two gallon keg of brandy, with pipes and tobacco for himfelf
and followers, are likewife fet before him. He is now jpondufted
from- the fort to his tent in the following manner :.. In the fron^
F
34 QL\'ERAL DESCRIPTION 0^
a halberd and enfign are carried ; next a drummer beating a marcli ;
then feveral of the faftory fervants bearing the bread, prunes,
pipes, tobacco, br;indy, &c. Then comes the captain, walking
quite ereft and ftately, {moking his pipe, and convcrfing with
the faftur. After tliis follows the lieutenant, or any other friend,
who had been admitted into the fort with the leader. They find
the tent ready for their reception, and with clean pine-brufh and
beaver coats placed for them to fit on. Here the brandy, &c. i*
depofited, and the chief gives orders to fome refpeftable perlon
to make the ufual diflribution to his comrades. After this the
faftor takes his leave, and it is not long before they are all intoxi-
c.ited ; when they give loofe to every fpecies of difordcrly tu-
mult, fuch as fingirig, crying, fighting, dancing, &c. and fifty
to one but fome one is killed before the morniijg. Such are the
fad efFcfts of the vile compofition they are furnifhed with, upon
thele occafions.
After continuing in a ftate of intoxication, bordering on mad-
tjels, for two or three days, their mental faculties return by de*
grecs, and they prepare themfelves for renewing the league of
friendfliip, by fmoking the calimut ; the ceremony of which is
as follows ; A pipe made of ftone is filled with Brazil tobacco,
mixed with a herb foniething like European box. The ftem of
the pipfe is three or four feet long, and decorated with various
pieces of lace, bears claws, and eagles talons, and likewile with
variegated feathers, the fpoils of the moll beauteous of the fea-
thered tribe. The pipe being fixed to the fhem and lighted, tha
faftor takes it in both his hands, and with much gravity rifes from
his chair, and points the end of the flem to the Eaft, or fun-rifoj
then to the Zenith, afterwards to the Weft, and then perpendi-
cularly down to the Nadir. After this he takes three or four
hearty whiffs, and having done fo, prefents it to the Indian
leader, from whorri it is carried round to the whole part)', the
women excepted, who are not permitted to fmoke out of the
facred pipe. When it is entirely fmoakedout,- the faftor takes it
agiin, and having twirled it three or four times over his head^
lays it deliberately on the table ; which being done, all the
Indians return him thanks by a kind of fighing out the word
Ho.
Though the above ceremony made ufe of by the Indians, in
fmoking tlie calimut, may appear extremely ridiculous and incom-
prchcnfiblc, yet,- when we are made acquainted with their ideas
in this refpeft^ the apparent abfurdity of the cuftom will vanifh.
By this ceremony they mean to fignify to all perfons concerned,
N £ IV B R I T A I X. 35
th&t whilfl tlie (un fhall vifit the dlflFerent parts of the world, and
make day and night ; peace, firm friendfhip, and brotherly love,
(hall be eftabllfhed between the Englilh and their country, and
the fame on their part. By twirling the pipe over the head, they
further intend to imply, that all perfons of the two nations,
wherefoever they may be, fhall be included in the friendlhip
and brotherhood now concluded or renewed.
After this ceremony is over, and a further gratification of
bread, prunes, &c. is prefented, the leader makes a fpeech,
generally to the following purport :
" You .told me laft year to bring many Indians to trade,
which I proraifed to do ; you fee I have not lied ; here are a
great many young men come with me ; uie them kindly, I fay ;
let them trade good goods.; let them trade good goods, I (l;y !
We lived hard lafl winter and iiungry, the powder being fhoi t
meafure and bad; being fhort meaiure and bad, I fay! Tell
yor.r fervants to fill the meafure, and not to put their thumbs
within the brim ; take pity on ui, take pity on us, I fay ! We
paddle a long way to fee you ; we love the ILngliOi. I.et us
trade good black tobacco, moift and hard twifted ; let us fee it
before it is opened. Take .pitv on us ; fake pity on us, I fay!'
The guns are bad, let us trade light guns, briall in the hand^
and well fhaped, with locks that v>ill not freeze in the winter,
and red gun cales. Let the young men have more than meafura
of tobacco ; cheap kettles, thick, and high. Give us good
mrafure of cloth ; let us fee the old njealure ; do you mind me?
The young men prove they love you, by coming fo far to fee
you ; take pity, take pity, I fay ; and give them good goods ;
they like to drefs and be fine. Do you underfhand me ?"
As foon as the captain has finillned his fpeech, he, with his
followers, proceed to look at the guns and tobacco ; the former
they examine with the inoft minute attention. Whrn this is
over they trade their furs promifcuoufly ; the leader being fo far
indulged, as to be admitted into the trading room ;,11 the limf^,
if he dcfires it.
It is evident that the fur and peltry trade might be carried on
to a much greater extent, were it not entirely in the hands of
this exclufive company, whofe interefled, not to fay iniquitous
fpirit, has been the fubjeft of long and juft complaint.
It will, we doubt not, feem very myllerious to the generality
of people, that the company do not exert themfelvcs to turn
the riches of this country to their advantage, when they alone
are to reap the benefit of their exertions. People will naturally
F 2
*36 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
be kd' to conclude from their conduct, that what writers have
faid on this fubjeft is devoid of truth, and mere chimeras ; but
this is for waiit of knowing the peculiar x'iews of the company,
their afFctlion for their long foflered monopoly, and that fingu-
lar obfcurity which invelopes their whole conftitution, nay,
the whole of their merca;ntile tranfaftions.
The company do not entertain tlie leaft doubt, but if the
country they poffeis was properly explored by perfons of ability,
valuable dilcoveries might be made; but this they think may be
fo far from redounding to their intereft, that it might have a
contrary eileti;, by encouraging adventurers to petition for
liberty to partake of thele dilcoverics, and thereby occafion an
inveftigatioR to take place, wiiich would probably fhake tho
foundation of their charter. This is not all ; as the company
coriiifls at prefent but of fcven perfons; this fmall number
wijdy think, that as long as they can fhare a comfortable divi-
dend, there is no occafion for their embarking in additional
e^'penies, in order to profec\ite difcoveries which might tranf-
pire to the world, and endanger the whole.
The limits of the bay and ftraits comprize a very confiderable
extent ; the foil of which, in many parts, is capable of much
improvement by agriculture and induftry. The countries abound
\vith mod kinds of quadrupeds, &e. whofe fkins are of great
value. The numerous inland rivers, lakes, &c. produce fifh of
almoft every fpecies ; and in the feas in and about the ftraits,
and the norlhern parts of the bay, v/hite and black whales, fea-
borfcs, bears, and i'eals, are killed in great numbers by the
Efquimaux, whofe implements for this purpofe are exceedingly
fimple. What advantage might not then arife to the nation
from this branch of tride alone, were it laid open ? If able
harpooncrs were fcnt on this employ, with fufiicient afTiftants
arnd properly encouraged, greater profits would accrue from this
fifheiy, than from all the peltry at prelent imported by the com-
pany. Ihe turroundnig country, which at prefent is entirely
unknown to us, would, in all likelihood, be the eonfequence of
thcfe Teas being more frequented than they arc. And indeed if
ever the fovts and fettlements on the American boundary line are
lurrendeied according to the treaty of peace, England has no
other means in her hands to counterpoiie the fuperior advantages
the Americans \viil then pollefs in the fur trade, than to throw
the trade to liudion's bay open, and thus d'^ftroy a difgraceful
monopoly, or to incorpoiate with it by a new charter the mer-
chants trading to Canada, and thus infufe into it a frefh portion
N E W B R I T A I N. 3^
of mercantile vigour : by this means an extenfive intercourfe
with nations, to which we at prefent are almoft ftrangers, might
be opened,- and a country explored whofe refources may equal
if not furpafs thofe of the country round Canada,
If it be objefted to this, that the vaft quantities of ice in the
ftraits muft impede a veffel from making dilcoveries, we anfwer,
that many years the ice is fo infignificant in quantity as not to
obftruft the palTage of the fhips in the lead ; and in thofe fea-
fons when it is thickeft, it is diffolved and difperfed in the ocean
long before the return of the (hips in September.
Even in the very confined manner in which the company carry
on this trade, it is far from being inconfiderable in value, though
their fhips feldom ftop but a very fhort time for the purpofe of
trading with the Efquimaux ; they employ three fhips annually,
which are manned with feventy-five men.
The company exports commodities to the value of about ten
thoufand pounds, and brin^g home returns to the value of
twenty-nine thoufand three hundred and forty pounds, which
yield to the revenue about three thoufand feven hundred and
thirty-four pounds. This includes the fifhery in Hudfon's bay.
That this commerce, fmall as it is, affords immenfe profits to the
company, and even fome advantages to Great-Britain in general,
cannot be denied ; for the conmiodities exchanged with the
Indians for their fkins and furs, are all manufa£luied in Britain ;
and as the Indians are not very nice in their choice, fuch things
are fent of which there is the greateft plenty, and which, to ule
a mercantile phrafe, are drugs. Though the workmanfliip hap-
pens to be in many refpefts fo deficient, that no civilized people
would take it, it may be admired among the Indians. On the
other hand, the Ikins and furs brought home in return afford
articles for trading with many nations of Europe to great ad-
vantage. Thefe circumflances prove the immenfe benefit that
would redound to Britain, by throwing open the trade to Hud-
fon's bay, fince even in its prefent reffiained ftate it is fo advan-
tageous,* The only attempt made to trade with Labrador, has
been direfted towards the fifliery. Great-Britain has no fettle-
ment there. The annual produce of the Hflieiy amounts to
upwards of forty-nine thoufand pounds.
* In May 1782 all the forts and fettlements belonging to the Hudfon's bay
company were deftroyed by the French, the damages iullained were rated at
^ve hundred thoufand pouads.
( 33 )
NOVA-SCOTIA;
COMPREHENDING THE PSOVIVCE OF N E U'-B RU N' S\V IC K AS'B
NOVA-SCO riA.
SITUATION, EXTENT, AND BOUNDARIES, ,
X HESE provinces are fituated between 43^ 30' and ^(j^ north
latitude, and 60° and 67'' eaft longitude from London, or 8° and
15° eafl longitude from Philadelphia. Their length is four hun-
dred miles, and their breadth three hundred. They are bounded
on the north, by the river St. Lawrence ; on the eafl, by the gulf
of St. Lawrence, which wafhes its coafts one hundred and ten
leagues in extent, from the gut of Canfb, at its entrance into the
gulf, to caps Rozier, which forms the iouth part of the river
St. Lawrence, and by the gut of Canfo, which divides it from
Cape &reton; on the fouth, it is wafhed by the Atlantic ocean,
having a Tea coaft of ninety leagues, from cape Canfo, caft, to
cape Sables, well:, which forms one part of the entrance into
the bay of Fundy, which alfo forms a part of its louthern boun-
dary ; weft, by a part of Lower Canada, and the diftrift of
Maine.
Noiwithftanding the forbidding appearance of this country, it
was here that fome of the firft; European fettlements were made.
The firfl grant of lands in it was given by James the Firft to his
fecretary, Sir William Alexander, from whom it had the name
of Nova-Scotia, or New-Scotland ; fince then it has frequently
changed hands, from one private proprietor to another, and from
the French to the EngliHi nation backward and forward. It was
not conFivmed to the Englilh, till the peace of Utrecht, and their
defign in acquiring it does not fetm to have arifen fo much from
any profpeti of direft profit to be obtained by it, as frorri an ap-
prehenfion that the French, by polTefting this province, might
have had it in their power to annoy the other Britifti fettlements.
Upon this pr'nciple, three thoufand families were tranlported in
i-j^g, at the charga of the government, into this country, who
built and fettled the town of Halifax.
The traft cf country within thefe limits, known by llae name
of Nova-Scoti), or New-Scolland, was, in 1784, divided into
NOi^A-SCOriA. §i)
two provinces, vii. New-Brunfwick, on the north-weft, and
Nova-Scotia, on the Ibuth-eaft. The former com-prehends that
part of the old province of Nova-Scotia, which lies to the north-
ward and weftward of a line drawn from the mouth of the river
St. Croix, through the center of the bay of Fundy to bay Verte,
and thence into the gulf of St. Lawrence, including all lands
within fix leagues of the coaft. The reft is the province of Nova-
Scotia, to which is annexed, the ifland of St. John's, which lies
north of it, in the gulf of St. Lawrence.
SOIL, PRODUCTIONS, &c.
During a great part of the year, the atmofphere is clouded
'with thick fog, which renders it unhealthy for the inhabitants ;
and four or five mbnths it is intenlely cold. A great part of this
country lies in foreft, and the foil, in many parts, is thin and
barren. On the banks of the rivers, however, and fome other
parts, the foil is very good, producing large crops of Englifli
grafs, hemp, and flax : many of the bays, and lalt water riveis,
and fome parts of the fea coaft, are bordered with fine trafts of
i'alt marfh ; but the inhabitants do not raife provifions enough fox*
home confumption.
RIVERS, BAYS, LAKES AND CAPES.
The rivers which water this country we fhall mention in con*
fieftion with the different counties in which they principally
flow, a few, however, call for feparate notice. The rivers
Rifconge and Nipifiguit run from weft to eaft into Chaleui- and
Nipifiguit bays, which communicate witii the gulf of St. Law-
rence. The river St. Croix (which is the true St. Croix is yet
undetermined) empties into Paffaniaquoddy bay, and forms a
part of the boundary between New-Brunfwick atid Maine; St*
John's is the largeft river in the province. It empties into the
north fide of the bay of Fundy, and is navigable for veffels of
nfty tons, fixty miles, and for boats upwards of two hundred
miles. This is a common route to Quebec. The banks of this
riVerj enriched by the annual frefhetSj are ex';ellent land^
About thirty miles from the mouth of tliis river commences a fine
level country, covered with large tiess of timber of various
kinds. Mafts, from twenty to thirtv inches in diameter, have
been cut on this traft. The tide flows, in this river, eighty or
ninety miles. It furnifl-ies th(; inhabitants with falmon, bais,
and fturgeon. Near fort Howe, the river fuddenlv narrows,
and occafions a fall at certain times of tide, like that at London
fridge.
40 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 0 F
The coaft of thefe provinces is indented with numerous bays,
and commodious harbours. The principal, as you defcend
foutherly from the mouth of St. Lawrence river, are Gafpee,
Chaleur, Verte, which is feparated from the bay of Fundy by a
narrow ifthmus of about eighteen miles wide ; cape and harbour
of Canfo, forty leagues eaftward of Halifax. Chedabufto bay
about ten leagues north-weft of Canfo. Chebufto bay, on which
Hands the town of Halifax. The bay of Fundy, which extends
fifty leagues into the country, in which the ebb and flow of the
tide is from forty-five to fixty feet. Chenigto bay is at the head
of Fundy bay. PafiTamaquoddy bay borders on the diflrift of
Maine, and receives the waters of St. Croix river. At the
entrance of this bay is an ifland, granted to feveral gentlemen in
Liverpool in Lancalhire, who named it Campobello. At a very
confiderable expenfe, they attempted to form a fettlement there,
but failed. On feveral other iflands in this bay there are fettle-
ments made by people from Maflachufetts. Among tjhe lakes
in thefe provinces, which are very numerous, and many as yet
without names, is Grand lake, in the province of New-Brunf-
wick, near St. John's river, about thirty miles long, and eight
or ten broad, and in fomc places forty fathoms deep.
The principal capes are cape Canfo, on the weft fide of the
entrance into Chedabufto bay, and cape Sables, on the eaft fide
of the entrance into the bay of Fundy.
CIVIL DIVISIONS.
Thefe in 1783, were as follows:
N 0 V A ~ S C 0 T I A.
41
Counties.
TowiiJIiips
Wilniot
Annapolis,
on Annapolis ^Gnnville
river. Annapolis
Clare
Monflion
Cumber-
Land,
at the head of
bay ot Fundy
Cumberland
1 Sackville
f Amherft
Hilllboro'
Hopcvt'ell
SUNBURY,
on the river St
Jolin's, north r
fhoreofbayof
Fundy.
Conway
Gage-Tov^^n
Burton
St. Ana's
WillnioL
Newton
Maui;Tviile
Argyl-;
by ahomfeitUd.
Riven.
Hants, j Windfor
on the river I Falmouth
Avon. f Newport
-j Halifax ^
I London Dtr. ^
I Truro "5
Halifax, I Onflow >
Eaftern part of ^Cnlchefler '
Nova-Scotia. [ Lawrence j
Southampton J
Canfo I
J Tinmouth "^
Kings, Cornwallis
on the Bafon V
of Miner. j Horton
Avon or Pigiguit-j All eniptyina; iuu
I tlie Avon, and c \-
-s St. Croix
I Kenetcoo
I Cociuigiu
JCicaguf-t
Cobeguit
t
ucn
cept the lait n.u i- \
blc.
40 iniles f
f 60 to.
J..
^ Nav. 40
5 veift:ls o
Irifh & Scotch
from N. Lng-
laud
L
7 fett. from Irel.
5 and N. Eng.
do. a line town
fhip 30 miles
in leng. on the ^
bay of Fundy.
7 40 families of
3 AcadiuHs
Shebbenaccadie. Boatabk
VPitcoudiac
Memrcmcoot
Percau, fmall
Habitant, navig. for vcff. of 40 tons a
fmall dillance.
. Canaid, navig. for veil, of 160 tons
f 3 or 4 miles.
Cornwallis, navig. for vcff. of lOO
tons 5 miles, for vcff. ot 50 tons 1
miles.
Salmon river.*
}
fett. from N.
-\ lett. rrora i\
h Eng. & Yorkf
^ r_». f „ -M
}
Annapolis, navigable for fliips of any
burthen 10 miles — of lOO tons
miles ; tide flows 30 miles, pafl'able
in boats to within twenty miles ot
Horton.
fett. from N.
of Ire. N. Eng.
&. Yorkfliirc.
An Lac
Marequefh
La I'lanche
Napan
^Macon
Memrcm
Pctcoudia
Chepodie
J Herbert
which are navig. 3 01
4 miles for vcireli
of 5 tons.
thoal rivers.
> navigable 4 or 5 miles
navigable by boats re
its bead, i.i miles.
1
% Argyle
OuEENS, Yarmouth
louih lide of I Harrington
bay of Fundy. (Sable Ifl.)
J Liverpool
, I New-Dublin
u U N F. K B U R C ; I
in Maiione v Lunenburg
■ay. C.hrfter
J Blandtord
fettled from
M.illacbufetls,
Connefl icut,
-J Sec.
Scots & Acad.
N'cw-Eugland
7. Quakers from
S N-«nLucket
New- Ell gland
}Ir'lb formerly
now Germans
Germans
New-England
3 ianiilies only
VSt. John's, already defmribed.
None.
None.
* There are feUlemcnts of Acadians on all thcfc rivers, wlu.ie Un.ks are go''s,d land.
■^2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
PRINCIPAL TOWNS.
i .':Halifax is the capital of the province of Nova-Scotia. It
Hands. on Chebufto bay, commoJioiiny fituated for the fifhery,
and has a communication witli other parts of this province and
Ncw-Brunlwick by land and water carriage. It has a good
harbour, where a Im 11 iquadron of fiiips of war lie during
the winter, and in tlie lummer protcfts the fifheiy. The
town has an entrenchment, and is flrengthened with forts of
timber. It is laid to contain fifteen or hxteen thoufand inha-
bitants.
SHEi,3URNr. on port Rofeway, near cape Sables, was fup-
pofed, ;:i i78_3, to contain fix hundred familits ; fince tha^
time it has becv.'npjlc'^s populous. Guyfborough formerly called
Mancheller, lituatsd on Chedabufto bay, about ten leagues
north-weft of cape Canfo, contained, in 1783, about two hun-
dred and fifty families. Rauv' ^n forty miles from Halifax, has
about fixty houl'es.' Annapolis on the caft hdc of Fundy bay,
has one of tlie £neft harbours in the world. In other relpefts
it is a poor, inconfiderable place.
Fredericktown', about ninety miles up St. John's river,
is the capital of the province of New-Brunfwick.
FORTS.
There are fcveral forts in thefe provinces : thefe are fort
£dward at Windfor, capable of containing two hundred men i
Annapolis, in its prefent ftate, one hundred ; Cumberland,
three hundred; fort Howe, on St. John's river, one hundred;
befidcs which there are barracks, inclofcd in a ftockade at
Cornwallis, for about fifty men.
TRADE.
The exports from Great-Britain to this country confifi: chiefly
of Unen and woollen cloths, and other neceffu'ries for wear,
of fiihing tackle, and rigginff, for fliips. The amount of ex-
ports, at an average of three years, before the new lettlcments,
was about twenty-fix thoufand five hundred pounds. The
only articles obtained in excliangc are, timber and the produce
of the hOncry, which, at a like average, amounted to thirty-
eisjht thoufand pounds. But from the late incrcaie of inhabi-
tants, it is fuppc'fcd that they will now ereft law mills, and
endeavour to (upply the Weft-India iilands witli lumber of every
kind, as well as the produce of the fifhery, which will be a
profitable article to both countries. The whole population of
NOVA-SCOTIA. 43
H<5Va-Scotia and the iflands adjoining, is eflimated at fifty thou-
fand. This eftimate it is fuppofed is confiderably too large.
Recent accounts of theCe fettlements reprefent them a& in a
declining (late, having great numbers of the houfes built in the
new towns uninhabited, and confiderably reduced in value.
I N D I A N S, &c.
The Indians here are the It'Iicmacks, and the tribe called tha
Maicchites. The former inhabit the caftern fhore, between
H«ilifax and cape Breton; between Cumberland county and the
north-eaft coaft of the province, towards Chalcur bay ; about
the heads of the rivers which run through the counties of
Hants and King's county ; and between cape Sable and Anna-
polis royal. This tribe is fuppofed to have about three hundred
fighting men. The Marechites inhabit the river Sr, John, and
around Paffamaquoddy bay, are efliniated at ono hundred and
forty fighting men ; they are much fuperior in all refpefts to
the Micmacks, — The animals are the fame as in the United States.^
though much iefs numerous.
^— ..<..< .<.H<..<..<..<^^ ^ t^>-*->-*->->->-
ISLAND OF SAINT JOHN.
T>
HIS ifland lies in the gulf of St. Lawrence, near the north-
ern coaft of the province of Nova-Sfcotia, and is about fixty
miles long, and thirty or forty broad. It has fevcral fine rivers,
a rich foil, and is plcafantly fituatcd. Chailotte-town is its
principal town, and is the refidence of the lieutenant-governor,
who is the chief officer on the ifiand. The number of inhabi-
tants are eflimated at about five thoufand. Upon the reduftion
of cape Breton in 1745, the inhabitants of this ifland, amount-
ing to about four thoufand, fubmittcd quietly to the Britiih
arms. While the French poffeffcd this ifland, they improved it
to lo much advantage, that it was called the granary of Canada
which it furnifhed vyith great plenty of corn, as well as beef
^nd pork. It is attached to the province of Nova-Scotia.
( 44 )
NEV/FOUNDLAND ISLAND.
EWFOUNDLAND is fituated to the eafl; of the gulf of
St. Lawrence, between forty-fix and fifty-two degrees of north
latitude, and between fifty-tht»ee and fifty-nine degrees wefh
longitude, feparated from Labrador, or New-Britain, by the
ftraits of Bellcifle ; and from Canada, by the bay of St. Law-
rence ; being five hundi-ed and fifty miles long and two hundred
broad. The coafts are extremely fubjeft to fogs, attended with
alnioft continual ftorms of fnow and fleet, the fky being ufually
overcaft. From the foil of this ifland the Britifli reap no great
advaritage, for the cold is long continued and fcvere ; and the
fumrnei: heat, though violent, warms it not enough to produce
any thing valuable ; for the foil, at leaft in thofe parts of the
ifland which have been explored, is rocky and barren ; however,
it is watered bv feveral good rivers, and has many large and
good harbours. This ifland, whenever the continent fhall come
to fail of timber convenient to navigation, which on the fea
coalt perhaps will be at no very remote period, it is faid, will
alford a large fupply for rnafts, yards, and all forts of lumber
for the Weil-India trade. But what at prefcnt it is chiefly
valuable for, is the great fifliery of cod carried on upon thofe
fhoals, which are called the banks of Newfoundland. Great-
Britain and North-America, at the lowed computation, annually
employ three thoufand fail of fmall craft in this fifliery ; on
board of which, and on fliore to cure and pack the fifh, are
upwards of one hundred thoufand hands: fo that this fifliery is
not only a valuable branch of trade to the merchant, but a fource
of livelihood to fo many thoufands of poor people, and a moft
excellent nurferv for feamen. This fifliery is computed to
increafe the national fl;ock three hundred thoufand pounds a
year in gold and filver, remitted for the cod fold in the north,
in Spain, Po'tugnl, Italy, and the I-evant. Tlic plenty of cod^
both on the great bank and the lefl'er ones, which lie to the eaft
and fouth call: of this ifland, is inconceiveable ; and not only
cod, but Icvcral other fpecies of fifli, are caught there in abun^
dance ; all of which are nearly in an equal plenty along the
fliores of Newfoundland. Nova-Scotia, New-England, and the
ifle of cape Breton ; and very profitable fifheries are carried on
upon all their coafls.
NEWFOUNDLAND ISLAND. 45
This ifland, after various cJifputes about the property, was
entirely ceded to England by the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713;
but the French were left at liberty to dry their nets on the
northern fliores of the ifland ; and by the treaty of 1763, they
were permitted to fifh in the gulf of St. Lawrence, but with
this limitation, that they fhould not approach within three
Leagues of any of the coafts belonging to England. The fmall
iflands of St. Pierre and Miquelon, fituated to the fouthward of
Newfoundland, were alfo ceded to the French, who ftir)ulated
to ereft no fortifications on thefe iflands, nor to keep more than
fifty foldiers to enforce the police. By the laft treaty of peace,
the French are to enjoy the fifheries on the north and on the
weft coafts of the ifland; and the inhabitants of the United
States are allowed the fame privileges in fifhing as before their
independence. The chief towns in Newfoundland are, Pla-
centia, Bonavifla, and St. John's : but not above one thoufand
families remain here in winter. A finall fquadron of men of war
are Cent out every fpring to proteft the fifheries and inhabitants,
the admiral of which, for the time being, is governor of the
ifland, befides whom there are two lieutenant-governors, one at
Placentia, and the other at St. John's.
GflNERAL DESCRIPTION
GREENLAND.
G.
'REENI-AND is a general name by which is now denoted
the jA6ft eaflerly parts of America, (Iretching towards tKe north
pole, and likewifc fbme iflands northward of the continent of
Europe, lying in very high latitudes. The whole of this coun-
try was formerly defcribed as belonging to Europe, but from its
■contiguity to, and probable union with the American continent,
it appears mo{t proper to be clafied among the countries belong-
in^ to th« latter ; we therefore have followed Mr. Morfe, and
placed it among the divifiohs of North-America. — It is divided
into two parts, viz. Weft and Eaft Greenland, of each we (haU
here give a defcription from the beft authorities extant.
.4..<..<..<..<..<..«.^ i^ »^ >..>..>.>..>..>.>.._-.
WEST GREENLAND..
X HIS country is now laid down, in our lateft maps, as part of
the continent of America, though on what authority is not verv
clear,*
* Whetlier Greenland is an ifiand, has not yet been decided, as no fhip has
penetrated higher than the- feventy-eighth degree, on account of the ice. That it
is not an ifland, but a part of the American continent, is rendered probable;
ifl. Secaufe. Davis' ftraits,- or rather Baiiin's Bay, grows harrower and narrower,
towards the feventy-eighth degree north. — ad. Becaufe the cbaft, which in other
places is very high towards the fea, grows lower and lower northward. — 3d. Be-
caufe the tide, which at cape Farewell, and ?.<; far up as Cockin's found, in the.
fixty-fifth degree of latitude, rifcs eighteen feet at the new and full moon, dct
c;cafcs to tl-^ northward of Diskc, fo that in the fcyeniisth degree of ^atit^Qf
CREEJ^LAND. 4^
• That part of it which the Europeans have any knowledge
of is bounded on the weft by BafRn's bay, on the fouth by
Davis' flraits, and on the eaft by the notthern part of the At-
lantic Ocean. It is a very mountainous country, and fome parts
of it fo high that they may be difcerned thirty leagues off at fea.
The inland mountains, hills, and rocks are covered with per-
petual fnow ; but the low lands on thte fea-fide are clothed \ith
verdure in the fummer feafon. The coaft abounds with inlets,
bays, and large rivers ; and is furrounded with a vaft number of
iflands of difFerent dimenfions. In a great many places, how-
ever, on the eaftern coaft efpecially, the fliore is inatceflible
by reafon of the floating mountains of ice. The principal river,
called Baal, falls into the lea in the fixty-fourth degree of lati-
tude, where the firft Daniili lodge was built in lyat ; and
has been navigated above forty miles up the country.
. Weft Greenland was firft peopled by Europeans in the eighth
century. At that time a company of Icelanders, headed by one
Erieke Rande, were by accident driven on the coaft. On his re-
turn he reprefented the country in fuch a favourable light, that
fpm.e families again followed him thither, where they foon be-
came a thriving colony, and beftowed on their new habitation,
the name of Greenland, or Greenland, on account of its verdant
appearance. This colony was converted to Chriftianity by a
milFionary from Norway, fent thither by the celebrated Olaf, the
firft Norwegian monarch who embraced the Chriftian religion.
The Greenland (ettlement continued to increafeand thrive undei
his proteftion ; and in a little time the country was provided with
many towns, churches, convents, bifhops, &c. under the juril-
ditlion of the archbifhop of Drontheim. A confiderable com-
merce was carried on between Greenland and Norway; and a
regular intercourfe mairitained between the two countries till the
year 1406, when the Idft bifliop was fent over. From that time
all correfpondcnce was cut off, and all knowledge of Greenland
has been buried in oblivion.
it rifes little more than eight feet, and prafcably continues to diminilh, till there
is no, tide at all. To which may be added the relation of the Greenlanders ,
■which however cannot be much depended on, viz. that the ftrait contrafts itfelf
fo narrow at laft, that they can go on the ice fo near to the other fide, as to be
able to call to the inhabitants, and that they can ftrike a fifh on both fides at
once ; but that there runs fuch a (Irong current from the north into the ftrait, that
tlicy cannot pafs it.
,"" " Ellis's voyage te Huiyur.'i bay far tkc dif(.vvery of a wrthKijl pajjage.
^8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
This ftrange and abrupt ceffation of trade and intercourfe lias
been attributed to various caufes ; but the moft probable is the
following : The colony, from its firft fettlement, had been har-
rafled bv the nalivesj a barbarous and favage people ; agreeing
in cuftoms, garb, and appearance, with the Eiquimaux found
about Hudfon's bay. This nation, called Schrellings, at length
prevailed againft the Iceland fettlcrs who inhabited the weftern
diftriO: and exterminated them in the fourteenth century : in-
iomuch that when their brethren of the eaftern diftrifi; came to
their afliftance, they found nothing alive but fome cattle and
flocks of (heep running wild about the country. Perhaps they
themfelves afterwards experienced the fame fate, and were to-
tally deftroyed by thefe Schrellings, whofe defcendants fliU in-
habit the weftern parts of Greenland, and from tradition con-
firm this conjefture. They affirm that the houfes and villages,
whole ruins ftiU appear, were inhabited by a nation of ftran-
gers whom their anceftors deftroyed. There are reaions, how-
ever for believing that there may be ftill fome defcendants of
the ancient Iceland colony remaining in the eaftern diftrift,
though they cannot be vifited by land, on account of the ftupen-
dous mountains, perpetually covered with fnow, which divide
ihe two parts of Greenland ; while they have been rendered
inacceffible by fea, by the vaft quantity of ice driven from
Spitzbergen, or Eaft Greenland. One would imagine that there
muft have been fome confiderable alteration in the northern parts
of the w-orld fince the fifteenth centuiy, fo that the coaft of
Greenland is now become almoft totally inacceflible, though
formerly vifited with very little difficulty. It is alfo natural to
afk, bv what means the people of the eaftern colony furmounted
the above-mentioned obftacles when they went to the affiftance
of their weftern friends ; how they returned to their own coun-
try -, and in what manner hiftorians learned the fuccefs of their
expedition ? Concerning all this wc have very little fatisfaftory
information. All that can be learned from the moft authentic
records is. that Greenland was divided into two diftrifts, called
Weft-Bv^d and Eaft-Bygd : th^t the weftern divifion contained
four parilhes and one hundred villages ; that the eaftern diftri£i
was ftill more fiourifhing, as being nearer to Iceland, fooner
fettled, and more frequented by fhipping from Norway. There
are alio many accounts, though moft of them romantic and flight-,
Iv attefted, which render ii probable that part of the eaftern..
colony ftill fubfifts, who, at fome time or other, may have given
the imperfeft relation above mentioned. This colony, in ancient
GREENLAND. 49
times, Certainly comprehended twelve extenfive pariflies ; one
hundred and ninety villages ; abifhop's fee, and two monafterics.
The prefent inhabitants of the weftern diflrifl are entirely igno-
rant of this part, from which tiiey are divided by rocks," raoun- .
tains» and deferts, and flill more efteGbually by their appreiien-
fion : for they believe tne eaftern Green^anders to be a-_eruel,
barbarous nation, that dcllioy and eat all ftrangers who fall Into
their hands. About a century after all intercourfc between
Norway and Greenland hnd ceafed, feveral fhips were lent fuc-
ceflively by the kings of Denmark in order to uifcover the caft-
ern^4'ftnft .J.hiit all of them mifcarried. Among thefe -adyen-:^
turers, Mogens Heinfon, after having furmountcd many difEcul-
ties and dangers, got fight of the land ; which, hov.ever, he couid
not approach. At his return he pretended that the fhip was
arrefled in the middle of her courfe by certain rocks of ioad-
ftorte at the bottom of the Tea, Tiie fame year, 1,576, in which
this attempt was made, has been rendered remarkable b^- the
voyage of Captain Martin Frobifher, lent upon the fam.e ermnd
by Queen Elizabeth. He likewiCe defcried the nnd ; but could
not reach it, and therefore returned to England ; vet not before
he had failed fixty leagues in the ftrait, which flill retains his
name, and landed on feveral ifl.mds, where he had Tome com-
munication with the natives. He had likewife taken pofteuion
of the country in the name of Queen Elizabeth ; and brought
away fome pieces of heavy black (lone, from which the refiners
of London extrafted a certain proportion of gold. In the en-
fuin? fpring he undertook a fecond voyage, at the head of a
fmall fquadron, equipped at the expenfs of the public, entered
the ftraits a fecond time ; difcovcied upon an ifland a gold and
lilve'r mine ; beflow^d names upon different bsys, iflands, and
head- lands; and brought away a lading of ore, together with
two natives, a male and female, whom the Enolifli kidnapped.
'Such was the fuccsfs of this voyage, that another armaniciit
Was 'fitted out under the aufpices of Admiral Frobiflier, conllil-
ing of fifteen fail, including a confiderable number of loldidKfs,
miners, fmeltcrs, carpenters, and bakers, to remain all the winter
near the-mines in a wo6den fort, the diflerent pieces of which
tht!yc4rrifetf'oiit-iH thi; tr^nfports. They met with boiileious
•weather, 'impehctrablc fogs, and violent currents upon the co^ilt
of- -Grfeentand,* which retarded their operations until the feaion
Wdisif^"r ^fl^ant^d; Part of tlieir wooden fort was loft at fea ;
arid'the'y-^^d "neither provihon nor fuel fufncient for the winter/.
T4ie ^Siiral therefore determined to return with a« much, or*'
iaaioas n: . . tr : . . . ^
50 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OV
as lie could procure, of this they obtained large quantities out
of a new rniiic, to which they gave the name of the Countels of
Siiflcx, They l.kewifc built an houfe of ftone and lime, provid-
ed with ovens; and here, with a view to conciliate the afFeftion
of the natives, they left 3 quantity of fmall morrice-bells, knives,
beads, k)okIr>g-glaffes, leaden piftures, and other toys, together
wilh feveriil loaves of bread. They buried the timber of the
fort where it could be eafilv found next year ; and fowcd corn,
peafc, and other grain, by way of experiment, to know what
tiic country would produce. Having taken thefc precautions,
they iailcd from thence in the beginning of September; and
after a month's flormy paffage, arrived in England : but this
noble dcfign was never prolccutcd.
Chriftian IV. king of Dcn:nark, being defirous of difcover-
ing the old Greenland fettlemcnt, feut three fhips thither, under
the command of captain Godflte Lindenow, who is laid to have
reached the eaft coalt of Greenland, where he traded with the
lavage inhabitants, Itich as they are ftill found in the weflern
diftri6^, but faw no figns of a civilized people. Had he aflually
landed in the eaftcrn divifijon, he mull have perceived fomc
remains of the ancient colonv, even in the ruins of their con-
vents and villages, Lindenow kidnapped two of the natives,
who were conveyed to Copenhagen ; and the fame cruel fraud
\vas pra6J".iied by other two fhips which failed into Davis'
flraits,* where they djurovered divers fine harbours, and de-
* Nothing can be more iahuman and repugnant to the diflates of common
juftice than this praftice of tearing away poor creatures from their country,
their families, and conneGiions ; unlefs we fuppofe them altogether deftitute of
natural affeftion ; ?n-d that this was not the calc with thofc poor Greenlanders,
fonie of whom were brought alive to Copenhagen, appears from the whole tenor
of their conduct, upon their firfl capture, and during their confinement in Den-
mark. When firfl captivated, they rent the air with their cries and lamentations :
tii'y even leaped into the fea ; and, when taken on board, for fome time rffuf-
ed all fuftemance. Their eyes were continually turned towards their dear coun-
, try, and their faces always bathed in tears. Even the kindnefs of his Danifli
majeftv, and the careffes of the court and people, could not alleviate their grief.
OW of them wa* perceived to fhed tears always when he faw an infant ir* the
rao':fier's arm.s'; a circumflance froni whence it was naturally co'ncluded, that
he had left his wife -with a young child in Greenland. Two of them went to
fca in their little canoes in hofK: of reaching Greenland; but one of them was
retaken. 0:her two made the fame attempt ; but were driven by a ftorm on the
coall of Schonen, where they were apprehended by the pealants, and rcconyey-
ed L<) Copenhagen. One of them afterwards died of a fever, caught in fifhing
pcai'l, during the winter, for the governor of Kolding. The reft' liv('(J"f(^me
yerfrs ifi Denmark; but at length, feeing no profpeft of being able to revifit
their native Got^lli,ry, they funk into a kind of melancholy diforder, , anj^
exuircd. •
GREENLAND,
5»
Mghtful meadows covered with verdure. In fome places they
are faid to have found a confiderabie quantity of ore, every
hundred pounds of which yielded twenty-fix ounces of (ilver.
The fame Admiral Lindenow made another voyage to the coaft
of Greenlaad in the year 1606, direftini^ his covirfe to the
weftward of cape Farewell. He coafted along the flraits of
Davis, and having made fome obfervations on ilie face of the
country, the harbours and illands, returned to Denmark.
Carfhen Richards, being detached with two fhips on the fame
tliicovery, defcribed the high lind on the eaftern fide of Greeii-
land, but was hindered by tlie ice from approaching the fhore.
Other expeditions of the fame nature have been planned and
executed with the fame bad fuccefs, under the aufpices of a
Danifh .company of merchants. Two fhips returned from tiie
weftero pari of Greenland loaded with a kind of yellow faud^
luppofed to contain a large proportion of gold. This being
alfayed by the goldfmiths of Copenhagen, was condem.ned ajj
ulelefs, and thrown overboard ; but from a fniali quantity of
this fand, which was referved as a curioiity, an expert che-
mift afterwards extrafted a quantity of pure g-old. The captain,
who brought home this adventure, was fo chagrined at his
dilappointment, that he died of grief, without having left any
direftions concerning the place where the fand had been difco-
vered. In the year 1654, Henry Moller, a rich Dane, equips-
ped a vefl'el under the command of David de Nelles, who failed
to the weft coaft of Greenland, from which he carried off
three women of the country. Other efforts have been made,
under the encouragement of the Danilh king, for the difcovery
and recovery of the old Iceland colony in Grrcenland ; but all
of them mifcarried, and people began to look upon lu^'h expe-
ditions as wild and chimerical. At length the Greenland com-
pany at Bergen in Norw;iy, tranfported a colony to the weftern
coaft, about the fixtv-fourth degree of latitude ; nnd thele
Norwegians failed in the year 1712, accompanied by the lj.ev..'||
Hans Egede, to whofe care, ability and precifvon, we ovve<||fe
beft and moft authentic account of modern Greenland. This
gentleman endeavoured to reach the eailern diftrift, hv coafting
louthwards, and advanced as far as tlie Staters Promoiitorv : but the
Icafon of the year, and continual ftonns, obliged iuin to return i
and as he could not even find the flrait oi Frobiflier, he con-
cluded, that no fuch place ever cxliled. In the year 17-4, a
ihip, being equipped by the company, iailed on this dilcovery,
w.iih a' view to land on the eaft fide oppohte to Iceland-, but
H -
53 ■ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
the vaft {ho?ls of ice, which bniricadoed that part of the coaft,
rendered this fchems iinpraclicihlc. His Danifh majeftv, in
the 3-e3r 1-728, caufed horfes to be trnni'ported to Greenland,
in liope that the iettlers might by their means travel over land
to the eaftern diflrift ; but the icy iriountains vuere found im-
pnfiable. Finally, Lieutenant Richards, in a fliip which had
wintered near the new Danilli colony, attempted, in his return
to Denmaik, to land on the eaflern fliore ; but all his endea-
vours proved aboitivc.
Mr. Egede is of opinion, that the onlv prafticable method of
reachiup, th.u part of the country, will be to coafl north-about
in imall vcllcls, between the great fl.tkes of ice and the Ihore ;
as tlie Greenlanders have declared, that the currents continually
n-ifhing from the bays and inlets, and running I'outh-weftwards
along the fiiore, hin4er the ice from adhering to the land ; fo
that there is always a channel open, through which vedels of
fmall burden might pafs, efpecially if lodges were built at conve-
nient diftances on the fnore, for the convenience and direftion
of the adventurers.
That part of the country which is now vifited and fettled by
the Dnnes and Norwegians, lies between the fixty-fourth and
fixiy-eighth degrees of north htitude ; and thus f^irit is laid tho
climate is temperate. In the fummer, which continues from the
end of M;iy to the middle of September, the weather is warrri
and Comfortable, while the wind blows eaflierly ; though even
at this time dorms frequently happen, v/hich rage with ineredi-
h>le violence ; and the fca coafts are infefted with fogs that are
equally difagreeablc and unhealthy^ Near the fhore, and in the
bays and inlets, the low land is clothed with the mod charming
verdure ; bvit the inland mountains are perpetually covered with
ice and fnow. To the northward of the fixty-eighth degree of
latitude th.e cold is prodigioully intenfe ; and towards the end.
of Auguft ail the coafL is covered with ice, which never thaws
till April or May, and lometirncs net till the latter end of June.
^■Pili^Jg can exiubit a more dreadful, and at the fame time a
more dazzling, appearance, than thofc prodigious mafies of ice
that'i'urround the whole cotR in various forms, reflefting a mul-
titude of colours from the lun-beains, and calling to mind the
enchanted fcencs cf romance. Such prolpefts they yield in
i'jhn weather ; but w'len the wind begins to blow, and (he
Vv'a\ cs to rife in vail billows, the violent fliocks of thofe pieces
of ice daftiing againll one another, fill the mind with horror.
Greenlaad'is'leldom vifited, with 'thunder and lightning, "bat ths
GREENLAND. 53
'aurora borealis is very frequent and bright. At the time of new
and full moon, the tide rifes and falls upon this coafl about
three fathoms ; and it is remarkable, that the fprings and foun-
tains on fhore rife and fall with the flux and reflux of the
ocean.
The foil of Greenland varies like that of all other mountain-
ous countries : the hills are very barren, being indeed frozen
throughout the whole year; but the valleys and low grounds,
efpecially near the fea, are rich and fruitful. The ancient Nor-
wegian chronicles inform us, that Greenland formerly produced
^ great number of cattle ; and that confiderable quantities of
butter and cheefe were exported to Norway ; and, on account
of their peculiar excellency, fet apart for the king's ufe. The
fame hiftories inform us, that feme parts of the country yielded
excellent wheat ; and that large oaks were found here, which
carried acorns as big as apples. Some of thele oaks ftdl remain
in the fouthern parts, and in many places the marks of ploughed
land are eafily perceived : at prefent, however, the country is
deftitute of corn and cattle, though in many places it produces
excellent pafture, and, if properly cultivated, would probably
yield grain alfo. Mr. Egede fowed fome barley in a bay adjoin-
ing to the Danifh colony ; it fprang up fo faft, that by the latter
end of July it was in the full ear ; but being nipped by a night
froft, it never arrived at maturity. This feed was brought from
Bergen, where the fummer is of greater heat and duration than
in Greenland ; but in all probability the corri \vhich grows in
the northern parts of Norway would alfo thrive here. Turnips
and coleworts of an excellent tafte and flavour are alio produced
here. The fides of the mountains near the bays are clothed
with wild thyme, which difFules its fragrance to a great dillancc.
The herb tormentil is very common in this country, and like-
■ wife many others not defcribed by the botanills. Among the
fruits of Greenland we number juniper-berries, biue-bcrries,
bil-berries and bramble-berries. ^
Greenland is thought to contain many mines of iMtai^
though none of them are wrought. To the louthward of tha
Danifli colony are fome appearances of a mine of copper, Mr.
^Igede once received a lump of ore from one of the natives,
and here he found calamine of a yellow colour. Ke once fent
a confiderable quantity of fand of ^ yellow colour, intei-mixed
with flreaks of vermilion, to the Bergen company : they pro-
^bjyfourjd, their account in this prefent ; for they defued ^}i.irn;.
54 GENERAL DESCRI PTION 0 F
by a letter, to procure as much of that fand as poffible ; hut
he was never able to find the place where he faw the firrt: fpe-
cimen. It was one of the fmallell among a great number of
iflands, and the mark he had let up was blown down bv a
violent ftorm : poffibiy this might be the fame mineral of which
Captain Frobiilier brought fo much to England. This country
produces rock-cryftals both red and white, and whole moun-
tains of the afbeftos or incombuftible flax. Around the colony,
whica J- known by the name of Good Hope, they find a kind
of ballard rrarble of various colours, which the natives form
into bowls, lamps, pots, &c. All that has been faid of the
fertility of Gi-eenland, however, muft be underftood only of
that part which lies bety/een the fixtieth and fifty-fifth degrees
of latitude : the moft northern parts are totally deftitutc of
herbs and plants. The wretched inhabitants carnot find grafs
in fufficient quantities to (luff into their fhoet to keep their feet
warm, but are obliged to buy it from thoie who inhabit the
more fouthern parts.
The animals which abound moft. in Greenland are, rein-deer,
foxes, hares, dogs and white bears. The hares are of a white
colour and very fat ; the foxes are of different colours, white,
greyifh and blueifh, and fmaller than thofe of Denmark and
Norway. The natives keep a grea|; number of dogs, which
are large, white or fpeckled, and rough, with ears Handing
upright, as is the cafe with all the dogs peculiar to cold cli-
mates ; they are timorous and flupid, and neither bay nor
bark, but fometimes howl diimally. In the northern parts the
natives yoke them in Hedges, which, though heavy laden, they
will draw on the ice at the rate of feventy miles iri a fliort
winter's day. Thefe poor animals are very ill rewarded for
their lervice, being left to provide for themfelves, except when
their mafters happen to catch a great number of ieals : on thefe
occafions the dogs are regaled with the blood and entrals ;
Jt other times they fubfift, like wild beafts, uporj mufcles and
henBlE. Here are alio found great numbers of ravens, eagles
of a prodigious fize, falcons and other birds of prey ; and
likewife a kind of linet, which warbles very meiodioully.
Whales, fword-iifli. popoifes, &c. abound on the coafts ; alio
Holybur, turbot, cod, haddock, &c. Tlie more dubious
aViimals alfo, called mermaids, lea-ferpents and krakens, laid to
Be found on the, toad of Norway, are iaid likewife to dwell
in thefe Teas. Mr. Egeue aftures us, that in the year 1734, tho
fec-ferpent \vaSifepn,oi]F the pevy, J^anilh, colony, and raiie*! ,»/.»
headmaft'-hiijii above t!:c kahce ol the water.
. GREENLAND. 55
The people who now inhabit the wcftern coaft of Green-
land, and who, without doubt, are the delcendants of the
ancient Schrellings, who exterminated the firft Iceland colony,
bear a near refemblance to the Samoiedes and Laplanders in their
perfons, complexions, and way of life : they are fhort,
brawny, and inclined to corpulency, with broad faces, flat
noies, thick lips, bUck hair and eyes, and a yellowifh tawny
complexion: they are for the moft part vigorous and healthy,
but remarkably fhort-lived, few of them reaching the grand
climafteric, and many dying in their infancy and in the prime
of youth : they are fubjeft to a weaknefs in the eyes, occafion-
ed by the piercing winds and the gbre of the Inow in the
winter-time : the leprofy is known among them but is not con-
tagious. Thofe that dwell in the nortlierii parts are miferably
tormented with dylenteri»s, rheums, and pulmonary diforderi-,
boils and epilepfv. The fmall-pox being impojted among
them from Copenhagen in the year 1734, made terrible havoc
among thefe poor people, who are utterly deftitute of r.ny
knowledore of the medicinal art, and depend entirely for
afliftance upon their angekuts or conjurers. In their difpofl-
tions the Greenlanders are cold, phlegmatic, indolent and flow
of apprehenhon, but very quiet, orderly and good-natured ;
they live peaceably together, and have every thing in common,
without ftrife, envying or animohty ; they are civil and
hofpitable, but flovenly to a degree almoft beyond the Hot-
tentots themlelves ; they never wafh themfelves with water,
but lick their paws like the cat, and then rub their faces with
them. They eat after their dogs without wafhing their
diihes •, devour the lice which devour them : and even ligk the
fweat which they fcrape off from their faces with their knives.
The women wafli themfelves with their own urine, which they
imagine makes their hair grow, and in the winter- time go out imme-
diately after, to let the liquor freeze upon their ikin. They
will often eat their viftuals off the dirty ground, withoutd«ny
veffel to hold it in, and devour rotten flefli with the grSRil
aridity. In times of Icarcity they will (ubfiu; on pieces of old.
lkin,'reeds, fea-wced, and a root called tugloronet, dreilcd
with train oil and fat. The dung of rein-deer taken from the
inteflines^ the entrails of partridges, and all forts of offals, are
courited d'aintics anOong thele favages ; and of the i't:rapling<>
of fdals-fkins they make delicate pancskc:;. At f^rfl they could
not tafte the Danifh provilions without abhorrence, but no\>-
th«y'are become extremely fond of bread and butter, though
^6 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
they ftill Jetuin an averfion to tobacco and fpirituous liquors .5
in, which particular they differ from qlmofl all favages or> the
face of the earth.
The Greenlanders commonly content themfelves with one
wife', who-is condemned, as among other favage nations, to do
ah the drud2;ery, and may be correfted, or even divorced, by
the hufband at pleafure. Heroes, however, and extraordinary
perfonages, are indulged with a plurality of wives. Their young
■women are generally chaflc and bafliful ; but at fome of their
feafts, in the midll of their jollity, a man retires with his neigh-
bour's wife behind a curtain made of fkins; and all the guefts,
thus coupled, retire in their turns. The women think them-
felves happy if an angekut or prophet will thus honour them
with his carefies. Thcfe people never marry within the prohiw
bited degrees of confanguinity, nor is it counted decent in a
couple to marry who have been educated in the fame family.
They have a number of ridiculous and fuperflitious cufloms ;
among which the two following are the moft remarkable ; — -
While a woman is in labour, the goiTips hold a chamber-pot
over her head, as a charm to haflcn the delivery. When the
child is a year old, the mother licks and fiabbers it all over, to
render it, as fbe imagines, more flrong and hardy.
All the Greenlanders hitherto known, fpeak the fame language,
though different dialefts prevail in different parts of the coun-
try: it abounds with double confonants, and is fo guttural, that
the pronunciation of many words is not to be learned except by
thofe who have been accuftomed to it from their infancy. , Tl\e
iettefs C, D, F, Q and X, are not known in their alphabet.
Like the North- Americans, and inhabitants of Kamfchatka, they
have a areat number of long polyfyllables. Their words, nouris
as well as verbs, are infleftcd at the end by var\-ing the termi-
nations without the help of articles; but their language being
found dcfeftive, they have adopted a good many wor4s,ijFron;i the
'NfflE*vegian dialeft. Notwithflanding the endeavours of ^th'e
DHwh miffioj^aries, they have no great reafon to boaft of the
;prt>felytcs they have made of the natives^pf :.Greenla,nd. . Thefc
■fSV^ages pay great deference and relpeft to-; tiic Danes, -whom ia-
;,deed they obey as their mailers, and he?r- the- tiH«hs- of the
j.Qhriftian religion expounded without doubting 'the "verTicfty^bf
?lh..ir teachers •,; but at the fame time they Ijilen with the ti^oft
mortifying indifference, without ^bflingoir>rt,lie lea{l,,.in£^\iejpj^ed
by what they have heard. They believe in the immortality of
the foul, and the exiftcnce of a Ipirit whom ihey call Torngar-
C R E E N L A N D. 57
fuck, but of whom they have formed the moft ridiculous
notions.* The Angekuts, who arc fuppofcd to be his immc-
* The firft niinionarics among the Greeiila:id£rs entertained a doiibf whether
they had any conception of a Divine Being, as thg|iy:iad no word in their lan-
guage by which to defignate him. When they were afkcd who inade the heaven
and earth, and all vifible things? their anfwer was — " We know not; or,
■we do not know him ; or, it muft have been fomc mighty perfon : or, things
always have been as they are, and will always remain to." But when they un-
derftood their lang.uage better, they found they had fome vague notioiis^coiv-
cerning the foul and fpirits, and were felicitous about the ftate after death. It
was evident alio that they had fome faint conceptions of a Divine Being.
They believe in the doftrine of the tranfmigration of fouls — that the foul is a
fpiritual effence quite different from the body — that it needs no corporeal
nourifhnaent — that it furvives the body, and lives in a future better ftate, whic^i
they believe will never end. But they have very different ideas of this itate,
}J!any place their Elyfium in the abyffes of the ocean, or the bowels oi the
earth, and think the deep cavities of the rocks are avenues leading to ir. There
dwells Torngarfuck and his mother ; there a joyous fummer is perpetuai, and a
ihining fun is obfcured by no night; there is the limpid ftrcara, and abundance
of foWls, fifhes, rein-deer, and their beloved feals, and thefe are all to be
caught without toil, nay, they are even found in a great kettle boiling alive.
But to thefe delightful feats none muft approach but thofc who have been dex-
trous and diligent at their work, (for this is their grand idea of virtue) that
have performed great exploits, and have mattered many whale.s and feals, have
undergone great hardfhips, have been drowned in the lea, or died in cliildbod.
The difembodied fpirit does not enter dancing into the Elyfian fields, but mult
fpend five whole days, fome fay longer, in Aiding down a rugged rock, which
is thereby fmeared with blood and gore. Thofe unfortunate fouls which are
obliged to perform this rough journey in the cold winter, or in boiftcrous wea-
ther, are peculiar objefts of their pity, becaufe they may be calily dcftroyed on
the road, which deflruftion they call the fecond death, and dcfcribe it as a
perfeft extinftion, and this, to them, is the moll dreadful confideration. There-
fore during thefe five days or more, the furviving relations muft abftain from
certain meats, and from all noify work, except the neceil'ary fifbing, that the ioul
may not be difturbed or perifh in its perilous paffage. From all which, it is
plain, that the Grcenlanaers, ftupid as they have been reprefented, hayp in
idea that the good will be rewarded, and the bad punilhed, and that they con-
ceive a horror at the thought of the entire annihilation of the foul.
Others have their paradife among the celeftial bodies, and they imagine tlieir
flight thither fo eafy and rapid, that the foul refts the fame evening in the man-
fion of the moon, who was a Greenlander, and there it can dance and play at
ball with the reft of the fouUi for they think tbe -northern lights to be che daaire
of fporfive fouls. The fouls in this paradife are pl^ed in tents round a vaft
lake abounding wi{)i fifh and' fowl. When this lake oveirtlows it rains on the
ciHh; but fnoyld'tihe dam once break, ther.e would be £ g-?i^eral, deluji;:-.
o8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
diate miniflers, differ concerning the principles of his exiftencej
fome affirming that he is without form or fhape ; others, that he
1Bas the fhapc of a bear ; others, that he has a large human body
xvith Giiiy one arm: while others affirm, that he is no larger
than a manV^fiogcr, with many other abfurdities of a fimilar
kind. They haye alfin peculiar kind of mythology, by which
they believe all the elements to be full of fpirits, from among
which every one of their prophets is fupplied with a familiar
which they name Torngack, and who is always ready when
iummcned to his alTi (lance.
* The Grecnlandcrs are employed all the year round either in
fifliing or hunting. At fea they purfue the whales, morfes,
leals, fifli for eating, and iea fowl. On fhore they hunt the
rein-deer in dilfcrcnt parts of the country: they drive thefe
animals, which feed in large herds, into a narrow circle or de-
nie, wh'jre they are cafily flain with arrows. Their bow is
made of fir-tree, wound about with the twifled fmews of ani-
mals ; the firing is compoled of the fame fluff, or of fcal fkin ;
the arrow is a good fajhom in length, pointed with a bearded
ifon, or a fharp bone ; but thofe with which they kill birds are
blunt, tliat thev may hot tear the flefh. Sea fowls they kill
■with lances, which ihcy threw to a great diftance with lurpriiing
dexterity. Their manner of catching whales is quite different,
from that praftifcd by the Europeans: about fifty perfons, men
and women, fct out in one long boat, which is called a kone
boat^ from kone a " woman," becaufe it is rowed by females only.
When they find a whale, they flrike him with harpoons, to which
arc faftcncd with long lines fome feal fkins blown up like blad-
ders. TJicIe, by floating on the furface, not only difccver the
b.ick of the whale, but hinder him from diving under water for
any length of time. They continue to puriue hira until he
Iv.lcb fti ength, when they pierce him with ipcars and lances till
he expires. On this occafion they are clad in their fpring coats,
corififling of one piece, with gloves, bonts, and caps made of
fcal Win fo clolely laced and fewed that they keep cut water.
The -wifer Grcenlanders, who confider the foul as a fpiritual immaterial ef-
fcnoe, laugh at all this, and fay, it there (hould be fuch a material, luxuriant
paradife, wlicre iouls could entertain themfelves with hunting, dill it can only
tndure for a time; afterwards the fouls will certainly be conveyed to the peace-
ful manlions : but they know not what their food or employinent will be. Oa
the'otherhand, they place their hell in the I'ubterraneous regions, which are de-
void of light and heat, and filled with perpetual terror and anxiety. T^ig^Jaft
forV of people lead a regalar life, and refrain from every thing they think is
rvif.'--^' ' '■"■"■■-■
GREENLAND.
59
TThus accoutred, they leap into the fea, and begin to fllo^ofF the
fat, even under water, before the whale is dead. They hr>ve
many different ways of killing feals ; namely, by ftiiking, them
"with a fmall harpoon equipped alfo with an air bag; by watch-
ing them when they come to breathe at the air-holes in, the ice,
and ftriking them with fpears ; by approaching them in tii,€ dif-
guife of their own fpecies, that is, covered with a feal flvin,
creeping upon the ice, and moving the head from fide to fide as
the fea Is are accuftomed to 6.0. By this flratagem the Greeny
lander moves towards the uii(urpe6lirig feil, and kills him with
a fpear. The Greenlanders angle with lines made of whalebone
cut very fmall, by means of winch they fuccecd wonderfully.
The Greenland canoe, like that ufed in Nova-Zembla and Ilud-
fon's bay, is about three fathoms in length, pointed at both ends,
and three quarters of a yard in breadth'; it is cbmpofcd of thin
rafts faftened together with the finews of animals. It is covered
with drelTed feal-(k.ins both below and above, in fuch a manner
that only a circular hole is left in the middle, large enough to
admit the body of one rnan. Into this the Greenlander thrufts
himfelf up to the waift, and fallens the fkin fo tight about him
that no water can enter. Thus iecured, and armed with a pad-
dle broad at both ends, he will venture out to fea In the mod
ftormy weather fo catch feals and fea-fovl; and if he is overfet,
he can eafily raife himfelf by means of his paddle. A Green-
iander in one of thefe canoes, which was brousjht with him to
Copenhagen, outftripped a pinnace of fixteen oars, manned •
with choice mariners. The kone boai is made of the (ame ma-
terials, but more durable, and fo large thjt it will contiin fifty
perfons with all their tackle, baggrige and provifions : fhe is
fitted with a maft, which carries a triangular hiil made of the
infembranies anid entrails of feals, and is m^naiied without the
hdp'of braces and bowlings: thele kones are fl:it-hottomeu, and
fofrietimes fixty feet in length. The men think it beneath thein
to take charge of them, and therefore they are left to tlie con-
duct' of the women, who indeed are obliged to do all tJie
drudgery,,,^.inqvi,}d.!r)^ even the building and repairing their
houfes, -while the men employ themlelves wholly in preparing
their hunting "implements and hlhing tackle.
Thl^ cou'nt*}-y' i^"but thinly inhabited.* In the winter time
the-;'people. dwell in huts b-ailt of flone or turf; on the one
* Mofl of the Grccnlanders live to the fouthv.-:rd of the f:xty-fccond degree
of north latitude, or as the inhabitants arc wont to lay, in the fouth; but no
I £
Co C E XE R AL DESC R TPTION' 0 F
fvde arc the windows, covered with the ficins of feals or rein-
deer. Several rimilies live in one of thefe houfes, poflefling
earh a fcparate apartment, before, which is a hearth with a great
lamp pl;)ced on a trevit, over which hangs their kettle ; above
is^aracU or fhelf.Gn. which, their wet clothes are dried. They
burn.traiji oil in their lamps, and for a wick they ufe a kind
fi^ JTjoQi^'^yhich f.illv anrvvcrs the purpofc. Thefe lamps are
rot pjil^^.f^f!icient to boil their viftuals, but likewife produce
lurh a Jicat, that the wliole hnufe is like a bagnio. The door is
very low,, that as liitlc cold air as poflTible may be admitted. The
},.o.ure v,:!thii^.is lined with old flcins, and furrounded with benches
f'.)r the convcnicncy of flrangers. In the fummcr time they
dwell i:, tents ni.ide of long poles fixed in a conical form, cover-
ed in.thc infidc \vith deer fkins, and on the outfidc with ieals
fkins, drcfled- fo as that tiie rain cannot pierce them.
Y. A S T G Pv E E N L A N D.
^ L'lft-Q-reenland was for a long time confidered as a part of
tl)c continent of Weft Greenland, but is now difcoverevi to be
STii affemblige of ifjnnds lying between 'j6<-> 46' and 80^ 30' "^
r.orth laii^tude, and between g° and 20*' of eafl longitude. It
wasdircovered by Sir Hugh Willoughby in the year 1553, ^^^o
Cijne(J it Grgfeilind, liippofing it to be a part of the weftern
ionffnent. In 15,95, it was again vifued by William Bjrentz
and ]nhrt Corneiius, tvvjo Dutchmen, who pretended to be the
^iginaj Gi,fc*oycrerSj and c:.llcd the country Spitzbergen, or
|.urop?acs livr; th^r;, fo that tbrfc part^s ar-^ bi:t littV* knov,'n. The European
fftlp^ifs have fi^ed thenifelves to thn nortl^iwaid of the fixty-fccond degree of
■'■?C- fai^or., who livc^ many yars in the country, and wliofe accuracy, as f;ir
^;j(ht? fuhj?"^ will admit, niay be depended on, found, in the compafi of forty
,]^«g«fsj ;T«r!iicli -was the civcle of his dfalings, nine hundred and fifty-feven
/."".nttant r"rid-'nts, t>'~rid"s occafioiial vifitors. This part of Greenland is the
Vi'.ol} populous, except Difk.o bay, which is the bcft place for trade, and the
r')u"i1iertf^ar;s. lii other places, an individual may tr:ivcl fixty miles and not
'j.'iiect- •w'Wli V'-finglr p"r!on. Snppofc, however, that the country is inhabited
'^T'~rhDr'lp>i¥n fv?y?Ty' f)4i"iy Ip^l^es, the a"'nouut would be ten thou.fund. , The aboYC-^rncn-
■iioncd fafl'ir, thinks, that there arc not more than fc^ven thoufand, becaufe there
-fir. :i.Or. V.,; .ic,^ irri.. ■ • - • ■ '
^ ar,' fo mTOy d^inft places. He affrrrs, indeed, that the native Grecnlandcrs, in
^V?*^^-''^''"^""^'--'^' to thlrry thou find ; aud'^vi^'hcn he mad. = his firft Calculation iq
-\iy4S-' tbel-ff= Ver*' ftfli' twvrity thoufand^ cbnfo<]ivently, fnice that timeythsit
-iiaasbOT'J'ws'diaiiiBilhed at icaft oivc-!-aJf'. ' ' ' '"
GREENLAND. 6t
Sharp Mountains, from the many fharp pointed and rocky
mountains with which it abounds. They alledged, that the
coaft dilcovered by Sir Hugh Willoughby was fome other coun-
try ; which accordingly the Hollanders delineated on their
maps and charts by the name of Willoughby Land ; whereas
i-a faft no fuch land ever exifted ; and long before the voyage
of thefe Dutchmen, Stephen Barrows, an Englifh ftiipmafler,
had coafted along a defolate country from north latitude 78®
to 80^ 1 1 ', which was undoubtedly Spitzbergen. The fea in
the neighbourhood of the iflands of Spitzbergen abounds
very much with whales, and is the common refort of the
vvhale-fi{hing fhips from different countries, and the country
itfelf is frequently vifited by thefe fhips ; but till the late
voyage of the Hon. Capt. Phipps, by order of his Majefty,
the fituation of it was erroneoufly laid down. It was imagined
that the land ftretched to the northward as far as 82° of north
latitude ; but Capt. Phipps found the moft northerly point of
land, called Seven Iflands, not to exceed 80" 30' of latitude.
Towards the caft he faw other lands lying at a diftance, fo
that Spitzbergen plainly appeared to be furrounded by water
on that fide, and not joined to the continent of Afia, as
former navigators had fuppofed. The north and weft coafts
alfo he explored, but was prevented by the ice from failing fo
far to the northward as he wifhed. The coaft appeared neither
habitable nor acceflible ; it is formed of high, barren, black
rocks, without the leaft marks of vegetation ; in many places
bare and pointed, in others covered with fnow, appearing
even above the clouds. The valleys between the high cliffs
were filled with fnow and ice. " This profpeft," fays Capt.
rhipps, *' would have fuggefted the idea of perpetual winter,
had not the mildnels of the weather, the fmooth water, bright
fun-fliine, and conftant day-light, given a ch^erfulnefs and
novelty to the whole of this romantic fcene." The current
ran along this coaft half a knot an hour, north. The height
of one mountain feen here was found, by geometrical menfura-
tipn,, to be at one time one thoufand five hundred and three
.|"^et-^d a half, at another one thoufand five hundred and three
feet and eight-tenths. By a baronjeter conftrufted after De Luc's
method, the height was found to be one thoufand five hundred
ari.d eighty-eight feet and a half. On this occafion Capt. Phipps
has the following remarks ; " I cannot account for the great dif-
ference between the geometrical meafure and the barometrical
- according to M. De Luc's calculation, which amounts to eighty-
four feet feven inches. I have no reafon to doubt the accu-
6^ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
racy of Dr. Irving's obfcrvations, which were made with great
care. As to the geometrical meafure, the agreement of fo many
iriangles, each of which rnuft. have difcovered even the Imalleft
^rror, is the moft fatisfaftory proof of its correftnefs. Since
!fiy return, 1 have tried both the theodolite and barometer, to
difcover whether there was any fault in either, and find them,
upon trial, as I had always done before, very accurate."
There is good anchorage in Schmeerenhurgh harbour, lying'
in north latitude -74? 44^, eaft longitude cj** 50' 45'/, in thirteen
fathoms, fandy bottom, not far from the fhore, and well fhel-
fered from all winds. Clofe to this harbour is \n ifland called
Amfterdam Iflmd, where the Dutch ufcd formerly to boll their
whale oil ; and the remains of fome conveniency erefted by them
for that purpofe are flill vifible. The Dutch fhips ftill refort
to this place for the latter fealon of the whale fifhery. — The
ilone about this place is chiefly a kind of marble, which dil-
folves eafily in the marine acid. There were no appearance of
minerals of any klnd^ nor any figns of ancient or modern vol-
canoes. No infe£ts, nor any fpecies of reptiles were leen, not
even the common earth worm. There were no fprings or rivers,
but great plenty of water was produced from the inow which
fnclted on the mountains.
The moft remarkable views which thefe dreary regions pre-
sent, are thofe called Icebergs. They are large bodies of ice
filing the valleys between the high mountains : their face to-
wards the fea is nearly perpendicular, and of a very lively licrht
green colour. One was about three hundred feet high, with a
c.^fcade of water iffuing from it. The black mountains on each
fide, the white fnow, and greenifh coloured ice, compoled a very
beautiful and romantic pifture. Large pieces frequently broke
off from the icebergs, and fell with great noiie into the water :
one piece was oblerved to have floated out into the bay, and
grounded in tweoty-four fathoms ; it was fifty feet high above
the furface of the water, and of the fame beautiful colour with
the iceberg from which it had feparated.
Thefe ifiands are totally uninhabited, though it doth not. ap-
pear but that human creatures could fubRft on them, nptwith-
flanding their vicinity to the pole. Eight 'Englifli failors, who
were accidentally left here by a wii?le-hfliing Inip, furvivcd tlic
winter, and were brought home next leafon. The Dutch then
attempted to fettle a colony on Amfterdam ifland above men-
tioned, but all the people periflied, not through the feverity of
the climate, but of the fcurvy, owing to the want of thofe
GREENLAND. 63
remedies which are now happily difcovered, and which are
found to be fo effeftual in preventing and curing that dreadful
diieaie. The late account alfo of fix Ruffian failors, who {laid
four years in this inhofpitable country, affords a decifive proof
that a colony might be fettled oil Eaft-Greenland, provided the
doing fo could anfvver any good purpofe.
A Greenland company was formed in London in the year
1693. A joint ftock of forty thoufand pounds was by flrtute
to be raifed by fublcribers, who were incorporated for fourteen
years from the firfl day of Oftober in that year ; and the com-
pany to ule the trade of catching whales, &c. to and from
Greenland, and the Greenland leas ; they may make bye-laws
for the government of the perfons employed in their fhips, &c.
Stat. 4 & 5 W. III. cap, I'y. This company was farther en-
couraged by parliament in 1696; but partly by unfkilful ma-
nagement, and partly by real lolfes, it was under a necellity of
entirely breaking up, before the expiration of the term affigned
to it, ending in i'jo']. But any perfon who will adventure to
Greenland for whale-fifhing, has all privileges granted to the
Greenland company, by 1 Anne, cap. 16. and thus the trade
was again laid open. Any fubjefts may import whale-fins, oil,
&c. of fifh caught in the Greenland feas, without paying any
cuftoms, &c. Stat. 10 Geo. I. cap. 16. And fhips employed
in the Greenland fifhery are to be of fuch burden, provided
with boats, fo many men, fifbing lines, harping irons, &c,
and be licenfed to proceed ; and on tlieir return are paid twenty
fliillings per ton bounty, for whale-fins, &c. imported ; 6 Geo.
II. cap. 33. The bounty was afterwards increafed, but has
been lately diminiflied, and fince this diminution the trade has
increafed.
( 64 )
HISTORY
OF THE
SPANISH DOMINIONS
NORTH-AMERICA,
— ■«-<"«44* ^ •>»">'•>-
EAST AND WEST-FLORIDA,
SITUATION, BOUNDARY AND EXTENT.
E,
ny whik it remained i» tlie hands of the
SpatflwdfeV was founded. In i^8^> 'this place ■^frafS' :«ken and
""pifl»g^'4>y*- Sir .Francis Drake;- It^ m^WW^tfes-theiiam.*" fate ia
Vol. IV, K
66 GE^^'ERAL D ESCRI PTIO N 0 ^
1665, being taken and plundered by Captain Davis, and a body
of buccaneers. In 1702, an attempt was made upon it by Colo"
nel More, governor of Carolina. He fet out with five hundred
Ehglifh and {'even hundred Indians ; and having reached St, Au-
guflinc, he befie'^ed it for three months, at the expiration of
which, the Spaniards having fent fome fliips to the relief of the
place, he was obliged to retire. In 1740, another attempt was
made by General Oglethorpe ; but he being outwitted by the
Spanifh governor, was forced to raife the fiege with lofs, and
Florida continued in the hands of the Spaniards till the year
3763, v/hen it was ceded by treaty to Great-Britain. During
the laft war it was again reduced by his Catholic l^Tajelly, and
was guaranteed to the crown of Spain at the peace.
Among the rivers that fiow through this territory, and fall
into the Atlantic Tea, St. John's and Indian rivers arc the prin-
cipal. St. John's river rifes in or near a large fwamp, in the
heart of Eaft-Florida, and purfucs a northern courfe in a broad
, navigable ftream, which, in feveral places, fpreads into bioad
bays or lakes. Lake George, which is only a dilatation of the
tiver, is a beautiful piece of water, generally about fifteen miles
broad, and from fifteen to twenty feet deep. It is ornamented
with feveral charming iflands, one of which is an orange grove,
interfperfed with magnolias and palm trees. Near Long Lake,
\vhich is two miles long and four wide, and which communicates
with St. John's river by a fmall creek, is a vafi fountain of warm.,
or rather hot minei-al water, ifiTuing from a high bank on the
river : it boils up with great force, forming immediately a vafh
circular bafon, capacious enough for feveral fhallops to ride in,
and runs with rapidity into the river, at three or four hundred
yards diftance : the water is perfeftly clear, and the prodigious
number and variety of fifh in it, while fwimming many feet deep,
appear as plainly as though lying on the table before your eyes :
the water has a difagrceable tafle, and fmells like bilge water.
This river enters into the Allantic, north of St, Augulline. —
Indian river riles a fhort diftance from the fea coaft, and runs
from north to fouth, forming a kind of inland palfage for many
miles alonff the coaft. — Seguana, Apalachicola, Chatahatchi, Ef-
cambia, Mobile, Pafcagoula, and Pearl rivers, all rife in Georgia^
and run foutherly into the gulph of Mexico.
There are, in this territory, a great variety of foils. The
eaftern part of it, near and about St. Auguftine, is far the moll
unfruitful ; yet even here two crops of ^Indian corn are pro-
duced. The banks of the rivers which water the Floridas, and
the parts contiguous; are of a iuperior qualityj and well adapted to
EAST AND WEST'FLORIDA. 67
the culture of rice and corn, while the more interior country,
which is high and pleafant, abounds with wood of almoft every
kind ; particularly white and red oak, live oak, laurel magnolia,
pine, hiccory, cyprefs, red and white cedar. The live Oaks,
though not tall, contain a prodigious quantity of timber: the
trunk is generally from twelve to twenty feet in circumference,
and rifes ten or twelve feet from the earth, and then branches
into four or five great limbs, which grow in nearly a horizontal
direftion, forming a gentle curve. " I have ftepped," lays Bar-
tram,* " above fifty paces, on a Ilraight line, from the trunk of
one of thefe trees to the extremity of the limbs." They are ever
green, and the wood almoft incorruptible. They bear a great
quantity of fmall acorns, which are agreeable food, when roafted,
and from which the Indians extratt a fweet oil, which they ule
in cooking homminy and rice.
The laurel magnolia is the moft beautiful among the trees of
the foreft, and is ufually one hundred feet high, thougli fome
are much higher. The trunk is perfcftly ereft, rifing in the
form of a beautiful column, and fupporting a head like an obtule
cone. The flowers are on the extremities of the branches ; are
large, white, and expanded like a roie, and are the largefl and
moft complete of any yet known ; when fully expanded, they
are from Ox to nine inches diameter, and have a moft delicious
fragrance. The cyprefs is the largeft of the American trees,
" I have feen trunKs of thefe trees," (ays Bartram, " that would
meafure eight, ten, and twelve feet in diameter, for forty and
fifty feet ftraight fhaft." The trunks make excellent fhingles,
boards, and other timber ; and when hollowed, make durable
and convenient canoes, " When the planters fell thefe mighty
trees, they raife a ftage around them, as high as to reach above
the buttreffes ; on this ftage eight or ten negroes aicend with their
axes, and fall to work round its trunk."
The intervals between the hilly part of this country are ex-
tremely rich, and produce fpontaneoufly the fruits and vegeta-
bles that are comm.on to Georgia and the Cnrolinas. But this
country is rendered valuable in a peculiar manner by its exten-
five ranges for cattle,
St, Auguftine, the capital of Eaft-Floridn, is fituated on the
fea coaft, latitude 29*^ 45' ; is of an oblong figure, and interl'efted
by four ftreels, which cut each other at right angles. The town
is fortified with baftions, and inclofed with a ditcli : it is like-
wife defanded by a caftle, called fort St. Tohn. which is w^ll !
* Travels, page 8g.
K 2
68 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
appointed as to ordnance. The north and fouth breakers, at
the entrance of the harbour, form two channels, whofe bars
have eight feet water.
The principal town in Weft-Florida is Penfacola, latitude
30^ gsA It lies along the beach, and like St. Auguftine, is
of an oblong form. The water approaches to tlie town except
for fmall veffcls, are obflru£led by a . low and fandy fhore.
The bay, however, on which the t9wn flands, forms a very
commodious harbour, and veffels may ride there fecure from
every wind. The exports from this town, confilting of fltins,
logwood, dying ftufF, and filver dollars, amounted, while in the
pofleffion of the Britifli, on an ax'crage, to fixty-three thoufand
pounds, annually ; the average value of imports, for three
years, frcm Great-Britain, was ninety-fcvcn thouland pounds^
( 69 )
LOUISIANA.
L<
LOUISIANA is bounded by the MlfTiffipp;, on the eafl; ;
by the gulf of Mexico, on the fouth ; by New-Mexico, on
the weft ; and runs indefinitely nortli. Under the French
government Louifiana included both fides of the Mifliflippi,
from Its mouth to the Illinois, and back from the river, eaft
and weft indefinitely.
The Miffiffippi, on which the fine countr)' of Louifiana is
fituated, was firft difcovered by Ferdinand de Soto, in 1541.
Monfieur de la Salle was the firft who traverfed it. He, in the
year 1682, having pafTed down to the mouth of the MilTinippi,
and furveyed the adjacent country returned to Canada, from
whence he took paffage to France.
From the flattering accounts which he gave of the country,
and from the confcquential advantages that would accrue from
fettling a colony in thofe parts, Louis XIV. was induced to
eftabliflr a company for the purpofe. Accordingly a fquadron
of four vefTels, amply provided with men and provifions, under
the command of Monfieur de la Salle, embarked with an inten-
tion of fettling near the mouth of the Miflinippi ; but he unin-
tentionally failed a hundred leagues to the weftward of it,
where he attempted to cftablifh a colony ; but through the
unfavourablenefs of the climate, moft of his men miferably
periftied, and he himlelf was villainoufly murdered, not long
after, by two of his own men. Monfieur Ibherville fucceeded
him in his laudable attempts. Fie, after two fuccelsful voy-
ages, died while preparing for a third. Crozat fucceeded him ;
and in 1712, the king gave him Louifiana. This grant con-
tinued but a fhort time after the death of Louis XIV. In 1763,
Louifiana was ceded to the king of Spain, to whom it now
belongs.
This country is interfered by a number of fine rivers, among
which are the St. Francis, which empties into the Miffiffippi
at Kappas Old Fort, navigable about two hundred and fifty or
three hundred miles ; its courfc is nearly parallel with the
M'^tHippij and irom twenty to thirty miles diftant from it >
70
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
the Natchitoches, which empties into the Miffinippi above
Point Coupee ; the Adayes or Mexicano river, emptying into
the gulph of Mexico ; and the river Rouge, on which, it is
well known, are as rich filver mines as any in Mexico. This
is fuppolcd to be one principal realon why the exclufive
navigation of the MifTiffippi has been fo much infilled on by
Spain.
Louifiana is agreeably fituated between the extremes of heat
and cold ; its climate varies as it extends towards the north.
The fouthern parts, lying within the reach of the refreifhing
breezes from the fea, are not fcorched like thofe under the fame
latitudes in Africa ; and its northern regions are colder than
thofe of Europe under the fame parallels, with a wholefome
fcrene air. To judge of the produce to be expefted from the
foil of Louifiana, we fhould turn our Teyes to Egypt, Arabia,
Felix, Perfia, India, China, and Japan, all lying in correfpond-
ing latitudes. Of thefe, China alone has a tolerable govern-
ment ; and yet it mufl be acknowledged, they all are, or have
been famous for their riches and fertility. From the favour-
ablenefs of the climate, two annual crops of Indian corn may
be produced ; and the foil, with little cultivation, would furnifh
grain of every kind in the greateft abundance. The timber
is as fine as any in the world, and the quantities of live oak,
afh, mulberry, walnut, cherry, cyprefs, and cedar, are aflo-
rifliing. The neighbourhood of the Mifliffippi, bcfides, fur-
nifhes the richeft fruits in great variety ; the loil is particularly
adapted to hemp, flax, and tobacco ; and indigo is at this time
a ftaple commodity, which commonly yields the planter three
or. four cuttings a year. In a word, whatever is rich and rare in
the mofk defirable climates in Europe, feems to be the fpon-
taneous produftion of this delightful country. The MifTiflippi
and the neighbouring lakes furniih in great plenty feveral forts
of fiOi, particularly perch, pike, (lurgeon, and eels.
In the northern part of Louifiana, forty-five miles below the
mouth of the Ohio river, on the weft bank of the MifTifiTippi,
? fettlement is commenced, conduftcd by Colonel Morgan, of
New-Jerfey, under the patronage of the Spanifh king. The
foot on which the city is propoied to be built, is called New-
Madrid, after the capital of Spain, and is in north latitude
36° 30'
The lisTiits of the new city of Madrid are to extend four
miles fouth, and two miles weft from the river, fo as to crofs, a
beautiful, living, deep lake, of the pureft fpring water, one
L 0 U I S I A N A. 71
hunJrccl yards wide, and feveral miles in length, emptying
iticlf, by a conflant rypid narrow dream, through the center
of the city. The banks of this lake, which is called St.
Annis, are high, beautiful, and pleafant ; the waters deep,
clear, and fvveet ; the bottom a clear fand, free from woods,
fhrubs or other vegetables, and well flored with fiih. On
each fide of this delightful lake flreets are laid out, one hun-
dred feet wide, and a road is to be continued round it of the
fame breadth ; and the trees are dire6led to be preferved for
ever for the health and pleafure of the citizens. A ftreet one
hijndred and twenty feet wide, on the banks of the Miffiirippi,
is laid out, and the trees are direfted to be preferved for the
fame purpofe. Twelve acres, in a central part of the city,
are to be refcrved in like manner, to be ornamented, regulated
and improved by the mngifhacy of the city for public walks ;
and forty half acre lots for other public ules j and one lot of
twelve acres for the king's ule.
New-Madrid, from its local fituation and adventitious pri-
vileges, is in a profpeft of being the great emporium of the
weflern country, unlefs the free navigation of the Mifliflippi
{hould be opened to the United States : and even fhould this
deftred event take place, which probably will not without a
rupture with Spain, this muft be a place of trade. For here
will naturally center the immenfe quantities of produce that
will be borne down the Illinois, the MiirifTippi, the Ohio, and
their various branches ; and if .the carriers can find as good a
market for tlieir cargoes here, as at New-Orleans or the Weft-
Indies, and can procure the articles they defire, they will
gladly fave themfelves the difficulties and dangers of navigating
the long MilliPappi.
The countr)' in the vicinity of this intended city is repre-
fented as excellent, in many parts beyond defcription. The na-
tural growth confifls of mulberry, locuft, faffafias, walnut, hic-
corv, oak, afli, dog-wood, &c. with one or more grape vines
running up almoft every tree ; the grapes yield, from experi-
ment, good red wine, in plenty and with little labour. In lome
of the low grounds grow large cyprefs trees. The country is
interfperfed with prairies, and now and then a cane patch of one
hundred, and fome of one thoufand acres. Thefe prairies have
no trees on them, but are fertile in grals, flowering plants, ftraW-
berries, &c. and, when cultivated, produce good crops of wheat,
barley, Indian coin, flax, hemp, and tobacco, and are eafily
tilled. The climate is faid to be favourable for health, and to
the culture of fruits of various kinds, and particularly for garden
nz GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
vegetables. Iron and lead mines, and (alt fprings, it is afferted,
are found in fuch plenty as to afford an abundant fupply of ihefe
neceffary articles. The banks of the MifTiffippi, for many leagues
in extent, commencing about twenty miles above the mouth of
Ohio, are a continued chain of lime-Hone. A fine trail of high,
rich, level land, S. W. by W. and N. W. of New-Madrid,
about twenty-five miles wide, extends quite to the river St.
Francis.
It has been fuppofed by fome, that all fettlers who go beyond
the Miffiffippi, will be for ever loft to the United States. There
is, we believe, little danger of this, provided they are not pro-
voked to withdraw their friendfhip. The emigrants will be made
up of the citizens of the United States. They will carry along
with them their manners and culhoms, their habits of govern-
ment, religion and education ; and as they are to be indulged
with religious freedom, and with the privilege of making their
own laws, and of condufting education upon their own plans,
thefe American habits will undoubtedly be cherifhed ; if To,
they will be Americans in faft, while they are nominally the fub-
je61s pf Spain.
It is true, Spain will draw a revenue from them, but in return
they will enjoy peculiar commercial advantages, the benefit of
which will be experienced by the United States, and perhaps be
an ample compenfation for the lofs of lo many citizen^ as may
migrate thither. In fhort, this fettlement, if conducted with
judgment and prudence, might be mutually ferviceable both to
Spain and the United States; it might prevent jealoufies ; leffen
national prejudices; promote religious toleration; prefervc har-
mony, and be a medium of trade reciprocally advantageous.
But it is well known that empire has been travelling from eaft
to weft. Probably her laft and broadeft feat will be America.
There the fciences and arts of civilized life are to receive their
highefl: improvements: there civil and religious liberty are to
flourifh, unchecked by the cruel hand of civil or ecclefiaftical
tyranny : there genius, aided by all the improvements of former
ages, is to be exerted in humanizing mankind, in expanding and
enriching their minds with religious and philofophical know-
ledge, and in planning and executing a form of government,
which will involve all the excellencies of former governments,
with as [ew of their defefts as is confiflent with the imperfec-
tion of human affairs, and which v/ill be calculated to protccl:
and unite, in a manner conuftent with the natural rights of man-
kind, the largcfl empire that ever exiffed. Elevated with theic
LOUISIANA. 73
profpefts, which are not merely the vifions of fancy, we can-
not but anticipate. the period, as not far diftantj when the Ame-
firan empire will cotrtpreLiend millions of fouls weft of the
Mifliiffippi. J^-idging upon probable grounds, the MilTiffippi
was never deflgned as the wcftein boundary of the American
empire. The God of Nature never intended that lome of the
beft part of his earth Ihould be inhabited by the fuhjcfts of a '
monarch four thoufand miles from them. And we mny ven-
ture to predift, thatj when the rights of mankind fhall be more
fully known, and the knowledge of them is faft increafing
both in Europe and America, the power of European potentates
Vill be confined to Europe, and their prefent American domi-
nions become, like the United States, free, fovereign, and inde-
pendent empires.
It feerns to depend on a timely adoption of a wife and liberal
policy on the part of Spain, whether or not there fhall be a fpee-
dy revolution in her American colonies. It is afTerted by the
beft informed on the fubjeft, that there are not a hundred Spa-
tiifh families in all Louifiana and Weft-Florida ; the bulk of
inhabitants are French people, who are inimical to the Spani-
ards, and emigrants from the United States, and a few Englifh,
Scots, Dutch, and Irifh. This was the cafe in 1791 : and as
all emigrations to this country have fince been, and will proba-
bly in future be, from the United States, and thele emigrations
are numerous, the time will foon come, when the Anglo Ame-
ricans in this country will far exceed the number of all other
nations.
The wretched policy of New-Orleans, unlefs changed, will
haften a revolution in the Spanifli colonies. So long as the go-
vernor can di£};ate laws and difpenfe with them at his pleafure,
and create monopolies in trade for his own and his favourites'
advantage, as is now the cafe, there fan be no ftability in the
commerce of this pbce. The cxclufive right, even of lupply-
ing the market with frefh beef, pork, veal, mutton, is monopo-
lized. No farmer or planter is allowed to kill his own beef,
fwine, calf, or fheeps and lend it to market ; he muft fell it to
the king's butcher, as he is called, at the price he is pleafed to
give •, and this man retails it out at a certain price agreed upon
by the governor, in juft fuch pieces as he thinks proper, through
a window or grate. Afk for a roafting piece, and he will give
you a fliin or brifket of beef ; point to the piece you v/ant and
he w^ill tell you it is engaged to your fupenor. From fimilar
condu6l, turkies now fell for four or five dollars a piece, which
L
14 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OP
under the French government, were in abundance for half a
dollar. The monopoly of flour is, if poffible, on flill a worfe
footing for the inhabitant ; and the tobacco infpeftion yet more
flifcou raging to the planter. The governor, or tht crown,. as
it is call'd, niufl haVe an undefined advantage in every thing*
Hence all are ripe for a revolution the moment one fhall offer
with prf)fpcft of being fupported, whether it fhall come from
the United States^ England, France, or internally from the in-
habitants.
It is faid to have been the fixed refolution of the Britifh mi--
niftry to feize on New-Oi leans, in the iirfl inftance, in cafe a
rupture with Spain had t>ken place, as a nccelfary pfelude to an
arttack on the Spanifh polIcflTions in the Wefl-Indies and on the
main. For this purpole every bend of the river, every bay and
harbour on the coafl, have been furveycd and founded with the
utmofl cxaftncfs, and all of them are better known to the Britifb
than to the Spaniards themfelvKS.
Whilft the United States were engaged in tlie revolution
■war ngainft England, the Spaniards attacked and poffeffed them-
feives of all the Englifli pofts and fettlements on the MiflTifrippi,
from the Iberville up to the Yazoos river, including the Nat-
chez country ; and by virtue of this conquefk are now peopling
and governing an extent of country three degrees north of the
United States' louth boundary,- and claiming authority which
no treaties v?arrant. This alone will probably be deemed fuf-
ficient caufe for the United States to join with any other power
againft Spain, the firfi; opportunity, as they conceive thefe terri-
tories belong to them by treaty. In fuch cafe, the Kentucky
fountry alone could, in one week, raife a iufficient force to con-\
quer all the Spanifli pofTefhons on the MillifTippx ; whil'ft one
thoufand men would be equal to defend the whole country of
New-0:leans and Louiftarfe from any enemy approaching it by
fea. The greater a hoftile fleet entering the Mifliffippi, the
greater a^nd more certain would be their deftruftion, if oppofetj
by men of knowledge and relblution.,*
* The following extraft of a letter from a gentleman at I^cw-Orlcans, dated-
September, 1790, contains much ufclul infoi'mation, rn confirmation of the
above :
I " WbcQ I left you and my other friends at BahimoFc, lafiyear, f promifed
(o write to you by every opportunity, and to communicate to you every in-
oimalion which I could derive from my cxcurfion to the Oliio, down thK
LOUISIANA. 75
New-Orleans {lands on the eaft fide of the M'lflTiffippi, one
hundred and five miles from its mouth, in latitude 30 2
north. In the beginning of the year 1787 it contained about
beautiful ftream, during my ftay at Kentucky and the wcftern polls, my vifit
to the Illinois and the different fettlements on the Miffiflippi, from thence down
to New-Orleans.
" As I have devoted more than twelve months in making this tour, with the
dcterrainatisn to judge for myfelf, and to give you and my other friends in-
formation to be depended upon, regarding the climate, foil, natural produce
tions, population, and other advantages and difadvaiH'igeS) which you may de-
pend on finding in the country I have palled through, I cannot, within the nar»
row bounds of this letter, comply with my intention, and your wifli, out 1
muft beg of you to reft fatisfied with what followa : •
»♦**»»♦»«*•*»»***♦****
«« Nearly oppfite to Louifville is a ftockade fort, garrifoncd by two compa-
nies of the firft United States regiment. Wiiat ufe this pod is of, I never could
learn.— -It is a mere hofpital in the fummer feafon, and the grave of brave men,
who might be ufcfully employed elfewhere. Fort Harmar is as remarkably
healthful ; fo is the New-England feitlement at Mufkingum ; and I thmk tna
Miami fettlement will be heahhful when the people have the comforts of good
living about them ; at prcfent they are the pooreft among the poor emigrants to
this country, and not the beil managers. Below the tails on the weft fide, is a
vjiiferablc fettlement, called Clarkefville, frequently flooded, and coinpofcd of
a people who cannot better themfelves at prefcnt, or I fuppofc they would not
continue here. From thence I made an excurfion by land to Poft Vincent, dii- •
tant about one hundred miles : the fon here is garrifoned by two companies, at
great expcnfc, but little ufe. Not liking the country ow account of the many
hoftile neighbouring Indians, Ihaftcned out of it, and went with a paityof French-
men to Kaikaikias, in the Iljirjois country, and vifited Prairie des Rochers, St.
Phillip's, Belle Fontaine, and Kahokia ; from whence making up a party to
purfue fome hoftile Kukapoos, and fleering due eaft, we fell on the head waters
•f the Kafkafkia river, which we cx-offed at iome diftance. This is a delig^ful
country ! On our return to Kahokia, I crofted over to St. Louis, on the 6pa!iin-i
fide, but I did not proceed far iato the country ; what I did fee I did not like,
and therefore bought a canoe and went down the Milfiffippi to St. Genevieve
and the Saline. Not being pleafed with thefe places, nor the country around, I
embraced the company of fome French hunters and traders going towards the
St. Francis river, in a fouth-weft dire£lion from St. Genevieve. After travelling
thirty miles nearly, I came to a fwcet country ; here meeting with fome Shawa-
nefe Indians going to I'Ance la Graifc, and New-Madrid, I made them a f'mall
prefcnt, and engaged them to efcort me there, which they did through a country
fine and beautiful beyond defcription ; variegated by fmall hills, beautiful tim-
ber, and extenfivc plains of luxuriant foil. Here the Spaniards are building a
handfome fort, to encourage the fettlement by Americans, on a plan of Colonel
Morgan's, of Ncw-Jerfey, which, had it been purfued, as propofed by him,
would have made this the firll in all the wcftern country ; but they have de-
viated from it, fo much as to difcourage the fettlement, and many have left it.
The banks of the MifTifTippi overflow above and below the town, but ih.c coun-
try bask from the river is incomparably beautiful aud fiiic. I laade c to'ui- b^^ck
76 GENERAL DESCRIPTION &c.
one thoufand one hundred houfes, feven-eights of which were
confumed by fire in the fpace of five hours, on the 19th of
March, lySS. It is now rebuilt. Its advantages for trade
are very great. Situated on a noble river, in a fertile and
healthy country, within a week's fail of Mexico by fea,' and as
near to the Britifh, French, and Spanifli Weft-India iflands^
with a moral certainty qf its becoming the general receptacle
for the produce of that extenfive and valuable country, on the
Miflsfiip'pi 3nd Ohio ; theie circumftances are fufHcient to en-
fure its future growth and commercial importance.
The greater part of the white inhabitants are Romaii Catho-
lics ; they are governed by a viceroy from Spain •, the number
of inhabitants is unknown.
to the river St. Francis, diflant about twenty-eight or thirty miles, and returned
\>y anoiher route more fouthward, to my great fati^faftion. Expreffing to fome
of the people, at New-Madrid, iny furprife at Coionel S***'s account of this
country, I was told that he never went one hundred yards back from the river,
either on the Ohio or MiffilTippi, except once, and that was at rAftce la Graife,
tvhcrc a horfe was provided for him, and he rode fifteen or twenty miles, and
returned fo enraptured with the country, that hp would not lillen to the propof^
ed fettlement of New-Madrid being fixed at any other place ; and he aftually ap-
plied to Colonel Morgan for forty fuiveys, moft of which were executed ; and he
entered into obligations for fetilements thereon ; but the Colonel refufing to
grant him three hundred acres of the town lots, for a farm, as it would be in-
jurious to other applicants of equal merit, S*** fwore he would do every thing
in his power to injure Morgan and the fettlement; which it feems he has endea-
voured to do, to the ruin, however, of his own reputation. I am fatisfied that
the failure of this fettlement is only owing to a narrow policy in the Spanifh
government, or to a deviation from their firft plan, and not from the caufea
rec^feiited by its enemies. This is the, country, of aH others, I have feen^
which I would wilh to fettle in, had Colonel Morgan's plan been adopted, or
carried into execution ; and thoufands among the heft people of the wcllern
country would already have been fettled here. "Why it was not, I knov/ not ;
but i am told jealoufy of his fuccefs was the caufe.
" After continiiing two months in this delightful country, I proceeded to
the Natchez, which has already become a confiderable fettlement, and is now
under the government of Don Gayofo, a man greatly beloved ; but the Spanifh
government, though I think it liberal at prefent, will not long agree with
American ides of liberty and juftice ; and a revolution is now in embryo, which
a linail tnaitcr will blow to a flame; and Ntw-Orleans itfelf will be at the
iiiercy of new fubjcfts, if joined by a handful of the KeiUufky people.
( n )
MEXICO, on NEW-SPAIN.
M.
-EXICO is fituatcd betv/een 9^ and 4(5° north-latitude,
and 18" and 50° weft-longitude. Its length is two thoufand
one hundred miles, and breadth one thoufand fix hundred.
It is bounded on the north, by unknown regions ; on the eaft,
by Louifiana and' the gulph of Mexico ; on the fouth by the
ifthmus of Darien, which feparates it from Terra Firma iri
South- America ; and on the weft, by the Pacific Ocean.
This vaft country is divided into three grand divifions, viz,
J, Old-Mexico. 2. New-Mexico Proper. 3. Cali-
fornia, lying on the weft, and a peninfula.
OLD-MEXICO.
The ancient kingdom of Mexico, properly fo called, was
divided into feveral provinces, of which the vale of Mexico
itfelf was the fineft in every refpeft. This vale is furroundcd
by verdant mountains, meafuring upwards of one hundred and
twenty miles in circumference at their bafe, A great part of
it is occupied by two lakes, the upper one of frefh water, but
the lower one brackifh, communicating with the former by
means of a canal. All the water running from the mountains
is coUefted in this lower lake, on account of its being in the
bottom of the valley ; hence it was ready, when fweiled by
extraordinary rain, to overflow the city of Mexico. This
delightful region contained the three imperial cities of Mexico,
Acolhuacan, and Tlacopan ; belides forty others, with innume-
rable villages and hamlets ; but the moft confiderable of thefe,
according to Clavigero, now fcarcely retain one twentieth part
of their former magnificence. The principal inland provinces
to the northward were the Otomies ; to the fouth-weft the
Malatzincas and Cuillatecas ; to the fouth the Tlahuicas and
Cohuixcas ; to the fouth-eaft, after the ftates of Itzocan, Jauh-
tepac, Quauhquecollon, Atlixco, Tehuacan, and others, were
the great provinces of the Mixtecas, the Zapotecas, and the
Chiapanccas ; towards the eaft were the provinces of Tepayacac,
the Popolocas. and Totonacas, The maritime provinces on the
78 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
Mexican gulf were Coatzacualco and Cuetlachtlan, called by
the Spaniards Cotafla. On the Pacific Ocean were thofe of
Coliman, ZacatoUan, Tototepec, Teauantepec, and Zoconochco,
The province of the Otomies began in the northern part of
the vale of Mexico, extending through the mountains to the
north, to the diflance of ninety miles from the city of Mexico;
the principal cities being Tollan, or Tula, Xilote.pec : the latter
made the capital of the country by the Spaniards. Beyond the
fettlements of the Otomies, the country for more than a thou-
fand miles in extent was inhabited only by barbarous and wan-
dering favag«s.
The Malatzinca province contained the valley of Tolocan,
and all the country from Taximaroa to the frontier of the king-
dom of Michuacan. The valley of Tolocan is upwards of forty
miles long from foutli-eaft to north-weft, and thirty in breadth,
where broadeft. Its principal city, named alio Tolocan is
fjtuated at the foot of a high mountain covered with fnow^,
thirty miles diftant from Mexico.
The country of the Cuitlatecas extended from ncrth-eaft to
fouth-weft, upwards of two hundred miles, extending as far as
t}ie Pacific Ocean. Their capital was named Mexcaltepec,
once a great and populous city, fituated upon the lea coaft, but
of which the ruins are now fcarcely vifible. That of the
flahuicas was named Quauhnahuac, and fituated about forty
miles to the fouthward of Mexico. I'he province extended
almoft fixty miles fouthward, commencing from the fouthern
mountains of the vale of Mexico.
The country of the Cohuixcas extended on the fouthward as
far as the Pacific Ocean, through tJQat part where at preient the
port and city of Acapulco lie. It was divided into the ftates of
Tzompanco, Chilapan, Tlapan, and Tiftla ; the latter a very
i' >* and unwholeiome country. To this province belonged a
place na.ncd Tlachco, celcbrdted for its filver mines.
The proyuicc ^f the Mixiccas extended from Acatlan, a
place djilant about ouc hundred and twenty miles from Mexico,
*s far as the Pacifip Oce-iii towards the louthcaft. The inha-
i*>itants carjied on a coniiderable conimeicf, aii>i had leveral
wcU-inhabited cities and villages. To the eafl of the Mixiecas
were the Zapotecas, 10 called, from their capital Teoizapotlan.
In their diftrift was the valley of Huaxyacap, now Ojxuca, or
^Guaxaca.
The prr,vir.ce of M.iz-itlan lay to the northward of the Mix-
tecas ; and to the northwiird and eaftward of the Zapotecas was
Ch:'Ti^!"»-''U hav'rg ihcir capitals of the la.:.e na.T.c with their
MEXICO, OR NEW-SPAIN, ^g
provinces. The Chiapaneeas, Zoqui, and Queleni, were ths
lad of the Mexican provinces towards the fouth-eaft. On the
fide of the moantain Popocatepec, and around it, lay feveral
ftates of which the moft confiderable were Cholallan and
Huexotzinco. Thefe two having, with the afliftance of the
Tlafcalans, fhaken off the Mexican yoke, re-eftabliflied theix
former aviftocratical gcvernment. The Cholulans pofTeffed a
fmall hamlet called Cuitlaxcoapan, in the place where the
Spaniards afterwards founded the city of Angelopoli, which i»
the fecond in New-Spain.
To the eaftward of Cholula lay a confiderable flate named
Tepeyacae ; and beyond that the Popolocas, whofe principal
eitics were Tecamachaleo and Quechoiac. To the l©uthvvard
of the Popolocas was the ftate of Tahuacan^ bordering upoa
the country of the Mixtecas ; to the eaft, the maritime pro-
vince of Ctietlachllan ; »nd to the north, the Totonacas. The
extent of this province was one hundred and fifty mil-es, begin-
ning from the frontier of Zacatlan, a ftate diftant about eighty-
miles from the courts, and terminating in the gulf of Mexico,
Befides the capital, named Mizquihuacan, this country had the
beautiful city of Chemp©allan, fituated on the coaft of the
g^ulf, remarkable for being that by which the Spaniards entered
the Mexican empire-.
CoHman wss the moft northerly of the province on the
Pacific Ocean ; the capital, named alfo Coliman, being in lati-
tude 19, longitude 2'^° 2.'. Towards th« fouth-eafl was the
province of Zacotlan, with its capital of the fame name ; then
tame the coaft of the Cuitlatecas ; after it that of the Cohuxi-
Cans, in Which was the celebrsited port, of Acapulco, Th"e Jopi
bordered on the Cohuixca coail ; and adjoining to that the
Mixteca country, now called Xicayan ; next to that was the
large province of Tecuantepec i and laftly, that of Xocho-
nocheo.
Tliis proX'ince, the moft foutherly of the Mexican emprre,
tvas bounded on the eaft and fouth-eaft by the country of
Xochitepec, which did not belong to Mexico ; on the weft by
Tecuantepec ; and on the fouth by the ocean. The capital,
tailed alio Xoconochco, was fituated between tv.^o rivers, in 14
degrees ef latitude, and 28"' 3' of longitude. On the Mexican
gulf there were, befides the country of Totonecas, the provinces
of Cuetlachtlan and Coatzacuajco ; the latter bounded on the
eaft by the States of Tabafco, and the peninfula of Yucatan. The
pro'vince of Cuetlachtlan comprehended aJl the coaft between
^o GENERAL DESCRIPTION OP
river Alvarado and Antigua, where the province of the Toto-
necas began.
The climate of this vaft country varies much according to ths
iituation t)f its defferent parts. The maratime places are hot^
unhealthy, and moift ; the heat being fo great as to caufe peo-
ple to Iweat even in the month of January. This heat is fup-
pofed to be owing to the flatnefs of the coafts, and the accumula-
tion of fand upon them. Tlie moifture arifes from the vaft eva-
poration from the fea, as well as from the great torrants of wa-
ter defcending from the mountains. The lands which lie in
the neighbourhood of high mountains^ the tops of which arc al-
ways covered with fnow, muft of neceffity be cold ; and Clavi-
gero informs us, that he has been on a mountain not more than
twenty-five miles diftant from the city of Mexico, V/here there
was white froft and ice even in the dog day. " All the other
inland countries," fays the fame author, " where the greateft
population prevailedj enjoy a climate fo mild and benign, that
they neither feel the rigour of winter nor the heat of lummer.
It is true, in many of the countries, there is frequently white
froft in the three months of December, January, and February,
and fometimes even it fnows ; but the fmall inconvenience
which fuch cold occafions, continues only till the riling fun :
no other fire than his rays is necelTary to give warmth in winter;
no other relief is wanted in the feafon of heat but the fhade :
the fame clothing which covers men in the dog-days, defends
them in January, and the animals fleep all the year under the
open fky.
" This mildnefs and agreeablenefs of climate under the torrid
zone is the effeft of feveral natural caufes entirely unknown to
the ancients, who did not believe it to be inhabited, and not
well underftood by fome moderns, by whom it is believed unfa-
vourable to thofe who live in it. The purity of the atmofpherc,
the fmaller obliquity of the folar raySj and the longer ftay of
this luminary above the horizon in winter, in comparilon of
ether regions farther removed from the equator, concur to leffen
the cold, and to prevent all that horror which disfigures the
face of nature in other climes. During tint feafon a lerene fky
and the natural delights of the country are enjoyed j whereas
under the frigid, and even for the moft part under the temper-
ate zones, the clouds rob man of the profpeft of heaven, and
the fnow buries the beautiful produftions of the earth. No
lefs caufes combine to temper the heat of fummer. The plenti-
fy) ihowers which frequently water the earth after mid-day,
ME X IC 0, 0 R NEJV.S PAI N. Bi
Irom April or May, to September or Oftober ; the higb moun-
tains, continually loaded with fnow, fcattered here and there
through the country of Anahuac ; the cold winds which breathe
From them in that lealon; and the Ihorter flay of the fun above
the horizon, compared with the circumftances of the temperate
zone, transform the climes of thofe happy countries into a cool
and cheerful fpring. But the agreeablencfs of the climate is
coun>terbalanced by thunder ftorms, which are fiiequent in lum-
mer, particularly in the neighbourhood of the mountain of 11a!-
cala ; and by earthquakes, which are at all times felt, though
with lels danger than terror. Storms of hail are neither more
frequent nor more levere than in Europe,"
One undoubted inconvenience which Mexico has, is that or
volcanoes^ of which Clavigero enumerates five. One named
by the Spaniards Volcon d'Orizaba, is higher than the peak of
TenerifFe, according to the account of the Jeiuit Tallundier,
who meafured them both. It began to fend foith fmoke in the
year 154,5, and continued burning for twenty years, but has not
diicovered any fymptoms of eruption fincc that time. It is of
a conical figure, and by reafon of its great height, miy be feerx
at fifty leagues diftance. The top is always covered with fnow,
but the lower part with woods, of pine and other valuable tim-
ber. It is about ninety miles to the eaftward of the capital.
Two other mountains, named Popocatepec and IztnccihuatI,
which lie near each other^ at the diftance of thirty-three miles
to the fouth-caPc of Mexico, arc likewife furprilingly higli. Cla-
vigero fuppofes the former to be higher than the highefl of the
Alps, confidcring the elevated groi^nd on which the bale of it
flands; It has a crater more than half a mile wide ; from which,
in the time of tlie Mexican kings, great quantities of fmoke and
flame iffued. In the laffc century it frequently threw out great
fhowers of alhes upon the adjacent places ; but in this century
hardly any imoak has been obferved. This mountain is named
by the Spaniards Volcan, and the otiier Sierra Nevada ; the
l.-itter has alfo fojnetimes emitted flames. Both of them have
their tops always covered with fnow in fuch quantities, that the
malTes which fall down upon the neighbouring rocks fupply the
cities of Mexico, Gelopoli, Cholula, and all the adjacent country
to the diftance of forty miles, with that commodity, of which
the coniumption is fo great, that in 1746 the impoft upon what
was conftimed in the city of Mexico, amounted to fifteen thou-
sand two hundred and twelve Mexican crowns. ; fame years after,
M
S2 GE-NERAL DESCRIPTION OF
it amounted to twenty thoufand, and is now in all probabiiriy
a great deal more. Bcfides thefe there are the two mountains
of Cohman and Tochtlan, both of whicli have occafionally
emitted fiimcs. Clavigero does not include in tiie lift of
Mexican volcanoes, either tliofe of Nicaragua or Cuatimaja,
becaufe thcfe countries were not fubjeft to the Mexican love-
reigns. Thefe of Guatimala fometimcs break forth in a moft
furious manner*, and in the year 1773 entirely deftroycd that
beautiful city. The Niearaguan volcano, called Juruyo was
only a fmall hill before the year 1760. In that year, however,
on the 29th of September, it began to burn with furious ex-
plofions, ruining entirely the fugar work, and the neighbouring
village of Guacana : and from that time continued to emit
fire and burning rocks in fuch q^uantities, that the erupteci
matters in fix years had formed themrel\es into three high
mountains^ nearly fix miles m circumference. During the
time of the firit eruption^ the afhcs were carried as far as the
city of Ouerctaro, one hundred and fifty miles diftant from
the volcano ; and at Valladolidy diftant fxxty miles from it, the
fhower was fo abundant, that the people were obliged to fweep
the houfe yards two or three times a day,
Bcfides thefe volcanoes, there are others in Mexico of a very
remarkal)le height. The great chain of mountains called
the Andes, are continued through the iflhmus of Panama,
and through all Mexico, until they are loft in the unknown
jnountains of tlie north. The moft confrderable of th:£
chain is known in MeKico by the name of Sierra Mjd)ey
particularly in Cinalo and Tarahumara, provinces no Icfs^
than one thoufand two hundred miles diftant from the ca-
pital.
Mexico is well watered by very confiderable rivers, though
rone of them are comparable to thofc of S«>ul;h-America,
Some of thele run into the gulf of Mexico, and others into
the Pac-fic Ocean, The Alvarado has its principal fource amorg
the mor.ntains of the Zapotecas, and difcharges itlelf by three
navigable mouths in the PV'Jcxican gulf, at the diftauce of thirty
miles from Vera Cruz. The Coatzocualco rifcs among the
mountains of the Mixtecas, and empties itfclf into the gulf
near the country of Onohualco, The river Chiapan, which
likewile runs into this gulf, rifes among the mountains which
feparate the diftrift of Chiapan from that of Guatimala. Tl c
Spaninrds- call this river Tabafco, by which name they alfo
called that traft of land which unites Yucatan to the Mexican-
MEXICO, OR NEW-SPAIA\ §3
continent. It waa alfo
lliJlilhtion, though undoubtedly of an inferior quality ; nor
do they regard the loi's of the trees, which are very abundant ;
the ancient Mexicans were wont to extraft it alfo by decoction.
The firft parcel of this balfam brought from Mexico to Rome
was fold at one hundred ducats per ounce, and was, by the
apoftolic fee, declared to be matter fit for chrihn, though
different from that of Mecca, as Acofta and all other writers
on this fubjeft obfervc. An oil is alfo drawn from the fruit
of this tree fimilar in tafte and fmell to that of the bitter
aimond, but more acrimonious. From two other trees, named
the huaconex and maripenda, an oil was extrafted equivalent
to the balfam : the former is a tree of a moderate height, the
wood of which is aromatic, and fo hard, that it will keep
frefh for feveral years, though buried under the earth : the
leaves are fmall and yellow, the flowers likewife fmall and
white, and the fruit fimilar to that of the laurel. The oil
was diflilied from the bark of the tree, after breaking itj and
keeping it three days in fpring water, and then drying it in
the fun : the leaves likewife aflorded an agreeable oil by dif-
tilla'tion. The maripenda is a fhrub with lauceolated leaves,
the fruit of a red colour when ripe, and refembling the grape.
The oil is extrafted by boiling the branches with a mixture of
Ibme of the fruit.
The trees producing liquid amber, the liquid ftorax of the
Mexicans) is of a large fize, the leaves fimilar to thofe of
the maple, indented, white in one part and dark in the other, '
difpofed of in .threes } the fruit is thorny and round, but
polygonous, witli the furface and the angles yellow ; the bark
of the tree partly green and partly tawny. By inrilions in
the trunk they extract that valuable fubflance named liquid
amber, and the oil of the fame name, which is ftill more
valuable. Liquid amber is likewife obtained from a decoc-
tion of the branches, but it is inferior to that obtained from
the trunk.
The name copalli in Mexico is generic, and common to all
the rehns, but elpecially iigniftes thofe made ufe of for incenfe»
There are ten Ipecies of thefe trees yielding refins of this
kind, the principal of which is that from which the copal
is got, fo well known in medicine and Varnifhes. A great
quantity of this was made ufe of by the ancient Mexicans, and
is flill ufed for hinilar purpofes by the Spaniards. The
tecopalli, or tepecopalli, is a refin fimilar to the incenfe of
Arabia, which diflils from a tree o^ moderate fize that grows
N
90 GENERAL DESCRIPTION 01^
in the mountains, having a fruit like an acorn, and containing
the nut inveloned in a mucilage, within which' there is a
fmall Tterrial ufefiiT in medicine.
The miz(:]'.mr,' or mezquite, is a fpecies of true acacia, and
the gum diilllling from it is faid to be the. true gum ara,
bic : It is a thbrhy 'flirub, Vi'ih branches irregularly difpofedy
tiie leaves fiTriall, thin, and pinnated; the flowers being like
thofe of the birch tree : the fruits are fweet and eatable, con-*
taining a feed, of which the barbarous Chichemecas were wont
to m-'ke a kind of pafte that ferved them for bread. The wood
is exceedingly hard and heavy, and the trees are as common in
Mexico as oaks are in Europe, particularly on hills in the tem-
|)er2te countries.
Of the elaflic gum, v^^hich is found in plenty in Mexico, the
natives w'ere in ufe to make foot-bails, which, though heavy,
Ivve a better fpring than thofe filled with air. At prefcnt they
^'^arnifh with it their hats, cloaks, boots and great ' coats,'' in "a
manner fimilar to what is done in Europe with \vsx, and by
■Vvhich means ihey are rendered all water proof.
Clavigero laments, that the natural hiftory of vegetables in
Mexico is very little known, and that of animals no better.
The firft Spaniards, fays he, who gave them nameSj were more
fkilful in the art of war than in the ftudy of nature. Inftead
of retaining the terms which would have been moft proper,
thev denominated many animals tygers, wolves, beais, dogs,
fquirrels, Sec. althougli they were very different in kind, merely
from fome refemblance in the colour of their fkin, their figure,
or fome fimilarity in habits and difpofition. The quadrupeds
found in Mexico at the arrival of the Spaniards, were lions,
tygers, wild cats, bears, wolves, foxes, the common flags, white
flags, bucks, wild goats, badgers, pole-cats, weafels, martins,
f'f"^^lSpain,
Iti' rrianr other points, he alfo controverts the opinions of this
celebrated naturalift, who will not allow the lion, tyger or
rabbit, to be riatives of America*
MEXICO, OR NEW-S PAIN. 91
The animals which are common to Mexico, with the other
parts of the continent, are, the Mexican hog, the moufele, the
opofTum, the armadillo, the techichi, a fmall animal relembhng a
dog, which being perfeftly dumb, gave occaTion to a report, that
the Mexican dogs could not bark. The fiefli of this animal was
eat by them, and was efteemed agreeable and nouiifhing food.
After the conqueft of Mexico, the Spaniards having neither
large cattle nor flieep, provided their markets with this qua-
^druped, by which me^ns the fpecies foon came to be extintl,
jthough it had been very numerous-. The land-fquirrel is veiy
numerous in the kingdom of Michuacan, has great elegance of
form, and is extremely graceful in its movement ; but it can-
not be tamed, and bites moll furiouily every perfon who ap-
proaches it.
Befides thefe, there are fea-lions, raccoons, and that voracious
animal named the tapir. There are likewife great numbers of
monkeys of many different kinds, Tome of which have heads re^
fembling thofe of dogs ; fome of them are ftrong and fierce^
equalling a man in ftature when they ftand upright.
Among the animals peculiar to Mexico, is one named by
Clavlgero coynto, which appears to have been inaccurately
defcrfbcd by natural hiftorians, fome making it one fpecies and
fome another. The tlalcojotl, or tlalcoyoto, is about the fize
of a middling dog, and in Clavigero's opinion, is the largefk
animal that lives under the earth. The tepeizuintli, or a m«un-
tain-dog, though it is but of the fize of a Imall dog, is lo bold
".that it attacks deer, and fometimes kills them. Another animal,
larger than the two foregoing, is called the xoloitzcuintli ; fome
of thefe are no lefs than four feet in length : it has a face like
j^ .the dog, but tufks like the wolf, with ereft ears, the neck grols,
and the tail long : it is entirely deflitute of hair, except only
the fnout, where there are fome thick crooked briftles : the
^^iwhole body is covered with a fmooth, foft, aflicoloured flcin,
.fpotted partly with black and tawny. This fpecies of animals,
. as well as the two former, are almofl; totally extinft. A Lyn-
cean academician, named Giovanni Fabri, has endeavoured to
,, prove, that the xoloitzcuintli is the fame with the wolf of
; Mpxico ; but this is denied by Clavigero.
An animal called ocotochtli, a kind of wild cat, is remarka-
ble more for the fabulous account of it, than for any Angular
prQgerty,with which it is really endowed. According to Dr.
Hernandez, when this creature takes any prey, it covers it
N ?
92 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
with leaves, and afterwards mounting on fome neighbouring
tree, it begins howling to invite other animals to eat its prey,
being itfelf, always the laft to eat, becaufe the poifon of its
tongue is fo flrong, that if it ate firft the prey would be infeft-
ed,-.and other animals which eat of it would die. To the f©
muft be added a curious animal of the mole kind, which is
called tozan, or tuza ; it is about the fize of an European mole,
but very different otherwife.*
The birds are fo numerous, and of fuch various appearances
and qualities, that Mexico has been called the country of
birds as Africa is of quadrupeds. Though Hernandez palTes
over a great number of fpecies, he yet delcribes above two
hundred peculiar to the country. He allows to the eagles and
hawks of Mexico a fuperiority over thofe of Europe ; and the
falcons of this country were formerly efteemed fo excellent,
that, by the dcfire of Philip II. an hundred of them were
ient every year over to Spain. The largefl, the moft beautiful,
and the moft valuable kind of eagles is called by the Mexicans
itzquauhili, and will purfue not only the larger kind of birds,
but quadrupeds, and even men.
The aquatic birds are very numerous and of great variety :
there are at leaft twenty Ipecies of ducks, a vaft number of
geefe, with Several kinds of herons, great number of fwans,
quails, water-rails, divers, king's fifhers, pelicaps, &c. The
multitude of ducks is fometimes fo great, that they cover the
fields, and appear at a diftance like flocks of flieep. Some
of the herons and egrets are perfeftly white, fome afh-colour-
ed : others have the plumage of the body white, while
the neck, with the tops and upper part of the wings, and
part of the tail, are enlivened with a bright fcarlet, or beau-
tiful blue.
There are a great number of birds valuable on account of
their plumage, which was made ufe of by the Mexicans in
their excellent Mofaic works, an art which feems now to be
totally loftk Peacocks have been carried from the old contiirent
to Mexico :. but not being attended to, have propagated very ;:
llowly. The birds remarkable for their fong are likewilel;?.
very numerous; among which that called the cci"itzorvitl,\>.£
by Europeans the mocking-bird, is the moft remarkable, on ■
account of its counterfeiuiig naturtilly the notes of all other*
it hears. ;;'
,,.■>. I'-C-
*'For *pQfc particular account of ihcfe animals fee HiHory of (Quadrupeds .,;
annexed.
MEXICO, OR }^'EW-SPAIN. 93
Mexico, like all other American countries, abourrds with
reptiles, many of them of an enormous fizc. The crocodiles
are not lefs to be dreaded than thofe of Africa or Afia ; and
there are likewife fome of thoie monflrous ferpents met witlx^
in the Eaft-Indies and in South-America, though happily the
Ipecies of thofe terrible creatures leems to be nearly extinft^
as they are feldom to be found but in fome lolitary wood, or
other remote place. There are great numbers of lizards, fome
of which the people fuppofe to be poifonous ; but others think
this opinion ill-founded. There are feveral kinds of poifonous
' ferpents, of which the rattle-fnake is one. The cenocoatl is
another poifonous ferpent, and remarkable for having a lumi-
nous appearance in the dark ; by which, as by the rattle in the
tail of the former, travellers are warned to avoid it. Among
the harmlefs fnakes is a very beautiful one about a foot in
length, and of the thicknefs of the little finger ; it appears to
take great pleafure in the fociety of ants, infomuch that it will
accompany thefe infefts upon their expeditions, and leturn
with them to their ufual neft ; it is called both by the Mexicans
and Spaniards the " mother of the ants ;" but Clavigero fup-
' pofes, that all the attachment which the fnake fhews to the
fint-hills proceeds from its living on the ants themfelvcs. The
ancient Mexicans were wont to take delight in keeping an
harmlefs green fnake, which they catched in the fields, and
which, when well fed, would grow to the length of five or fix
feet. It was generally kept in a tub, which it never left but
to receive food from the hand of its mailer ; and this it would
take either iriOunted on his fhoulder or coiled about his legs.
The aquatic animals are innumerable. Clavigero mentions a
fpecies ot frogs fo laige that a fingle one will weigh a pound,
and which are excellent food. Of fifh proper for food, he
fays, that he has counted upwards of one hundred fpecies,
without,.t3lviiig in the turtle, crab, lobfler, or any other crufta-
ceous animal.
Of flying and other minute infefts the number is prodi-
gioufly great. There are a variety of beetles ; fome of a green
colour make a great noife in flying, on which account children
are fond of them. There are great numbers of fliining beetles,
which make a., delightful appearance at night, as well as the <
luminous flies which abound in the country. There are fix
kinds of bees and four kinds of wafps ; of which laft, one
eoUefts wax and honey of a very Iweet tafte : another is cal-
led the; %'ahderihg wafp, from its frequent change of abode;
9.4
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
and in confequcnce of thf-fe changes, it is conftantly employed
in coJ)e£iing materials for its habitations. There is alfo a black
iiornet with a red tail, the fting of which-is fo large and ftrong,
that it will not only penetrate a fngar-cane, but even the trunk
of a tree. The lake of Mexico abounds with a kind of flv,
the eggs or which are depofited upon the flags and rufhes in
fuch q^aantities as to form large maffes ; thefe are collefted by
the fiihcrmen, and carried to market for fale :' they are eaten by
both Mexicans and Spaniards, and have much the fame tafte as
the cavijire of fifh : the Mexicans eat alfo the flies themfelves,
ground and made up \\'ith falt-petre. There are abundance of
gnats in the moift places and lakes, but the capital, though
fuuated upon a lake, h entirely free from them. There are
other flies whicli make no lioife in their flight, but caufe a vio-
lent itching l;y their bite, and if the part be fcratched, an open
wound IS apt to enfue. The butterflies are in vaft numbers,
and. their wings glow with colours far fuperior to thofe of
Europe ; the figures of f(ime of them are given by Hernandez,
feut notWithftanding its beauties and advantages, Mexico is
lubjcft to the dreadful devaftations of locufts, which fometimes
^ccaflon.the moft deflruftive famines.
There are fome of the worm.s of Mexico made ufe of by the
inhabitants as food, others are poifonous. There are great
numbers of fcolopendrce and fcorpions, lome of the former
growing to an immenfe fize. Hernandez fays, that he has feen
iom^ Q,f them two feet long and two inches thick. The fcor^
pipns a,re ypvy numerous, and in the hot parts of the country
their poifon is fo fl;rong as to kill children, and give terrible pain
to adults. Their fling is moft dangerous during thofe hours of
the d:v in which the fun is hocteft. In the province of
^^liehuacim is a lingular fpecies of ant, larger than the common
ione, with a greyifn body and black head ; «m its hinder part
is a little bag full of a Iweet lubftance, of which children are
very fond : the Mexicans luppole this to be a kind of honey
collefted by the infeft; hut Clavigero thinks it miher is its
eggs. There is a mil'chicvous kind of tick, which in the hot
countries abounds among the gra(s : from thence it . e^Cdy .gets
upon the clothes, and from them upon tlic flcin ; there it fixes
with fuch force, from the particular figure of its feet^ that it
can (carecly be got off: at firft it fcems nothing but a fmalli black
^P?cl^,, but .jn, a fliort time enlarges to luch a degree, from the
blood which it fucks, that it equals the fize oi a bean, and
then aflfumcs a leaden colour. Oviedo lays, that the beft and
MEXICO, 0 R NE IV-SP A IN. g^
fcfeft n-ietTiod of getting fpeedily lid of it is by anointing
the part with oil, and then fcraping it with a knife. If it is
not fpeedily removed, a wound is made fimilar to' inat'wKicTi
the nigera or chegoe makes. The following infcfts were eaten
by the ancient Mexicans : i. The atelepitz, a m-ardi beetle, re- •
ferntli^ig in fhape and fi.ze the flyaig beetles, having fotft^' f?£t.
and covered with a hard fhell. 2. The atopinan, a marfh grafs-
hopper of a dark colour and great lize, being not lefs than fix
inches long and two broad. 3. The ahuihuitla^ a worm which
inhabits the Mexican Like, four inches long, and of the thick-
nefs of a goofe quill, of a tawny colour on the upper part of
the body, and white upon the under part ; it flings with its
tail, which is hard and poifonous* 4. The ocuiliztac, a black
maifli-worm, which becomes white on being roafted.
Among the curious produftions of the aniraal kind to be met
with in this country, Clavigero mentions a kind of zoophytes,
wbich he faw in the year 1751, in a houfe in the country,
about ten miles from Angelopoli, towards the fouth-eaft : they
were three or four inches long, and had four very {lender feet,
with two antenna; ; but their body was nothing more than the
fibres of the leaves, of the fame fliape, fize and colour, witji
thofe of the other leaves of the trees upon which thefe creatures
were found. Gemelli defcribes another kind of thefe zoophytes
which are found in Manilla.
Mexico produces alio filk-worms ; and the manufafture of
filk might be carried on to great advantage, were it not prohi-
bited for fome political reafons. Befides the common filk, there
is another found in the woods, very white, foft and ftrong.
It grows on the trees in feveral maritime places, particularly in
dry lea Ion s : unlets by por>r people, however, this filk is not
turned to any ufe, partly from inattention to their interefts, but
>• chiefly," fays Clavigcro, " to the obftruftions which would
be thrown in the way of any one who fnould attempt a trade
of that kind. We know from Cortcs's letters to Charles V.
that filk ufed to be fold in the Mexican markets : and fome pic-
tures are flill preferved, done by the ancient Mexicans upon a
paper made of filk."
Cochineal is one of the mod valuable products of Mexico,
and great care is taken to rear the inletl in different parts;
but the beft is that which comes from the province of Mizteca:
fome have reckoned, that more than two thoufand five hundred
bagi^icrf^^oichineal are -fent «V«ry yea'r frotii'Miztdci' to Spain ;
96 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OP
and the trade in that article carried on by the city of Oaxaca
is computed at two hundred thoufand crowns value.
Though Mexico was originally inhabited by a number of
different nations, yet all of them refembled each other pretty
much, not only in charafter, but in external appearance.
" They generally rather exceed," fays Clavigero, " than fall
under the middle fize, and are well-proportioned in all their
limbs : they have good complexions, narrow foreheads, black
eyes, clean, firm, white and regular teeth ; thick, black, coarfe,
gloffy hair ; thin beards, and generally no hair upon their legs,
thighs and arms, their fkin being of an olive colour. There
is fcarcely a nation on earth in which there are fewer perfons
deformed : and it would be more difhcult to find a fingle hump-
backed, lame or fquint-eyed man among a thoufand Mexicans,
than among an hundred of any otlier nation. The unpleafant-
nefs of their colour, the fmallnefs of their foreheads, the
thinnefs of their beards, and the coarfenefs of their hair, are
fo far compenfated by the regularity and fine proportion of
their limbs, that they can neither be called very beautiful nor
the contrary, but feem to hold a middle place between the
extremes : their appearance neither engages nor difgufts ; but
among the young women of Mexico there are many very beau-
tiful and fair, whole beauty is at the fame time rendered more
winning by the natural fweetnefs of their manner of fpeaking,
and by the pleafantnefs and natural modefty of thfir whole
behaviour. Their fenfes are very acute, efpecially that of
fight, which they enjoy unimpaired to the latefh age. Their
conftitutions are found and their health robuft : they are en-
tirely free of many diforders which are common among the
Spaniards ; but of the epidemical difeafes to which their coun-
try is occafionally fubjeft they are generally the viftims : with
them thefe difeafes begin, and with them they end. One never
perceives in a Mexican that ftinking breath which is occa-
fioned in other people by the corruption of the humours or
indigeftion : their conftitutions are phlegmatic ; but the pitui-
tous evacuations from their heads are very fcanty, and they
feldom fpit. They become grey-headed and bald earlier than
the Spaniards ; and although moft of them die with acute
difeafes, it is not very uncommon among them to attain the
age of an hundred. They are now, and ever have been,
moderate in eating, but their palTion for ftrong liquors is
carried to the greateft exccfs : formerly they were kept within
bounds by the feverity of the laws, but now that theie liquors
M'E ,\ I C 0, OR NE W- S P A I N, 9 7
g're 'become fo common, and drunkennefs is unpunifhci^, one-half
bf 'the' people fecm to have loft their fenfes ; and.this, tr-gctheii:
with the poor manner in wliich they live, cxpof«?d to all; the
baneful nnpreffions of difeafe, and dellitute of tlie means of cor-
I'etlint them,, is undoubtedly the principal caufe ot tlic h.i'/oj
iv^'ich'is mi'ade amoncr them by epidemical dilordcrS. •
' ■" Many perfons allow the Mexicans to poffcfs a great' talent^
6f 'imUritidn, but deny them that of inventixm ; a vulgar errorj^-
wlfi'cn is_ cphtradifted by the ancient hiftory of*, tnat" pcopfe.
Th'e'iPmiirfd^ are affcfted by the fame variety bf oaftion's vvitk
tJ-rbfe bf ether nations, but not to an equal degree • the Mexicani'
feldbm exhibit thole franfports of anger, or frenzies of love,
■ivlii'ch'^r'e' fb cofTimon in other countries. They are flow in tlieii'
motioiis, ahd fHev^' a v^^onderful tenacity and ftcaJinefs in thofs,
Works vvhich require time and long-continued attention. They
are "liioft patient of injury and hardfhip, and where tKey .fufpeft
tio evil intention, are moft grateful for any kindnefs fhewn; but
fome Spaniards, who cannot diftinguifli patience from infenfi-
b'ility, noi: diflruft from ingratitude, fay proverbially, that the,
Indians are alike infenfible to injuries or benefits. That habitual
diftruft which thej' entertain of all who arc not of their nation,
prompts them often to lye and betray ; fo that good faith cer-
tainly has not been refpefted among them fo much as it deferves.
They aJ-e by nature tacituin, ferious and auftere, and fnew more
anxiety to punifli crimes than to reward virtue.
" Generofuy and perfeft dlfintereflednefs aj-e the principal
features of their chara£?:er. Gold, with the Mexicans, lias not
that value Which it enjoys elfewhere. They feem to give with-
out reluftance what has coft ihem the utmofl labour to acquire.
The negleft of felfifh interefts, with the diflike which they bear
to their rulers, and confequently their averfion to perform the!
{afks impofed by them, leem to have been the only grounds ol"
that much exaggerated indolence with which the Americans have
been charged; and, after all, there is no let of people in that
Country who labour nioiCj or whofe labour is more neceffarv.
The refpeft'pald by the young people to the old, and by chil-
dren to their parents, feem to be feelings that are born with
them. Pa;f nts are veiy fond of their children ; but the aiFeftion
which hufljands bear to iheir wives is certainly lefs than that
which wives bear to- their hufbands ; find it i^ very, common
for the mei) to icve their neighbour s wives better than theif
o
58 CF.NERAL DESCRIPTION Ot
" Courage aiid cowardice feem alternately fo to afFe^ their
tninds, that it is often difficult to determine whether the one
or the other predominntes : they meet dangers with intrepidity
•tvhen they proceed from natural caufes, but are eaftly terrified
fcy the f^ern look of a Spaniard. That ftupid indifference
about death and eternity, which many authors have thought
inherent in the cha rafter of every American, is peculiar only
to thofe" who are yet fo rude and uninformed as to have no idea
of a future flatc."
Thus much with rcfpef^ to the general charafter of the
Mexicans ; but Cfavigero obfervcs, that " the modern Mexi-
cans are not in all refpefts fimilar to the ancient, as the Greeks
of thefe days have little refemblance to thofc who lived in
the times of Flato and Pericles. The antient Pvlexicans fhewed
more -fire, and were more fenlible to the impreiTions of honour ;
theV were more intrepid, more nimble, more aftive, more
induftrious ; but they were at the fame time more fuperftitious
and cruel."
The principal inhabitants of Mexico, in modern times, ar^
Spaniards fent thither by the court, to fill the ports of govern-
tnent. "^ They are obliged, like thofe in the mother country
who afpire to any ccclefiaftical, civil or military employments*
lo prove, that there have been neither heretics, Jews, Mahom-
medans, nor any perfon in their family who have been called
before the inquifition for four generations. Merchants who
are deflrous of going to Mexico, as well as to other pnrts of
America, without becoming colonif^s, are compelled to obferve!
the lame forms : they are alfo obliged to fwear that they have;
three hundred palms of merchandile, their own property, in
the fleet in which they embark, and that they will not Carry
their wives with them. On thefe abfurd conditions they be-'
ccrriP the principal agents of the European commerce with the
Jpdics, Though their charter is only to continue three years
and a little longer for countries more remote, it is of great
importance. To them alone belongs the right of felling, as
commillioners, the major part of the cargOj If thefe laws
were obiervcd, the merchants flationed in the new world
would be confined to difpofe of what they have received on
their own account.
The prcdilcftion \^ hich the adrniniflratioTi has for Spaniards
born in Europe, has reduced the Spanifh Creoles to acquiclce
in fubordinate ftations. The defcendants of the companions of
Cortes, and of thoie wlio caime after them, being conflantly
excluded from all places of honour or of Iruft that were anv
MEXICO, OR NEWS P A IN. 99
way confiderable, have feen the gradual decay of the power that
fupported their fathers. The habit of being obliged to bear that
unjuft contempt with which they have been treated, has at lid
made them become really contemptible. They have totally loft,
in the vices which originate from indolence, from the h^at of
the clinjate, and from a fuperfluous enjoyment of all things, that
jfirmnefs and that fort of pride which have ever cliarafterifed
their nation. A barbarous luxury, fhameful pLeafures, and ro-
mantic intrigues, have enervated all the vigour of their minds, and
fupefflition hath completed the ruin of their virtues. Blindly
devoted to priefls too ignorant to enlighten them by their in-
itruftions, too depraved to edify them by their example, and too
mercenary to attend to both thefe duties of their funftion, they
have no attachment to any part of their religion but that which
enfeebles the mind, and have neglcfted what might have centric
buted to reftify their morals.
The Meftees, who conftitute the third order of citizens, are
Jield in ftill greater contempt. It is well known that the
court of Madrid, in order to replenifh a part of that dreadful
vacancy which the avarice and cruelty of the conquerors had
occafioned, and to regain the confidence of thofc who had ef-
caped their fury, encouraged as much as pofTible the marriage
of Spaniards with Indian v^omen : thefe alliances, which be-
came pre'.ty common throughout all America, were particularly
frequent in Mexico, wlaere the women had more underftanding
and were more agreeable than in other places. The Creoles
transferred to this mixed progeny the contemptuous flight they
received from the Europeans. Their condition, equivocal at
ft: ft, in procels of time was fiyed between the whites and the
blacks.
Thefe blacks are not very numerous in Mexico. As the ne-
tive.s are more intelligent, more robuft and more induihrious,
than ,thofe of the other colonies, they have hardly introduced
any Africans except fuch as were required either to indulge
the caprice, or perform the domeftic lervjce of rich people.
Thefe flaves, who are much beloved by their mailers, on whom
they abfolutely depend, who purchafed them at an extravagant
price, and who make them the minifters of their plcafures,
take advantage of the high favour they enjoy to opprefs the
Mexicans: they alfume oyer thele men, wlio are called //-ee, a^i
aicendency which keeps up an implacabje hatred between the
t,wo nations. The law has fludied to encourage this averfion.
by taking effcaual mealures to p-cvent all cor^ncQAon bciwcLni
O 2
leo GENEP^AL DESCRIPTION OF
them;v' Negroes are piohibitcd from having any amorous cor-
relpondence with the Indians ; the men on pain of being
mutikted ; the women, of being feverely punifned. Gn all
thefe accounts, the Africans, who in other fettlements are
enemies tc Europeans, are in the Spanifii Indies their war.m
•frieiidsi, .1
■': Authority hts no need of this iuppoit, at leafl in Mexico,
iv'her< .population is no longer what it was formerly. The firli
Jiilloiians, and thofe who copied them, have recorded, that
the ,$j,.:niards found there ten millions of fouls. This is fup-
pofed to have been the exaggerated account of conquerors, to
exalt' ;iiie, nidgniiicence of their triumph ; and it vv-as adoptedj
without examination, with fo much the more readinefs, as it
rendered them the more odious. We need only trace with
attention (.lie progrels of thofe ruffians who at firft delolated
thefe fine countries, in order to be convinced that they had not
(uccceded in multiplying men at Mexico and the adjacent parts,
but by depopulating tl.e center of the empire t and that the pro^'
vinces which are remote from the capital, differed in nothing
from the other deferts of South and North- America. It is
ricking a great conceuion, to allow that the population of
Mexico lias only been exaggerated . one-half, for it does not
now much exceed two millions.
It is generally believed, that the f.ift conquerors maffacred
the Indians out of wantonnefs, and that even the priefts incited
them to thefe a£ls of ferocity. Undoubtedly thefe inhuman
foluiers frequently filed blood without even an apparent motive ;
and certainly their fanatic miflionaries did not cppof'c thefe
barbarities as they ought to have done. This was not, however,
the rc^l caufe, the principal 'fource of the depopulation "of
Mexico ; it was the work of a flow tyranny, and of that avarice
wliich exafted from its wretched inhabitants more rigorous
toil than was compatible with their conftitution and the
clniiatc.
This oppreffion was coeval with the conqucfl of the country.
All the lands were divided between tlie crown,- '^h^ tom-
pan,ions of Cortes, and the grandees or minifters wHd were
mod in favour at the court of Spain. The Mexicans, appoint-
ed to the royal domains, were deftincd* to public labours,
which originally were confiderable. The lot of thbffe who
were employtd on the eftates of individuals vi'as -'flPlT iriore
wretched: all groaned under a dreadful yoke ; they;Were ill
kd, they had no wages given them, and fervices were required
of llicm, uiKler which the moft robuft n;en would have funk :
MEXICO, OR NEW-SPAIN. i©t
their misfortunes excited the compaffion of Bartholomew dc
las Cafas.
This man, fo famous in the annals of the new world, had
accompanied his father in the firft voyage made by Columbus,
The mildnefs and fimplicity of the Indians affcfted him fo
ftrongly, that he made himfejf an ecclefiailic, in order to
devote his labours to their converfion ; but this foon became
j:he leaft of his attention. As he was more a man than a prieft,
he felt more for the cruellies exercifed againft them than for
their fuperftitions. He was continually hurrying from one
hemifphere to the other, in order to comfort the people for
whom he had conceived an attachment, or to foften their tyrants.
This conduft, which made him idolized by the one, and dreadr
ed by the otlier, had not the fuccefs he expefted. The hope
of ftrikmg awe, by a charafter revered smong the Spaniards,
determined him to accept the bifliopric of Chiapa in Mexico.
When he was convinced that this dignity was an infufiicient
.barrier againft that avarice and cruelty which he endeavoured
to check, he abdicated it. It was then that this courageous,
firm, difintcrefted man, accufed his country before the tribunal
of the whole univerfe. In his account of the tyranny of
the Spaniards in America, he accufes them of having deftroyed
fifteen millions of the Indians. They ventured to find fault
with the acrimony of his flile, but no one convifted him of
exaggeration. His writings, which indicate the amiable turn
of his difpohtion, and the fublimity of his fentiments, have
ftamped a dilgrace upon his barbarous countrymen, which
time hath not, nor never will efface. '
The court of Madrid, awakened by the reprefentations of
the virtuous Las Cafas, and by the indignation of the whole
xvorld, became fenfible at lafl, that the tyranny it permitted was
Repugnant to religion, to humanity, and to policy, and refolved
to break the chains of the JTexicans. Their liberty was now
only conftrained by the fole condition, that they fhould not
quit the territory where they were fettled. This precaution
pwed its origin to the fear that was entertained of their going
to join the wandering favages to the north and fouth of the
empire.
With their liberty their lands ought alio to have been reftored
to them, but this was not done. This injuftice compelled them
to work folely for their opprefTors. It was only decreed, that
the Spaniards, in whofe fervice they laboured, Pnould ftipulate
to keep them well, and pay them to the amount of five pounds
i^ve fhillings a year,
ie2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
From thefe profits the tribute impofed by government was (uh^
trafted, together with four fhillings and four-pence ha-lf-penny
for an inflitution, which is aflonifhing the conquerors fhould
Jiave thought of eftablifhing. This was a fund let apart in each
community, and appropriated to the relief of fuch Indians as
were decayed or indilpofed, and to their fupport under private
or public calamities.
The diftribution of this fund was committed to their caciques,
Thefe were not the defccndants of thofc whom they found in
the country at the time of the conqueft;. The Spaniards chofe
them from among thofe Indians who appeared the moft attached
to their interefts, and v/ere under no appreheriQon at making
thefe dignities hereditary. Their authority was limited to the
fupporting the police in their diftrift, which in general extended
eight or ten leagues, to the collctting the tribute of thofe In-
dians who laboured on their own account, that of the others
being ftopt by the mailers whom they lerved, and to the pre-
venting their flight by keeping them always under their infpec-
tion, and not fuffering them to contraft any engagemeot without
their confent. As a reward of their fervices, thefe magi Urates
obtained from government a propertj'. They were permitted to
take out of the co^mmon ilock two-pence half-penn^/ annually,
for every Indian under their jurifdiftion. At laft they were
empowered to get their fields cultivated by fuch young men as
were not yet fubjeft to the poll-tax : and to employ girls till the
time of their marriage, in iuch occupations as were adapted to
thsir fex, without allowing them any ialary except their main-
tenance,
Thefe inllitvitions, which totally changed th« condition of
the Indians in Mexico, irritated the Spaniards to a degree not to
be conceived. Their pride would not iuffer them to confider
the Americans as free men, nor would their avarice permit thenj
to pay for labour which hitherto had coft them nothing. They
i^mployed themfelve.s fuccefhvely, or in combination, craft, re-
inonitrances, and violence, to elfeft the fubverfion of an arrange-
ment which lo fhrongly contradifted their warmcfl pafliohs ; but
iheir eftorts were ineffetlual. Las Cafas had railed up for his
beloved Indians proteftois who fecondcd his dcHgn -with zeal
^^.d warmth. The Mexicans themfelves finding a fupport, im-
peached their oppreilors before the tiibunals, and even the tri-
nunals that were either weak or in the intereft of the court,
J hey carried their reiolution fo far, as even unanimoufly
Mexico, or ne iv. s pain. lag
to refufe to work for thofe who had treated any of their coun-
trymen with injuflice. This mutual agreement, more than any
6ther circumftance, gave folidity to the regulations which had
beert decreed : the other, prefcribed by the laws, was gradually
eftabliflicd. There was no longer any regular iyilem of oppref-
fion, but merely feveral of thoi'e particular vexations which a
vanquiflied people, who have loll their government^ can hardly
avoid from thoie who have lubdued it.
Thefe clandcftine afts of injuftice did not prevent the Mexi-
cans from recovering, from time to time, certain detached por-
tions of that immenfe territory of ivhich their fathers had been
delpoiIed» They purchafed them of the royal domain^ or of the
great proprietors. It was not their labour which enabled them
to make thefe acquifitions ; for this they were indebted to the
iiappinefs of having difcovered, fome of tUem, mines, others,
trealures, which had been concealed at the time of the conqueft^
The greateft number derived their refources from the priefts and
inonks. to whom the)' owed their exiflence.
Even thofe v»^ho experienced a forturie lefs propitious, pro-
cured for themfelves, by the lole profits of their pay^ more con-
Vcnif;nce than they had enjoyed before they underwent a foreign
■yoi^C^;, We fhould be very much deceived if we fnould judgs
pf the ancient profpcrity of the inhabitants of Mexico by what
has been laid by different writers of its emperor* its court, its
capital, and the governors of its provinces* Defpotifm had
there produced thofe fatal effefts which it produces every where.
The whole ftate Was facrificed to the caprices, pleafures, and
magnificence, of a fmall number of perfons.
The government drew confiderabie advantages from the rnines
■which it caufed to be worked, and ftill greater from thofe whicli
were in the hands of individuals. The fait works greatly added
to its revenue. Thofe who followed agriculture, at the time
of harvefl; paid a kind of a third of all the produce of the lands,
whether they belonged to them as their own property, or whe-
ther tliey were only the farmers of them. Men who lived by
the chace, fifhermen, potters, and all mechanics, paid the fame
proportion of their induf^ry every month. Even the poor were
taxed at certain fixed contributions, which their labour or their
alms might put them in a condition to pay<
The Mexicans are now lefs unhapp ; European fruits, corn
and cattle, have rendered their food more wholeibme, 'agreeablf'.
104 CENEllAL DESCRlPTIOls' G F
and abundant. Their houfes are better built, better difpofed,
and better furnifhed. Shoes, drawers, fliirts, a garment of wool
or cotton, a ruff, and a hat, conftitute their drels. The dignity
tvhich it has been agreed to annex to tliefc enjoyments, has mad^
them belter economiils, and more laborious. This cafe, hbweverj
is far from being uhiverlal ; it is even very uncommon in the
vicinity of the mines, towns, and great roads, where tyranny
fcldom fleeps ; but we often find it with fatisfaftion in remote
Dartt, where the Spaniards arc not numerous, and where they
have in fome meafurc become Mexicans.
The empioymenls of this people are very various ; the moft
inlelligcnt, and thofe who are in ealy circumftances, devote
tliemlelves to the moft neccllary and moft uleful manufaftures,
which are diiperled through the whole empire. The moft beau-
tiful manufuftures are ellablilhed among the people of Tlafcal ;
their old capit.il. and (he new one, which is called Angelos, are
(he center of tliis induftry'; here they manufofture cloth that
is pretty fine, cnticofes that have an agreeable appearance, certairi
flight lilks, good hats, gold lace, embroidery, lace, glades, and
a gi'Cat deal of hard-ware.
The care of flocks afForcis a maintenance to fome Mexicans,
whom fortune or nature have not called to more diflinguifhed
employments. Arherica, at the time it was dilcovered, had nei-
ther hogs, fhecp, oxen, horfes, nor even any domeftic animal.
Columbus can icd fome of thefe ufeful animals to St. Domingo,
from whence they were generally difperfcd, and at Mexico more
than any other place ; thefe have multiplied prodigioufly. I'hey
count their horned cattle by thoufands, whofe fliins are becpmd
an objcft of confidcrable exportation. The horfes are degene-
rated, but the quality is compenlated by the number. Hog'S
laid is here fubflitutcd for butter. Sheep's wool is drj', coarlcj
and bad, as it is every where between the tro|)ic?.
The vine and olive tree have experienced the fame degene-
racy : the cultivation of them v/as at firfl: prohibited, with a
view of leaving, a free market for the commodities of the mother
couatry. Iri 1706, pejniiflloa was given to the Jefuits, and a
little afterwards to the Alarquis Del Valle, a defcendant from
Corte?, to cultivate ihem ; the attempts have not proved fuc-
cclsful. The trials, indeed, that have been ma<3e^ have not been
abandoned, but no pcrlon has folicitcd the liberty of followin'g
aQ^fx.a;npl(e whitii-. did. not promile any great cmolumems.— v
ic ■>::.■ io-.^ ^,?.' i'-v
MEXICO, OR NEVi.SP AIN, 103
Other cultures have been more fuccefsful ; cotton, fugar,
filk, cocoa, tobacco, and European corn, have all thriven in
Come degree. The Spaniards are encouraged to prolecute the
labours \vh*ch thefe cultures require, from the h;tppy circuni-
ftance of their having difcovered iron mines, which were en-
tirely unknown to the Mexicans, as well as fome mines of^ a
kind of copper that is hard enough to fcrve for implements of
hulbandry ; all thefe articles, however, for want of men and
induftry, are merely cbnfumed within the country. There is
only the vanilla, indigo, and cochineal, which make a part of
the trade of Mexico with other nations.
N E W - M E X I C O.
New-Mexico is fo called, becaufe of its being difcovered
later than Old-Mexico ; is bounded on the north by high moun-
tains, beyond which is a country altogethet linknou'n ; by
Louifiana on the eaft ; by New-Spain on the fouth ; and on the
weft by the gulph of California, and the Rio Colorado : extend-
ing, it is faid, above one hundred miles from Ciift to weil,
and about nine hundred from fouth to north; but the twerxT
tieth part oF the country within thefe limits is neither culti-
vated nor inhabited, either by Spaniards or Indians. As it lies
in the midft of the t'cmpcrate zone, the climate, in general, is
very pleafant ; the lummers, though very warm, are neither
fultry nor unwholefome ; and the 'winters, though pretty fliarp,
are far from being infupportable, and, for the moll part, clear
and healthy.
The greateft encomiums are laviflied on the fertility of the'
foil, the richnefs of the mines, and the variety of valuable
commodities produced in this country. It is faid to be beauti-
fully divcrfified with fields, meadows, rifing grounds, and
rivers; abounding with fruit and timber trees, tuii^uoifes, eme-
ralds, and other precious ftbnesj mines of gold and filver, a
great variety of wild and tame cattle, fifh and fowls. Upon
the whole, we may fafeiy affirm, that New-Mexico is among
the pleafanteft, rfeheft, and moft plentiful countries in Ame-
rica, or any other part of the world. There are few great or
navigable ri\H;rs in it : the moft confiderable are, the Rio Solado,
and Rio del None, which, with feveral fmaller ftreams, fait
into the gulph of Mexico. On the coaft of the gulph are
divers bays, ports, and creeks, which might be eafily convert-
ed into excellent harbours, if the Spaniards u'erc poffeffed of
any portion of th;.t commercial fpirit which animates the other
joaaritunc nations af Europe.
P
136 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
The Spanifh writers tell us, that New-Mexico is inhabiteti
by a great vaiiety of Indian nations or tribes, totally uncon-'
ncfted witli e;ich oilier- but the principal are the Apaches,
a brave, warlike, reiblute people, fond of liberty, and the
inveterate enemies oT tyranny and opprcfTion. About the
clofe of the laf£ century, thinking themfelves aggrieved by the
Spanifh government, they made a general infurreftion, and did
a greaJ deal of mifehief, but were at laft. obliged to fubmit, and
have fmce been curbed by flronger garrilonr. Moft of the
R^.tives are now Chriflians. When the Spaniards firfh entered
this country, they found the natives well clothed, their lands
cultivated, their villages neaf, and their houfes built with
ftone. Their flock? alfo were numerous, and they lived more
comfortably than mod of the other favages of America. Asr
^o religion, they weie idol.iters, and worfhipped the lun and
moon ; but whether (hey offered liumiin iacrilices, we are not
" lufficiently informed.
As to the number of the provinces of this^ country, we can
advance nothing certain ; foir.e writers making them only five,'
others fen, fifteen, twenty, and twenty-five, but adding no
delcription^ either of them, or the towns contained in therri,-
excepting the capital, Santa Fe, whicli we are told Hands
itiear the foarce of the Rio del Norte, in 30® nortli latitude,
and about one hundred and thirty leagues from the gulph ; that
it is a weli-bailt, haihdfomcy rich town, and the Icat of the
bilhop, fuffragan of fvlcxico, aS well as the governor of the
province, who is lubordinate to the viceroy of Mexico, ov
New- Spain.
CALIFORNIA.
California is the mofl: northerly of all the Spanllh dominions
on the continent of America, is iomctimes diftinguifhed by the
name of NcW-Albjon, and the Iflas Carabiras ; but the mof^
ancient appellation is California, a word probably owing to
foine accident, or to lorne words fpoken by the Indians and
milunderllood b)' tiie Spaniai'ds. For a long time California
was thought to be an iHand, but Father Caino, a German
Jeluit, dilcovered it to be a peninlula joining to the coaft of
New-Mexico, and the fouthern parts of America. This
peniufula extends from Cape St. Scbaftian, lying in north lati-
tude 43O 30', to Cape St. Lucar, which lies in north latitude
22°- 32'. 'It is divided from New-Mexico by the gulph, or,
as'iomfe call' it, the lake of California, or VermilUoh lea, on
the eiift ; oh the north, by that part of the continent of North-
MEXICO, OR NEW- SPA IN. i©7_
America which is leafl: known ; and on the M'eft and fouth, by
the Pacific Ocean or great South fen. The coafts, efpecially
towards the Vermillion fea, nre covered with inhabited ifl.inds,
on fome of which the Jefuits have eftabliflied lettl^nents, luch
as Sr. Clement, Pajcaros, St. Anne, Cedars, fo called from the
great number of thefe trees it produces, St, JoCeph, and a mul-
titude of others. But the iQands bed known, are three lying
oiF cape St. Lucar, towards tlie Mexican coaft. Thei'e are called
Les Tres Marias, '* the three Maries." They are but imali,
have good wood and water, fait pits, and abundance of game;
therefore the Engliflt and French pirates have fometimes win-
tered there, when bound on cruizes in the South Sea5.
As California lies altogether within the temperate zone, the
natives are neither chilled with cold nor fcorched with heat;
and, indeed, the improvements in agriculture made by the J,e-
fuits, afford flrong proofs of the excellency of the cliianate. In
ibme places the air is extremely hot and dry, and the earth wild,
rugged, arwi barren. In a country ftretching about eight iiun-
d'.ed miles in length, there niuft be a conliderable variation of
ioil and climate ; and, indeed, we find, from good authority,
that California produces fome of the mod beautiful lawns, as
well as many of the mod inhofpitable defarts in the univerfe.
Upon the whole, although California is rather rough and craggy,
we are affured by the Jeiuit Vinegas, and other good writers, that
with due culture, it furnifhes every necelTary and conveniency
of life ; and that even where the atmofphere is hotted, vapours
rihng from the fea, and difperfed by plealant breezes, render
it of a moderate temperature.
The peninfuld of California is now docked with all forts af
domedic animals known in Spain and Mexico. Horles, mules,
alfes, oxen, flieep, hogs, goats, and all other quadrupeds im-
ported, thrive and increafe in this country. Among the native
animals is a Ipecies of deer, of the fize of a young heifer, and
greatly refembling it in fhape ; the head is like that of a deer,
and the horns thick and crooked like thole of a ram. The hooJ
of the animal is large, round, and cloven, the fkin fpottecl, but
the hair thinner, and the tail Iharper than tliat of a deer. Its
flefh is greatly edeemed. There is anotlier animal peculiar to
this country, larger and more bulky than a {heep, but grently
reiembling it in figure, and, like it, covered with a fine black
or white wool. The fielh of the animal is nourifhing and
delicious, and happily for the natives, is io abundant, thai
rjothihg more is required than the trouble of hiintir>|r a^ ti^etc
aaiinals wander about in droves in the foreds 2nd oil tla^ji^G;ij(i^-
P 3
io8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
tains. Father Torquemado defcribes a Creature which he calls &
fpecies of L^rge bear, fomething like a buffalo, of the fize of a
fteer, and nearly of the figure of a ft?g ; its hair is a quarter of
a yard in leogth, its neck long and aukward, and on its fore-
head are horns branched like thole of a Ciag. Tlie tail is a. yard
in length, and half a yard in breadth, and the hoofs cloven
like thoie of an ox. With regard to birds, we have but an
impctfecl: .iccount ; only, in general, Father Venegas tells us,
th.it the coalt is plentifully ftored with peacocks, buftards, geefc,
crducs, and inoli of the birds common in other parts of the
Avotld. The quantity of fifh which refort to tliefe coafts arc
incredible. S--lrnon, turbot, barbel, (kate, mackerel, &c. arc
caught here with very little trouble ; together with pearl oyf-
ters, common oyfters, lobllers, and a variety of exquifite fhell
fifh. Plenty of turtle are alio caught on the coafts. On the
bouth lea coalls are fome fheli filh peculiar to it, and perhaps
the moll beautiful in the world; their luftre furpaffing that of
the fineft pearl, and darting their rays through a tranfparent
Varnifli of an elegant vivid blue, like the lapis lauzuli. The
fame of California for pearls loon drew forth great numbers of
adventurers, who fearched every part of the gulph, and are
ftrll employed in that work, notwlthftanding fafhion has greatly
diniinifiicd the value of this elegant natural produftion. Father
Torquemadp oblerves,- that the fea of California affords very
.rich pearl fiflieries, and' that the hoflias, or beds of oyller.<,
«ny be leen in three or four fathoms water, alaioft as plain as
it they were on the (urface.
The extremity of the penirifula towards cape St. Lucar is
more level, temperate, and fertile than the other parts, and
cbnicquentiy more woody. In the more diftant parts, even
to the fartliiift miffions on the eaft coalb, no large timber ha,^h
yet been dlfcovered. A fpecies of manna is found in this
counxfy, 'wliich, according to the accounts of the Jeluits, has
all the Tweet nif Is of refined fugar without its whitenels. The
natives firmly believe that the juice drops frcm heaven.
The Californians are well made, and very ftrong ; they aie
Yxtrcvhely pufiUaniraous, inconiiant, flnpid, and even irdenl:-
blkC, and feem defcrving of the character given to the Indians
in "general. Before the Europeans penetrated into Caliiornia,
the nail v*ts had no forjn of religion. The iniflionaries,
indeed, tdll us manv tales concerir.nig -them, but they To. evi-
dently bear tnc marks of forgerv,' a.vnotlabc worth repeatirifg.
Each nal'iou was then an aiicmbiiiige.'of . Icveral, coUaggs.ir.orc
.>r Icls'^Minerdus, thai" \vt£i=e 4i-iniaUv:3Uy': iiwufcdQiJ»uy(?4v9y ii^lii-
MEXICO.Ofi-HEW^SPAIN.. jog
gnces, but without any chief.. They were ^ftrangers.even to
filial obedience. No kind of drefs was ufed b)' the menj but
the women made ule uf fome covering, and \yere even fond
of ornamenting themfelves with pearls and fuch other trinkets
as the coiiniry afford^. What moftly diiplayed; their ingenuity
was the conflruftion of their fifhing nets, which are faid by the
Jefuits to have even exceeded irj goodnefs thofe made in Europe ;
they were made by the women, of a coarfe kind of flax procur-
ed from lome plants which grow there. Their houfes were built
of branches and leaves of trees ; nay, manv of them were only
inclofures of earth and ftone, raifed half a yard high-, without
any covering, and even thefc were fo Imall, that they could not
ftretch themfelves at length in them. In winter they dwelt
under ground, in cave§ either natural or artificial.
In 1526, Ferdinand Cortes having reduced and fettled
Mexico, attempted the conquefl of California, but was
obliged to return, without even taking a lurvey of the coun-
try, a report of his death having difpofed the Mexicans to
general infurreftion. Some other attempts were made by the
officers of Cortes, but thefe were alfo unfuccefsful, and this
valuable coaft was long neglefted by the Spaniards, who, to
this day, have but one fettlemcnt upon it. In 1595, a galleon
was fent to make difcoveries on the CaUforniai^i fhore, but
the veffel was unfortunately loft. . Seven years, after, the
Count de Monteroy, then viceroy of NewrSpain, fent
Sebaftian Bifcayno on the fame dehgn with two fhips and
a tender, but he made no difcovery of importance. lu
1684, the Marquis de Laguna, alfo viceroy of New-Spain,
dilpatched two fhips with a tender to make difcoveries on the
lake of California ; he returned with an indifferent account,
but was among the firft that afferted that California was not
an illand, which was afterwards confirmed by Father Caino, as
Already related. In iGg-y, the Spaniards being difcouraged by
their lolfes and difappointments, the Jel'uits folicited and obtain-
ed permilTion to undertake the conqueft of California. They
arrived among the lavages v/ith curiofities that might amuie them,
corn for their food, and clothes for which they could not but
perceive the neceflity. The hatred thcle people bore the
Spanifh name, could not iupport itfelf againft thefe demcnftra-
tions of benevolence. They teflified their acknowledgments as
much as their want of feafibility and their inconflancy \vouId
permit them. Thefe faults were partly overcome by the religious
inftitutors, who puilucd their projefl with a degref^.,;^f .vyarmth '
and i'efolulion peculiar to the iucielv. Thev made them-
tio GEXERAL DESCRIPTION OF
(elves carpenters, malons, weavers, and hufbandmen ; and bv
thefe means fucceeded in imparting knowledge, and in fome
rneafure a tafte for the ufeful arts, to this lavage people, who
have been all fuccefTively formed into one body. In 1745,
they compofed forty-three villages, fepa^ ,ted from each other
hy the barrennefs of the foil and the want of water. The in-
habitants of thefe fmall villages fubfifh principally on corn and
pulle, which tV^y cultivate, and on the fruits and domeftic ani-
»n-ils of -Europe, the breeding of which lad is an objcft of con^
tinu.'.l attention. The Indians have each their field, and the
property of what they reap ; but fuch is their want of fore-
fight, that they would fquander in a day what they had gathered,
if the ipifTionary did not take upon himlelf to diftribute it to
them as they flood in need of it. They manufafture fome coarle
Jluffs, and the nccellaries they are in want of arc purchafed
M'ith pearls, and with wine nearly rclembling that of Madeira,
which thev fell to the Mexicans and to the galleons, and which
experience hath Ihown the neoelTity of prohibiting in Califor-
nia. . A few laws, wliich are very fjmple, are fulHcient to re-
gulate this rifing fhate. In order to inforce them, the miflionary
cho<)feis the mod intelligent perfon of the village, who is em-
powered to whip and imprifon, the only punifliments of which
they have any knowledge. In all California, there are only two
garrilons, each confiding of thirty men, and a loldier with every
niiilionaiy ; thefe troops were chofen by the legiflators, though
they are paid bv the government. Were the court of Madrid to
pufh their intereft with half the zeal of the Jeiuirs, California
might become one of the molt valuable of their acquifilions, oji
account of the pearls and other valuable articles (jf commeice
which the country contains. At prelent, the little Spanifh town
nc?.\' cape Sr. Lucar, is made ule of for no other purpole than
as a place of lefrefliment for the Manilla fhips, and the head
rehdence of the miffionaries.
GOVERNMF.NT, COMMERCE, ^
inV the earth of the garden; Upon this foundation they lay
the lifcht bufhes which float on the lake, and overfpread the
mud and'dirt which they draw up from the bottom of the lak*/^
Iheir i-egiilar figure is quadrangular •- their length and brecdtW '
variouSj but generally about eight rods long and three wide ;
and their elevation from the furface of the water is lefs than a?"
foot. Thefc were the firfl fields that the Mexicans owned aftt^*''''
the foundation of Mexico; there th-ey firfl: cultivated the
maize, gre^t pepper, and other plants neccilary for their fup-
port. From the indull;:v of the people thefc fields foon became
njumerous. At prefent they cultivate flnwers and every fort of
garden herbs upon them. Every day of the year, at fun-rifej '
innumerable vefTels or boats, loaded with various kinds of flow-
ej's and -herbs which are cultivated in thefe gardens, are feen
arriving by the canal at the great market place of Mexico. All
plants thrive in them furprifingly ; the mud of the lake makcS
a very rich foil, vvhich requires no water from the clouds. In
the largeft; gardens there is commonly a little tree, and a little
hut to flielter the cultivator, and defend him from the fain or
the fun* When the owner of a garden, or the Chinampa, as
he is called, wilhes to change his fituation, to get out of a bad
neighbourhood, or to come nearer to his family, he gets into
his little boat, and by his own ftrength alone, if the garden is
finall, or with the anifl,ance of others, if it is large, condufts
it wherever he pleafes, with the little tree and hut iipon'^ib
That part of the ifiand whers thefe floating gardens are, is "a
place of delightful recreation, v/here the fenies receive the
hiahefl; poifible gratification.
The buildings, which are of ftone, arc coriVerileht, and trfc
public edifices, efpecially the churclies, are magnificentj and the
city has the appearance of immenfe wealth. ' ' , '■[','"
The trade of Mexico confifl^s of three great branches^' Which
; CKtend over the whole world. It carries on a traffic with' Eu-
-! rooe, by La Vera Cruz, fituated on the gulph of Mexico, on
rthe North fea ; with the Eaft-Indies, by Acapulco on the South
ieas, two hundred and ten miles fouth-wefl; of Mexico; and
. with South-America, by the fame port. Thefe two fea ports,
'-"Vera Cruz and Acapulco, are admirahlv well fituated for the
■ ." ■ , . -' . . . ; ' . .- ■ _ -:;.', rjT: {'..i^
eomtpercial jpurpoufcs, to which, tjipy were applied, _It^.i.s,by
means of the former that Mexico pours her wealth over the
Me XICO, 0 R N£ W.SP A IN, 113
■Whole world, and receives in return the numberlefs luxuries and
neeeffaries which Europe affords her. To this port the fleet
from Cadiz, called the Flota, confiding of thtee man of war, as
a convoy, and fourteen large merchant fliips, annually arrives
about the beginning of November. Its cargo confirts of almoftj
every commodity and manufafture of Europe ; and there" are
few nations but have more concern in it than the Spaniards, who
fend out little except wine and oil. The profit of thefe, with
the freight and commififion to the merchants, and duty to the
king, is all the advantage which Spain derives from the Ame,ricart
commerce. When all the goods are landed and difpo'ed of at
Ea Vera Cruz, the fleet takes in the plate, precious ftoncs, and
other commodities for Europe. Some time in M^y they are
ready to depart. From La Vera Cruz they lail to the Havannah,
in the ifle of Cuba, which is the rendezvous where they meet
the galleons, another fleet which carries on the trade of Terra
Firma by Carthag.ena, and of Peru by Panama and Porto Bello,
When all are colle^ed and provided with a convoy necelTary for
their fafety, they fleer for Old-Spain.
Acapulco is the fea pcxt by which the communication is kept
up between the different parts of the Spanifh empire in America^
and the Eafl-Indies. About the month of December, the great
galleon, attended by a large fhip as a convoy, which make the
only communication between the Philippines and Mexico, annu-
ally arrive here. The cargoes of thefe fhips (for the convoy^
though in a clandefline manner, likewife carries goods) conftft
of all the rich commodities and manufaftures of the eafl. At
the fame time the annual fhip from Lima, the capital of Peruj
comes 10, and is computed to bring not lefs than two millions of
pieces of eight in filver, befides quick-filver, and other valuable
commodities, to be laid out in the purehaie of the galleons car-
gpeS4 Several other fhips, frorfi different parts of Chili and
^eru,^ meet upon the fame occafion. A great fair, in which the
commodities of ail parts of the world ate bartered for one ano-
thejr, la lis- thirty days. The galleon then prepares for her Voy-
age, loaded with filver and fuch European goods as have been
Jihought necefTarvi The Spaniards, thougli this trade be carried
if)n entirely through their hands, and in the very heart of their
dominions, are comparatively but I'mall gainers by it. For 28
they allmv the Dutch, Great-Britain, and other commercial ftates,
to furnifh the greater part of the cargo of the flota, fo the Spa-
nilh injiabitants of the Piiilippines, tainted with the indoltnce
"which^ ruined ^th^i'r ^European anceflors, permit the Chinefe
ii^ GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
merchants to furnifh the greater part of the cargo of tfttf
galle6n.' Notwithftanding what has been faid of Vera Gruz arwi
Acapulco, the city of Mexico, the capital of the empire, ought
td be confidered as the center of commerce in this part of the
Worid ; for Ijere the principal merchants rcfide, and the greatetl
partof tKe bulinefs is negociatcd. The Eafl-India goods from
Acapulco, and the European from V^era Cruz, alio pais lluought
this city. " Hither all the gold and filver come to be coined,
heie tTie king's fifth is depofited, and here are wrought all
thofe utenfils and ornaments in plate, which are every year
fcnt into Europe*
The empire of Mexico was finally iubdued by Cortes, in
the year 1521. Montezuma was at that time emperor of Mexi^
CO. In the courfe of the war, he was treacberoufty taken
by Cortes, and held as a priloner. During the imprifonmcnt
of MoritGzumaj Cortes and his army had made repeated attacks
On his' fubj'.'fts, but without fuccels. Cortes was now deter-"
mined, as his lall relource, to try what efFetl the interpofition
of Montezuma might have to foothe or overawe his fubjetb^
This unfortunate prince, at the mercy of the treacherous Spani-
ards, and reduced to the fad neceflTity of becoming the inflru-
mcht of his o\¥n diigrace, and of the flaveiy of his fuhjefts,!
advanced to the battlements in his royal robes, in all the pomp
in which he ufed to appear on folcmn occafions. At fight
of their fovereign, whom they had long been ^ccilflomcd 10
honour, and almoft tp^ revere as a god, the weapons dropped
frotii tK^ir' hai^ds. Cilery tongue was irlent, all bowed their
beads, arid many pirollrated themlelves on the ground. Mon-
tezuma addrelled them with every argument that could mitigate
their rage, or perfuade them from hoUilities. When he ended
his diicourl'e, "a fuJlen murmur of difapprobation ran through
the crowd ; to this fucceeded reproaches and threats ; and their
fury fifing in a moment, they violently poured in whole flights
of aifoM's and vottiea of flones upon their unhappy monarch,
two of the arrows ilruck him in hib body, which* with the blow
of a Hone on his temple, put an end to his life, Gujftirnoxin
luct^dcd Montezuma, and maintained a vigorous oppofitiont
againft the aifa-jlts of Cortes ; but he, like his predeceffor5''%#f(^t' ^"*
a noble Uefcnce, was forced to lubmit, and his capital was Wrtlf-''^"
ed from him by Cartes and his followers.
The exultation sf the Spaniards, on accompli^ing th^ .
arduous enteiprile, was at fixft exceflive. But this was quickly wjn,
damped". b)^.|;JjiS ctucl dilappointment of thole languine hope^jtr^o?
ME X ICO, OR NE W- SPA IN". 1 15
which had animated Uiem amjdft fo many hardfliips and dangers.
inftead of inexhauftible wealth which they expefted from
becoming mafters of Montezuma's treafures, and the ornatnept^
of fo many temples, their rapacioufnefs could colteft only an
inconfiderable booty amidfh ruins and delblation.* Guatimozin,
aware of his impending fate, had ordered what remained of the-
riches araafed by his anceftors to be thrown into the lake. The
Indian auxiliaries, while the Spaniards were engaged in conflift
with the enemy, had carried off the moft valuable part of the
fpoil. The fum to be divided among the conquerors was fo
fijiall, that many of them difdained to accept of 'the pittance
which fell to their fhare, and all murmured and exclaimed ;
fome againft Cortes and his confidents, whom liiey fufpcfted
of having fecretly appropriated to their own ufe a large portion
of the riches which would have been brought into the common
fk>ck ; others againft Guatimozin, whom they accufed of obfti-
nacy, in refufjng to difcover the place where he had hidden
his treafure.
Arguments, intreaties, and promifes, were employed . in
order to foothe them, but with fo little efTeft, that Cortes,
from folicitude to check the growing fpirit of dilcontent, gave
way to a deed which flained the glory of all his great aftions.
Without regarding the former dignity of Guatimozin, or feeling
any reverence for thofe virtues which he had difplayed, he
fubjefted the uahappy monarch, together with his chief favour-
ite, to torture, in order to force from them a difcovery of .the
royal treafures, which it was fuppofed they had concealed.
Guatimozin bore whatever the refined cruelty of his tormentors
could inflift, with the invincible fortitude of an American
warrior. His fellow-fufferer, overcome by the violence of the
anguifh, turned a dejefted eye towards his mafter, which feem-
ed to implore his permiffion to reveal all he knew. But the
high-fpirited prince, darting on him a look of authority min-
gled with fcorn, checked his weaknefs, by afk-ing, " Am I now
repofing on a bed of flowers ?" Overawed by the reproach,
he perlevered in his dutiful filence, and expired. Corte>,
afhamed of a fcene fo horrid, relcued the royal vi£li;n from
the hands of his torturers, and prolonged a life relcrved foi-
new indignities and fuffcrinffs.
* Tlie goltf and filver, according to Cne point to another, and with one wind, run lefs rifks, and
lN?c[uire fewer hands, than fliips which pafs through many
iatitudes, turn with many coafts, and require many winds ;
in evidence of which, veflels of feven or eight hundred tonS
burthen are often to be found in the South feas, navigated
by no more than eight or ten hands, becaufe thefe haiids have
little elfe to do than fet their fails when they begin their voyage,
srnd to take them in when they end it ; that as foon as fliips from'
Britain got fo far fouth as to reach the trade wind, which never
Varies, that wind would carry them to Daricn, and the fame
■wind wo'ufd rarry Ihips from the bay of Panama, on the oppofite
'•^^de of the illhmus, to the Eafl-Indies ; that as foon as fhips
coming f^om the Eaft-Indies to the bay of Panama got ^o far
ftaith as the latitirde of forty degrees, to reach the wefleily
winds, whic;h, about that latitude, blow alRToft as regularly from
the weft as the trade winds do from the caft, thefe winds would
carry them, in the track of the Spanifli Acapulco Pnipsj to the
coaft of Mexico; from whence the land wind, which blows for
ever from the novth to the fouth, would eariy them along the
eoaft of MeNico into the brvy of Panama, So that in going from
i^rirain, Tuips would encounter no uncertain wihdi, fexcept
during their paffage foulh into the latitude of the trade w'iiid :
■ in'roming. from India to the bay of Panama, no uncertain winds,
-■except ill their pafltge north to the latitude of the weftcrly
''Winds ; -and in eoit,'-n.o,uncej'tain wind whavfoever,— ^Gold was fcen by Paterfon
in lome places of the illhmus, and hence an ifland on the At-
lantic fide ^^-as called the Golden Ifland, and a river oh the fide
TERRA Fimj^ OR C'ASTIJLE DEL ORO. xzi
fo,t-]ie South fca was called the Golden river; but thefe were
obiefts which he regarded not at that time, bocauie. Jar greater
"lv-^efe^^rhis^"^^Y^-^'tT:ie iemoVi\i^ of- diftai^ceSj: the drawing na-
tions.nearer to each' othefj' the'breTc-rvatiori of'the Valuabk lives
of feamen, and the faVing in freight, (o important to rnwehants^
and in time fo important to them, 'a nd-ta'^ri-' animal whofe li/qc
is of , fo fliort duratidrt as that of man. "*•■■':■ ..,.
By this olifcure Scotchman, a projcft was formed to fettle, on
this neglcfted fpot, a great and powerlul co-oiiy : not as other
colonies have for the mofl part been fettled, by chance, and
unprote6led bv the country from xvhencc they Vv'ent ; but by
lyflem, upon forelight, and to receive the ample prote&ion of
thofe governrhents to whom he was to offer his proje£l: and
certainly no greater idea has been formed lin e the time of
Columbus.
Paterfon's original intention was to offer his projccl to Eng-
land, as the country which had molt interePc in if, not only
from the benefit common to all nations, of fhortcning the lengtli
of voyages to the Eafh-Indies, but bv the effc£l which it would
have had to conneft the interefts of her European, Wcft-Indiarij
American, African and Eaft-Indian trade. But Paterfon hav-
ing few acquaintance, and no proteftion in London, thought
of drawing the public eye upon him, and ingratiating himlclf
with monied men and with great men, by affifting them lo model
a projeft, which was at that time in embryo, for ercfting the
Bank of England, But that happened to him ^vhich has hap-
pened to many in his fituation ; the perfons to whom he applied
itia^e ufe of his ideas, took the honour of them to themfelvcs,
.were civil to him for a while, and neglefted him afterwards.
. He therefore communicated his projeft of a colony only to a
few perfons in London, and thefe few difcoaraged him*
He .ijiext iriadd offer of his projeft to the Dutch, the Ham-
burghers, and the eleftor of Brandenburgh ; becaufe, by means
of the paffage of the Rhine and Elbe through their ftates, he
J .th caught, I that the great additional qualities of Eaft-Indian and
. ^^j;^ericai) gopds, which his colony would bring into Europe,
.,|.t{^puld be diitributed through German}'. The Dutch and Ham-
/iW^f^^ mprchant,s, who had mofl inteicft in the fubjcft of liis
., [yi/a|,^heai^d,;-fi'"?.' w^tb. indifference: the eicftor, who bad verv
,,;|jtjt^'Q^^interefl in it, received him with honour and kindnefs.
. ,3 lit, court, arts and Yalle ' irfeboi^ts Yoft 'hynn! ' even' that ; prince's
'-- -IJ no .boKlir nn o:}ij,ji bns ,,-.um.L^
'Ort 5ni tuj Tjvii fi fens ^bmul nabfoO ...
122 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
PUciTon, on his leturn to London, foimed a friendfliio
with Mr. Fletcher of Sulton, whole mind was inflamed with
the hive of public good, and all of wliofe ideas to procure it
had a fubiimity in them. .Fletcher brought Paterfon down to
Scotland with him, prefented him to the Marquis of Twecdale,
then minifter for Scotland; and then, with that power wiiich
a veheiRent fpirit always poirdfes over a difTident one, perfuud-
cd the M-irquis by arguments of public good, and the honour
wiiich would redannd to his adminiftration, to adopt the pro-
ject. Lord Stair and Mr. Johnftoii, the two fecrctaries of
flate,, patronifcii thole ahdiiics in Paterfon which they pofTeded
!n themlclves ; and the lord advocate, Sir James Stuart, tlie
fcmie man who had adjuftcd the prince of Orange's declaration
?t the revolution, whole fv)n was mariied to a niece of Loid
Stair, went, naturally along with his connexions. Thcief
jjcrlons, in June 1695, procured a ftatutc from parliament,
and afterwards a chatter from the crown in term; of it, for
creating a trading company to Africa and the new woild,
with power to plant colonies and build forts, with confent of
tiie inhabitants, in places not polieircd by other Europenil
nations.
Patciion, now finding the ground hrm under him, and that
he was iupported by almofl all the power and talents of his
country, the character of Fletcher, and the fan£lion of an aft
of parliament and royal charter, threw his projcft boldly upon
the public, and opened a lublcription for a company. The
frenzy of the Scotch nation to lig.n the folemn league and
Covenant, never exceeded the rapidity with which they ran to
fubicribe to the Darien company. The nobility, the gentry, the
merchants, the people, the royal burghs without the exception
of one, and mod or the other public bodies, iubcribed.
Young women threw their little fortunes into the Itock ;
widows iold their jointures to get the command of money for
the fame purpole. Alinoft in an inftant four hundred thouland
pounds were fubfcribed in Scotland, although it be now known,
that there was not at tliat time above eight hundred thouland
pounds of cafh in the kingdom-. The famous Mr. Law, then ar
youth, afterwards confcfTed, tliat the facility with which he
faw the paihoa of fpeculation communicate itlclf from all to all,
fatibfied him of the poflibility of producing the iarne effcft
from the faip.e caule, but uoon a larger fcalc, when the Duke
of Orlcany, in the year of the MifiifTippi, engaged him againfh
his will to turn his bank into a bubble. Paterfon's projeft,
which had been received by ftrangers with fears when opened
TERRA FI.RMA, OR CASTILE DEL 0 RO. 123
£0 them in private, filled them with hopes when it came to
them upon the wings of public fame : for Col. ErlTvine, fon to
Lord Cardrofs, and Mr. Haldane, of Gleneagles, the one a
generous branch of a generous ftem, and the other a country
gentlemen of fortune and charafter, having been deputed to
receive fubfcriptions in England and on the continent, the
Engiifli fubfcribed three hundred thouland pounds, and the
Dutch and Hamburghers two hundred thouland pounds more.
Ill the mean time the j^aloufj' of trade, which has done
more mifchief to the trade of England than all other caules
put together, created an alarm in England ; and tlie Hoides of
Lords and Commons, without previous inquiry and reflection,
on the 13th of December, 1695, concurred in a joint addreis
to the king againft the eftablifhment of the Darien company,
jis detrimental to the intereft of the Eaft-lndia company.
Soon after, the Commons impeached fome of their own coun-
trymen for being inftrumental in erefting the company ; and
»\(q fome of the Scotch nation, one of whom was a peer.
Lord Bclhaven ; that is to fay, they arraigned the fubjefts of
another country, f^r making ule of the laws of their own.
Among fix hundred legiflators, not one had the happy ray of
genius to propofe a committee of both parliaments, to inquire
into the principles and confequences of the elUbliflimcnt ;
and if thefe fhould, upon inquiry, be found, that the benefit
of it fliould be corDmunicated, by a participation of rights to
both nations. The king's anfwcr was, " That he had been
ill-advifed in Scotland." He foon after changed his Scottifli
miniflers, and fent orders to his refident at liamburgh to pre-
fent a memorial to the Icnate, in whichhediiownedthe.com-
pany, and warned them againft all connections with it. Iher
fenate fent the memorial to the affembly of merchants, who
returned it with the following fpirited anfwer : " We look
upon it as a very ftrange thing, that the King of Britain fliould
ofl'er to hinder us, who are a free people, to trade with whom
we picafe ; but are amazed to think, that he would hinder us
from joining with his ov.'ii fubjefts in Scotland, to whom he
had lately given fuch large privileges, by fo iolemn an aft or
parliament.'' But merchants, though mighty prone to pallion,
are eafily intimidated. The Dutch, Plamburgh, and Loudon
merchants, withdrew their fubfcriptions.
The Scotch, not difcouraged, were rather animated by this
opprefiion ; for they converted it into a proof of the envy of
|;he Englifhj and of their confciouliieis of the great advantages ,
R 2
t24 GENERAL D ESC R I PT 10 N OF
which were to flow to Scotland from the colony. The comr
pany proceeded to build iix (hips in Holland, from thirty-fix
to fixty gnn5. and they engaged twelve hundred men for the
colony ; among whom were younger fons of many of the noble
anil mod ancient families of Scotland, and fixty officers who
had been G,rD!,ued at the peace, who carried with them fuch
of their private -ncn generally railed on their own, or the
efutes of their relacioiis. as they knew to be faithful and brave;
and molt ot ihole were Highlanders, The Scotch parliament,
on the 5th of Augull, 1698, unanimoufly addrefTed the king
to iupp.at tile company. The lord prefident, Sir Hugh Dal-
rynsplc, brother to Lord Stair, and head of the bench, and the
lord advocate, Sir James Stuart, head of the bar, jointly drew
memorials to the king, abie in point of argument, information
and arrangement : in which they defended the rights of the
company upon the principles of conftitutional and of public
law. And neighbouring nations, with a mixture of furprife
and refpeLC, law the poorell kingdom of Europe fending forth
the moll gallant and the mod numerous colony that had ever
gone from the old to the new wbrld.
On the 26th of July, of the year 16^8, the whole city of
Edinburgh poured down upon Leith to lee the colony depart,
amidll the tears, and prayers and prailes of relations and
friends, and of their countrymen. Many feamen a;id foldiers,
Nvhofe lervices had been refufed, becaufe more had offered them-
felves than were needed, v>^ere found hid in the fhips, and
\vhcn ordered afhore, clung to the ropes and timbers, implor-
ing to go without reward with their companions. Twelve
hundred men failed in five flout fhips, and ajrived at Darien in
two months, with the lofs of only fifteen of their people. At
thiny men died on fnip-board,
and the reft arrived at diflerent times, broken in their health
and difpirited, when they heard the fate of thole who had gone
befoie them. — Added to the misfortunes of the firft colony,
the feccnd had a misfortune peculiar to itfelf : the general affem-
blv of the church of Scotland fent out four minifters, with
orders " to take charge of the fouls of the colony, and to eieft
a prefbytery, with a moderator, clerk, and record of proceed-
ings; to appoint ruling elders, deacons, overfeers of the man-
ners of the people, and aiTiftants in the exercife of church dif-
cipline and government, and to hold regular kirk felFions."
When they arrived, the officers and gentlemen were occupied
in building houfes for themlelves with their own hands, becaufe
there was no help to be got from others ; yet the four minifters
complained grievoufly, that the council did not order houfes to
be immediately built for their accommodation. They had not
the precaution to bring with them letters of recommendation
from the directors at home to the council abroad. On thefe ac-
counts, not meeting with all the attention they expeftcd from
the higher, they paid court to the inferior ranks of the colonifts,
and by that means threw divifions into tiie colony.
The laft party that joined the fecond colony at Darien, after
it had been three months fettled, was Captain Campbell of
Finab, with a company of the people of his cftate, whom he
had comm.nnded in Flanders, and whom he carried to Darien in
his own fliip. On their arrival at New St. Andrew, they found
intelligence had been lately received, that a Spanifh force of
fixteen hundred men, which had been brought from the coaft of
the South fea, lay encamped at Tubucantee, waiting there tilj
a Spanifh fquadron of eleven fhips which was ezpefted ftiould
arrivcj v/hen they were jointly to attack the fort. The mili-
tary command was offered to Captain Campbell, in compliment
to his reputation and to his birth, who was defctnded from the
families of Bieadalbape and Athol. In order to prevent a joint
attack, he refolvcd to attack lirft ; and therefore, on the fecond
day after his arrival, he marched with two hundred men to
'i"ubucaii!.ce, before his arrival was known to the erieiriy, ftormed
the camp in the night-time, diftipatcd the Spanifh force with
much ft-iugliter, and returned to the fort the fifth day : but he
found the SpaniHi fliips before the harbour, tlicir troops landed^
and almoft all hope of help vr provifion cut off; yet he {Ipcd. ;
* fie je near fix' week?, till ahnoft all the oniccrs v/erp dead^ \\^
TEkRA FIRM A, OR CASTILE DEL ORO. 127
enemy by their approaches had cut ofF his wells, and his balls
were lo far expended, that he was obliged to melt the pewter
diflies of the garriibn into balls. The gnrriion then capitulated,
and obtained not only the common honours of war and lecurity
for the property of the company, but, as if they had been con-
England to the Darien company, but got nothing, becaufe a
grant to him from a public fund would have been only an aft of
humanity, not a political job.
Thus ended the colony of Darien. Men look into the
works of poets for lubjefts of fatire, but they are more often
to be found in the records of hiilory. The application of the
Dutch to King William againft the Darien company, affords
the fureft of all proofs, that it was the intereft of the Britifh
iflands to fupport it. England, by the imprudence of ruining
that fettlement, loft the opportunity of gaining and continuing
to herfclf the greateft commercial empire that probably ever
will be upon earth. Had fhe treated with Scotland, in the hour
of the diftrefs of the company, for a joint poffeflion of the fet-
tlement, or adopted the union of the kingdoms, which the
i'overeign of both propofed to them, that poffefEon could cer-
tainly have been obtained. Had fhe treated with Spain to
relinquifh an imaginary right, or at Icall to give a pafFage acrofs
the ifthmus, upon receiving duties fo higli as to overbalance all
the chance of lofs by a contraband trade, fhe had probably ob-
tained either the one or the other. Had fhe broke with Spain
for the fake of gaining by force one of thofe favours, {he would
have loft far lefs than fhe afterwards did by carrying a war into
that country for many years, to force a king upon the Spaniards
againft their will. Even a rupture with Spain for Darien, if it
had proved fuccefsful, would have knit the two nations toge-
ther by the moft folid of ties, their mutual intereft^ for the
Englifli muft then have depended upon Spain for the fafety of
their caravans by land, and the Spaniards upon England for the
fafety of their fleets by fea. Spain and England would have
been bound together as Portugal and England have long -been ;
and the Spanifh treafures have failed, under the wings of Englifh
navies, from the Spanifn main to Cadiz, in the fame manner as
the treafures of Portugal have failed under the fame prote£lionj
facred and untouched, from the Brazils to Lifbon.
Panama is the capital city of this province, where the trea-
fures of gold and lilver, and the other rich merchandifes of
Peru, are lodged in magazines till they are fen-t to Europe. It
is fituated weft longitude 8aO 15', north latitude 8® 57'.
When Guzman fsrft touched at this place in 151/1, ft eon-
lifted entirely of fiftierraen's huts. Orius d'Avila fettled a
c.-4onyhere iri a few years after, and in 1521 it was coaftituted
a city by the emperor Charles V. with the proper privileges.
TERRA FIRM A, OR CASTILE DEL ORO. 129
In 1670, it was facked and burnt by John Morgan, an Englifli
adventurer, who had the preceding year taken Porto BcUo.
This misfortune inducSed the inhabitants to remove the city to
its prefent fituation, diftant about a league from th-e place where
it flood before. For the greater fecurity the new city tvas in-
clofed by a free-ftone wall, and the houles were built of ftor.e
and brick. Since that time feveral baflions have been added^
and now^ there is always a complete garrilon maintained, and
the walls are mounted With large cannon. But all thefe precau-
tions could not lave this city from another misfortune ; it was
entirely confumed by fire in the year 1737. After this accident
it was again rebuilt, in the manner as it now ftands, with neat
elegant houfes, but not magnificent. The inhabitants are rather
independent in their fortunes than rich ; tliere are few of them
opulent, and fcarce any in a ftate of poverty. As to the har-
bour, it is convenient, and well fecured againft florms by a
number of furrounding iflands, and is capable of containing the
largeft fieetSi Here the royal audience is feated, at which the
governor of Panama refides ; for which reafon the city is com-
monly deemed the capital of the province.
This place, a little while after it was founded, became the
capital of the kingdom of Terra Firma. Some hopes weie at
firfl; entertained from the three provinces of Panama, Darien,
and Veragua, which compofed it, but this profperity vaniflicd
initantaneoufly. The favages of Darien recovered their inde-
pendence, and the mines of the two other provinces were found
to be neither fufficiently abundant, nor of an alloy good enough
to make it worth while to work them. Five or fix fmall bo-
roughs, in which are leen fome Europeans quite n.iked, and a
very fmall number of Indians v/ho have come to reiide theie,
form the whole of this ftate, which the Spaniards are not
afhamed of honouring with the great name of kingdom. It is
in general barren and unwhoieiome, and contributes nothing to
trade but pearls.
The pearl fifher)' is carried on in the iflnnds of the gulph.
The greateft part of the inhabitants employ fuch of the negroes
in it as are good fwimmers. Thefe flavcs plunge and re-phsnge
in the fea in fearch of pearls, till this exercife has exhaullcd
tiaeir flrength or their fpirits.
Every negro is obliged to deliver a certain number of oyflcrs.
Thofe in which there are no pearls, or in which the pearl is not
entirely formed, are not reckoned. What he is able iq find
' Vol. IV, %
5 36 GES'ERAL DESCRIPTION Of
beyond the flipulated obligation, is confidercd as his indifpu-
table property ; he may fell it to whom he plcafes, but com-
fnonly he cedes it to his mafter at a moderate price.
Sea monftcrs, \vhich abound more about the iflands where
■pearls are found than on the neighbouring coafts, render this
fifhing dangerous. Some of thefe devour the divers in an in-
{bnt. The manta fifh, which derives its name from its figure,
furrounds them, rolls them under its body, and fuflFocates them.
In order to defend themfelvcs againfb fuch enemies, every diver
is armed \v ith a poignard ; the moment he perceives any of thefe
voracious fiili, he attacks them with precaution, wouftds them,
and drives them awiiy. Nutwithftanding this, there are always
fome fiflierrryen deftroyed, and a great number crippled.
The pearls of Panama are commonly of a very fine water.
Some of them are even remarltable for their fi25e and figure ;
thele -were foimerly fold in Europe. Since art has imitated
them, and the paflion for diamonds has entirely fuperfeded, or
prodigioufly diminifhed the ufe of them, they have found a new
mart more advantageous than the firft. They are carried tor
Peru, where they are in great cftimation.
This branch of trade has, however, infinitely lefs contri-
buted to give reputation to Panama, than the advantage which it
hath long enjoyed of being the mart of all the produftions of
the country of the Incas that are deftined for the old worlds
Thefe riches, which are brought hither by a fmall fleet, were
Carried, fome on mules, others by the river Chagre, to Porto
Bcllo, that is fituatcd on the northern coaft of the ifthmus,-
which fe pa rates the two leas.
CARTHAGE N A.
Carthagcna is one of the mofl confiderablc provinces in thi:;
territory, on account of the great trade carried on by the capi-
tah, fop the country itfelf is neither fertile, rich, n6r populous.
The capital city, called likewife Carthagena, is liluated in wef?.
longitude 'j'f, and north latitude 1 1 ', on a fandy ifland, by
jnioll writers called a peninfula ; which forming a narrow paflagc
on the fouth-weft, opens a communication ^vith that called
TLerra Bemba, as far as Bocco Chica. The little ifland which
novfr joins them was formerly the entrance of the bay, but
it having been filled up by orders of the court, Bocco.,
; ; -i •■■.■■•■ " J'. • -■II ' ' •'■'
Chica became the only entrance; th'iS, however, has bceir-
filled up fmce the attempt of V'ernoH and Wcntworth, antj
TERRA FIRMA, OR CASTILE DEL ORO. 131
the old paflage again opened. On the north fide the hnd
is fo narrow, that before the wall was begun, the diftance
from fea to fea was only thirty-Hve toiics ; but afterwards
enlarging, it forms another ifl.md on this hdc, fo that ex-
cepting thefe two places, the whole city is entirely fur-
rounded by fait water. To the eaftward it has a cornmuni'-'
cation, by means of a wooden bridge, wiili a large fuhurlij
called Xemani, built on another ifland, which is alio joined
to the continent by a bridge of the fame materials. The
fortifications both of the city and fuburbs are built after the
modern manner, and lined with free-ftone ; and in time of
pe^ce, the garrifon confills of ten companies, of leventy-
i'even men each, befides militia^ The city and fuburbs are
well laid out, the flreets Itrait, broad, uniform, and well
paved. All the houfes aje built of ftone or brick, only one
ftory high, well contrived, neat, and furaiihed with balco-
nies and lattices of wood, which is more durable in that
climate than iron, the latter being fgan corroded by the
acrimonious quality of the atmoipliere, The climate is ex-
ceedingly unhealthy. The Europeans are particularly iub-
jeQ: to the terrible difeafe called tke black vomit, which
Iweeps off multitudes annually on the arrival of the galleons.
It feldom continues above three or four davs, in which time
the patient is either dead or out of danger, and if he re-
covers, is never fuhjefi to a return of tlie Id me diflonipcr.
This difeafe has hitherto foiled all the arts of the Spanifh
phyficians, as has alfo the Icproly, which is very common
here. At Carthagena, likewifcj that painful tumour in the
legs, occafioned by the entrance of the dracunculus, or "ui-
fiea-worm, is very common and troublefome. Another diior-
der, peculiar to this country and to I'eru, is occafioned by
a little inieft called nigua, lb extremely minute, as fcast'e
to be vilible to the naked eye. This inicdt bieeds in the
duftj inlinuates itiejf into the foles of the feet ai;d liie Jegs'
piercinff the fkin with fuch lubtletv, that tiicre is riO bcin'«' '
avya^eof it, before it has made its way to t!ie fhfl;. If i(t- '
is perceived in the beginning, it is extraftcd w.iih ■ Ihfclfr '>
pain; but having once lodged its head, and pierced -it^ic ■''
•fkiri^ j'the "patient muft undergo the pain of ;;n incif; 5;iynx\Qt!-1'i^•
1S2 CENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
St. Kf^A'^TH a.
i'^S*: #artTia'fi' B9ijfl(}fed Oifi-the -nftrth, by the North fca ; on
tile ^a it, by Rio de la Hache ; on the fouth, by New-Granada :
a*id on- th'q ^dQO'i
134 GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF
NEW-GRANADA and POP AY AN.
The provinces fometimes known as the new kingdom of
Granada, is entirely an inlund country of great extent. This
important addition was made to the dominions of Spain about
the year t536, by Sebaftian de Benalcazar and Gonzalo Ximenes
de Quefada, two of the braved and moft accomplifhed officers
employed in the conqueft of America, The former, who com-
manded at that time in Quito, attacked it from the fouth ; the
latter made his invafion from Santa Martha on the north.
As the original inhabitants of this region were farther advanced
in improvement than any people in America but the iVIexicans
and Peruvians, they defended themfelves with great refolution
and good conduft. The abilities and perfeveranpe of Benalcazar
and Oueiada furmounted all oppofition, though not without
.encountering many dangers, and reduced the country into th^
form of a Spanifh province.
The provinces are fo far elevated above the level of the fca,
that though they approach ajmoft to the equator, the cjimate is
remarkably temperate. The fertility of the vallies is not inferior
to thole of the richefl diilrifls in America, and the higher
grounds yield gold and precious flones of various kinds. It
is not by dicing into the bowels of the earth that this gold is
found, it is mingled with the foil near the furface, and (eparated
from it by repeated wafhing with water : this operation is
carried on wholly by negro (laves ; for though the chill fubter-
ranean air has been dilcovered, by experience, to be lb fatal to
them, that they cannot be employed with advantage in the deep
filver mines, they are more capable of performing the other
fpecies of labour than Indians. As the natives are exempt froii^
that fervice, which has wafted their race lo rapidly in other
parts of America, the country is ftill remarkably populous.
Some diftiifts yield gold with a profufion no lefs wonderful
than in the vale of Cincguijla, and it is often found in large
pcpitas, or grains, which manifeft the abundance in which it is
produced. On a rifing ground near Pamplona, fingle labourers
have collefted in a day what was equal in value to a thouland
pcfos. A late governor of tjanta Fc brought with hirn to Spain
a lump of pure gold, eftimated to be worth feven hundred and
forty pounds ftcrling. This, which is perhnps the largeft anc^
hneft fpecimen ever found in the new world, ks now depofited
in the royal cabinet of Madrid. But without founding any
culcukilion on wiiat is rare and extraordinary, the value of
TERRA FIRM/I, OR CASTILE DEL ORO, 135
the gold ufually coUefted in this country, particularly in
Popayan and Choco, is of tonfidefable amount. Its towns
are populous atid flourifiiing. The nurftber of inhabitants in
almoft every part of the country daily increafes ; cultivation
and induftry of various kinds begin to be encouraged, and to'
profper ; a confiderable trade is carried on with Carthagena, the
produce of the mines and other cominodities being conveyed
down the great river of St. Magdalen to that city. On ano-
ther quarter there is a communication with the Atlantic by the;
tiver Orinoco ; but the country which ftretches along its banks
iowards the eaft is little known, and imperfeftly occupied b^
the Spaniards^
brris 0*j
( 135 )
HISTORY OF
PERU.
P.
ERU is fituated between the ec|uator and 25*^ foiitVi latitude,-
and 60*^ and 81' weft longitude;* its length is eighteen hun-
dred miles, and its breadih, according to fome authors, three
hundred and ninety, and others fix hundred + miles ; but the
latefl and moft authentic accounts ftate it at about five hundred.
It is bounded on the north by T^erra Finna, on the weft by
the Pacific Ocean, on the South by Chili, and on the eaft
by the mountains called the Andes. The bounds of our
work will not permit us to enter into the ancient hiftory of
this country before its conqueft by the Spaniards ; we can,
therefore, only in brief obferve, that the empire of Peru, at
the time it was fubdued, extended along the South fea, from
the river of Emeralds to Chili, and on the land fide to Popayan,
according to fome geographers. It contained within its ex-
tent that famous chain of mountains which rifes in the Terra
Magellanica, and is gradually loft in Mexico, in order to
unite, as it fiiould feem, the fouthefn parts of America with
the northern.
' it is now divided into three grand divifions or audiences :
1. Quito: 2.. Lima, or Los Reyes; and, 3. Los Charcos.
As to its climate, mines, foil and produce, they differ greatly
in different parts of the country.
QUITO.
The extenfive province of Quito is bounded on the nofth
by Popayan, and includes a part of that ' government ; alfo by
* T]\e compilers of the EncyclopcEdia Britannica ftatr the fituation of Peru
between 1 ilcg. 40 min. north, and 26 deg. 10 min. fouth latitude, and 56 and
Si deg. weft longitude, and make its length eighteen hundred, a»d it& brrtdiii,
as above, three hundred and ninety miles-
+ Guthrie.
0 F P E R U, . :37
Santa Fe de Bogota ; on the fouth by the governments of Piura
and Chachapoyas ; on the eaft it extends over the whole go-
vernment of Maynas and the river of the Amazons to the me-
ridian, which divides the Spanifh from the Portuguefe domi-
hions ; and on the well it is bounded by the South fea ;
extending, according to Antonio de Ulloa, hx hundred leagues
in length, and about two hundred in its greateft breadth ; but
this greatly exceeds the coriiputatiorv of all other geographers.
He however obferves, that it mull be owned a great part of
thofe vaft dominions are either inhabited by nations of Indians,
br have not hitherto been lufftciently peopled by the Spaniards,
if indeed they had been thoroughly known ; and that all the
parts that can properly be faid to be peopled, and aftually fub-
jeft to the Spanifh government, are thofc intercepted by the
two Cordilleras of ti"ie Andes, which, in comparifon to the
extent of the countrv, may be termed a ftreet or lane, fifteen
leagues, or fometimes more^ from eaft to weft ; to this muft be
added feveral detached governments, feparated by the very ex-
tenfive trafts inhabited by free Indians.
The climate of Quito differs from all others in the fame pa-
rallel, fince even in the center of the torrid zone, or although
under the equinoftial, the heat is not only very tolerable, but
even in Tome places the cold is painful ; while others enjoy all
the 'advantages of a perpetual fpring, the fields being conftantly
covered with verdure, and enatrelled with flowers of the moft
lively colours. The mildnefs of the climate, free from the
extremes ui heat and cold, and the conftant equality of the
day and night, render this country, which, from its fituation,
Blight be thought to be parched by the conftant heat of the
fun, and fcarcely inhabitable, both plcafant and fertile ; for
Nature has here difpcnfed her bleffings with fo liberal a hand,
thst this, country m feveral reipc£ls furpafies thofe of the tem-
perate zones, where the vicilTitudes of winter and fummer, and
the change froni heat to cold, caufe the extremes of both to be
more feniibly felt. However, in different parts of the country,
the air is very different ; in one part are mountains of a ftu-
pendous height and magnitude, with their fummits covered
with fnow. The plains are temperate, the valleys hot, and,
according to the high or low fituation of the country, are found
all the variety of gradations in temperature poffible to be con-
ceived betM'eCn the extremes of heat and cold.
Quito, the Ciapital, it> o<«^ 13' fouth latitude, and 'j'y® 50'
•*v€ft longitude from Greenwich, is fo happily fituated, that
T
>3^ OEFERAL DESCRIPTION
T^.either licat nor cold are troublefome, though both may be felt
in its ncighb >>Luhood ; and what renders this equahty more de-
Irghtfiil is. that it is conftant throughout the whole year, the
tlifFerence between the feafons being fcarce perceptible. Indeed
the mornings are eool, the remainder of the day warm, and
the night* of an agreeable temperature.
The tvinds^, which are pme and falubrious, blow for the moft
part from north to fouth,- but never with any violence, though
thty foTnefirrres fhift their quarters, but without any regard to
the fealon of the year. Such frgnal advantages refulting from
the cliniauC, foil, and afpeft of this country, would be luflB.ci-
ent to render it the moft enviable fpct upon earth, as it is fup-^
■pcti'dd to be the moft elevated, if, whilft enjoying thefe delights,
the inhnbitnnts were not harafled by terror, and expofed to
continu il danger : for here tiemendous tempefts of thunder and
lightning prevail, which are iuffi<;ient to appal the ftouteft heart ;•
whilft earthquakes frequently fpread univerlat apprehenfions^
and fomctinies bury cities in Fuins<
The diftinftion of v/inrter and fummer conPifls in a very
minute difference ; the interval between the month of Septem-
ber and thofe of April, May or June, is here called the winter
feafon, and the other motiths compofe the fummer. In the
former feafon the rain chiefly prevails, and in the kttcr the in-
habitants frequently enjoy whole da)'S of fine weather ; but
whenever the rains are difcontrnued for above a fortnight, the
inhabitants are in the utmoft confternation, and public prayers
are offered up for their return. On the other hand, when they
continue a fhort time without intermiffion, the like fears^ pre-
vail, and the churches are again crowded with fupplicants to
obtain fine weather ; for a long drought produces dangerous
dilcafes, and a continual rain, without intervals of funfhine,
deftroys the fruits of the earth.' The city of ^uito, however,
frtijoys one peculiar advantage in being free from mufketoes and
other ti"oublelotr.c infects, fuch as fleas a-nd venomous reptiles^
except the nigiia or pique, which is a very fmall infe£l Ihaped
like a flea, but hardly vifible to the fight.
The fertility of the loil here is incredible, for the fruits anci
beauties of the feveral feaions are vifible at the fame time ; and
■^he curious European oblervcs with a pfeaffiig. admiratiicrn, that
•wliile fome heibs of the field are fading, others of the fa'ffie
kind are fpringing up, while fome flowers lofe their beauty,
ctliers bloW to continue the enamelled profpeft : tTni^'^i^rhen
the fruits of the trees' have attained their maturityi'%nd'"the
V F P E R U. S39
leaves begin to change their colour, fizfli leaves. bloiTom, and
fruits are (een in their proper gradation, in fize and ripencls on
the lame tree. The fame inceffant fertility is confpicuous in
the corn, both reaping and fowing being carried on at tlic
fame time; fo that the decUvitics of the neighbouring hills
exhibit ail the beauties of the four leafons in one affeiribUge.
Though all this is generally feen, yet there is a fettled time, for
the grand harveft : yet iometimes the moll favourable feafon
for lowing in one place is a month or two after that of anoiherj
though their diftance does not exceed three or four leagues.
-Thus in different fpots, and Iometimes in one and the lame,
fowing and reaping are performed throughout the whole year,
t;he forwardnels or retardment naturally arihng from the dif-
ferent lituations, fuch as mountains, riling grounds, plains
and valleys ; and the temperature being different in eacli, the
befb times for performing the leveral operations of hulbandty
muft alio differ.
The chirimoya is confidered as one of the moft delicious
fruits in the world ; its dimenfions are various, being from one
to five inches in diameter; its figure is impeifeftly round,
flatted towards the flalk, where it forms a kind of navel, but
all the other parts are nearly circular : it is covered with a thin
foft fliell, which adheres lo clofely to the pulp as not to be
feparated from It without a knife ; the outward coat is green,
variegated with prominent veins, forming all over it a kind of
net-work : the pulp is white, and contains a large quantity of
juice refembling honey, of a fweet taftc, mixed with a gentle
a,cid of a moll exquifite flavour. The feeds are formed in
feveral parts of the pulp, and are fomewhat flat. The tree is
high and tufted, the ftem large and round, but with fomc
inequalities, full of elliptic leaves, terminating in a point.
The bloflom differs little from the colour of the leaves, which
is a darkifh green ; and though far from being bcauLiful, is re-
markable for its incomparable fragrance.
The granadilla in its fliape relembles an hen's egg, but is
larger; the oulfide of tlie fhell is imooth, glofl'y, and of a
^fijiint carnation colour, and the .infide white and loft; the Iheil
,^ntains a vifcous liquid lubflance full of very finall and deli-
cate grains, lels hajd than thole of the pomegranate. This
medullary iubflance is feparated from the fhell by a fine and
tranfparent membrane. Its fruit hiis a delightful fweetnefij
blended with acidity, very cordial and lefrefhing, and fo whple-
^pjne^ that there is no danger of eating to excels,
T 3
140 GENERAL PESCRJPTJON
The frutilla, or Peruvian flrawberry, is very different from
that of Europe in fize ; for though they arc here generally not
above an inch) in length, they are much larger in other parts of
Peru ; but their tafte, though juicy, and not unpalatable, i$ not
equal to thofc in Europe.
The country is obferved to abound more in women than
men, which is the more remarkable, as thofe caufes which
induce men to leave their countryj as travelling, commerce,
and war, naturally bring over more men from Europe than
women. But there are many families in which there are a
number of daughters, without one fon among them. The
women enjoy a better ftate of health than the men, which
may be owing in fome meafure to the climate, but more
particularly to the early intemperance and voluptuoufricrs of
the other fex.
The Creoles are well made, of a proper flature, and of a
lively and agreeable countenance. The Meftizos are alfo in
general well made, often taller than the ordinary fize, very
robuft, and have an agreeable air. The Indians, both men and
women, are commonly low of ftalure, though ftrong and well
proportioned ; but more natural defefts are to be found among
them than in any of the reft. Some are remarkably fhort, fome
ideots, dumb, or bUnd, Their hair is generally thick and
long, which they wear loofe on their Ihoulders ; but the
Indian women plait theirs behind with a ribband, and cut that
before a little above the eyebrows, from one ear to the other.
The great tftdilgrace that can be offered to an Indian of either
fex is to cut off their hair ; for whatever corporal punifhment
their mafters think proper to inflict on them, they bear with
patience ; but this affront they never forgive, and accordingly
the government has intorpofed, and limited this punifhrnent to
the moft enormous crimes. The colour of the hair is generally
a deep black ; it is lank, harffi, and as coarle as that of a horfe.
On the contrary, the male Meftizos, in order to difli^nguiffi
themfelves from the Indians, cut off their hair, but the females
do not adopt that cuftom.
The Meftizos in general wear a blue cloth, m.anufactured in .
this country; but though they are the iowcft clals of thq
Spaniards, they are very ambitious of diftinguslhing them-
felves as fuch, either by the j<;;$)iQi»*;.^iB if<(hion 9;? , tljg.fi|5^t^es
thcy w'ear. ;' '(t; ni nwori^ .i->r{ ^e "{r^ ^t^r^r.
The Meftizo women affcft to drefs in the iame m.anner a$
the Spaijilh, though they cannot equal the ladies in ,^h? rich-.j
nefs of their ftuffs. The meaner fort wear eo ihoes, but, like
the men of the fame rank, go barefooLetl.
0 ¥ P E R U, 141
The drefs of the Indians confifts of white cotton drawerSj
tvhich hang down to the calf of their leg, where they arq
1 oofe, and edged with a lace i'uitable to the fluff. The ufe of
a Ihirt is fupplied by a black cotton frock, made in the form
of a fack, with three openings at the bottom, one in the
middle for the head, and others at the corners for the arms ;
thus covering their naked bodies down to their knees : over
this is a ferge cloak, with a hple in the middle for putting the
head through, and a hat made by the natives. This is the ge-
neral drefs, which they never lay afide, even while they fleep ;
and they have no additional cloathing for their legs or feet,
The Indians, who have acquired lome fortune, particularly the
barbers and phlebotomifts, dillinguifh themfelves from their
countrymen by the finenefs of their drawers, and by wearing a
iliirt, which, though without fleeves, has a lace four or five
fingers in breadth, taflened round like a kind of rufF or band.
They are fond of filver or gold buckles to their fhoes, though
they wear no ftockings, and inftead of a mean ferge cloak,
wear one of fine cloth, which is often adorned with gold or
filver lace.
There are two kinds of drelTes worn by the Indian women,
made in the fame plain manner with ihofe worn by the men in
general, the whole confiding of a fhort petticoat and a veil of
American baize. But the drels of the loweft clafs of Indiarj
women is only a bag of the fame make and fluff as that of the
men, which they faftci:! 00 their fhoulders with two large
pins ; it reaches down to the calf of the leg, and is faflened
found the waifj; with a kind of girdle. Inflead of a veil, they
wear about the neck a piece of the fame coarfe ftufl", dyed
black, but their arms and legs are naked.
The people have difhes unknown in Europe, but are parti-
cularly fond of cheefe, and have excellent butter in the neigh-
bourhood of Quito. Sweetmeats are very much admired.
Kiirri is commonly drank here by perlons of all ranks, bu<:
their favourite liquor is brandy. The difordcrs arifing from
the excefTive ufe of Ipirituous liquors are chiefly iecn amonj^
the Meflizos ; and the lower clals of women, but among the
Creoles and the Meflizos, are alio extremely additled to the
fame ipecies of debauchery.
'Another liquor much ufed in this country is mate, which is
made of an herb known in all thefe parts of America by the
name of paraguay, as being tlie produce of that country.
Some of it is put into a calabafn tipped with hlver. called here
«4« GENERAL DESCRIPTION
mate, with fugar and fome cold water. After it has continued
there fome time, the calabafli is filled with boiling water, and
they drink the liquor through a pipe fixed in the calabalh. It
i§ alfo ufual to fqueeze into the liquor a Imall quantity of the
juice of 4emons or Seville oianges, mixed with lome perfumes
from odoriferous flowers. This is their ufual drink in the
morning fading, and many alfo ufe it at their evening regale.
The manner of drinking it appears very indelicate, the whole
company taking it fuccelTively through the fame pipe, it being
carried feveral times round the company till all are fatisfied.
This, among the Creoles, is the highefl; enjoyment ; fo that
Avhen they travel, they never fail to carry witli them a fuffi*
cient quantity of it, and till they have taken their dofe of
mate they never eat.
The vice of gaming is here carried to an extravagant height,
to the ruin of many families, fome lofing their (lock in trade,
others the very clothes from their backs, and afterward thof?
VeloRging to their wives, which they hazard, flimulatcd by the
Ijope of recovering their owq.
The common people, the Indians, and even the domeftics,
are greatly additled to ilealmg. The Meflizos, though arrant
cowards, do not want audacity in this way ; for though they
Will not venture to attack any one in the Ilreet, it is a commori
praftice to fnatch off a perfon's hat, and immediately ieck
their fafety in flight. This acquifition is fometimes of conlide-
rable value ; the hats worn by perfons of rank, and even by
tjie -N^-caltJiy citizens, when dreifed, being of white beaver,- ,
worth fifteen dollars, befide the hat band of gold or filver lace,
t;i(lencd with a gold buckle let with diamonds or emeralds.
■ In Quito, and all the towns and villages of its province,
tlifierent dialers are fpoken, Spanifh being no lels common
tjian the Inga, the language of the countiy, 1 he Creoles u(ie
the latter as much as the foimer, but both are confiderably
a^lulterated by borrowed words or expieiTions. The firll lan-
guage generally fpoken by children is the Inga, for the nurfes
being Indians, many of them do not underiland a word of
Sipanifn, and thus ihey afterward Jcarn a j^igon compofcd of
both languages.
- The lum.ptuous manner of performing the laft oiFices for the
Je'adj demonllrates how far the power of habit is capable -of
prevailing over reafon and prudence, for their oftentation is fo
great in this particular, that manv families of credit are ruined
Cjv preroftevouny endravourint^ to excel others; and the people
0 }' PER U.
M3
here may be faid to toil and icheme to lay up wealtli, to enable
their fucccffors to lavilh honours upon a body infenfible of all
pageantry.
The commerce of the province of Ouito is chiefly carried
<5n by Europeans fettled here, and others who occafionally
arrive. The manu-fa£lures of this province are only cottons,
fome white and ftriped baize, and cloths, which meet witlt
a good market at Lima, for iupplying the inward provinces
of Peru, The returns are made partly in filver, ajid partly in
fringes made of gold and filver thread, and wine, brandy, oil,
copper, tin, lead, and quickfilver. On the arrival of the
galleons at Carthagena, thefe traders rcfort thither to purchafe
European goods, which, at their return, they conGgn to their
correfpondents all over the province. The coafts of New-
Spain fupply this province with indigo, of which there is a
very large confumption at the manufa£lures, blue being univer-
fally the colour which this people adopt for their apparel.
They alfo import, by way of Guayaquil, iron and fleel, both
from Europe and the coafl of Guatinuda.
The difpofrtion of the Indians in the province of Quito is
extremely remarkable, and they appear to have no refemblance
to the people found there by thole who firfl difeovered the
country. They at prcfent poffcls a tranquility not to be dif*
turbed either by fortunate or unfortunate events. In their
mean apparel they are as contented as a prince clothed in the
moft fplendid robes. They fhew the fame difregard to riches;
and even the authority and grandeur within their reach is fo
little the objeft of their ambition, that to all appearances is
fcems to be the fame to an Indian whether he be created an
alcaide, or obliged to perfom the office of a common execu-
tioner.
Their fioth is fo great, that fcareely any thing can induce
them to work. Whatever, therefore, is neceffary to be done,
is left to the Indian women, who are much more aftive ; they
ipin and iiiake the half fliiits and drawers which form the only
apparel of their hufbands ; they cook the provifions, grind
bailey, and brew the beer called chicha, while the hufband fits
fquatting on his hams, the ulual poflure of the Indians, look-
ing at his bufy wife". The only domeftic fervice they do is to
plough their little ipot of land, which is lowed by the wife,
WhemS^cy are once fcated on their hams, no reward can induce
them to ftjir j.fo that if a traveller has loft his way, and happens
to come to one: of their cottages, they charge their wives to fay
that they are not at home. Should the paffenger alight and
144 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
enter the cottage, the Indian would ftill be fafe, for having hd
light but what comes through a hole in the door, he could not
be difcovered ; and, fljould the ftranger even fee the Indian,
neither entreaties nor rewards would prevail on him to Aif-i.
flep with him, .>f.r-\f
They are lively only in parties of pleafure, rejoicings, en-*
tertainments, and efpecially dancing ; but in all thefe the liquor
muft circulate brifltly, and they continue drinking till they are
entirely deprived both of fcnfe and motion. 'uu
It is remarkable that the Indian women, whether maids ^■
tnarried, and Indian young men before they are of an age to
contrnft matrimony, are never guilty of this vice ; it being s
maxim among them, that dtunkennefs is the privilege of noae
but mafters of families, who, when they are: unable to take care
of themfelves, have others to take care of them, . ;;-;i?:
The women prefent the chicha* to their hufbands in. c^lai*
bafhes, till their fpirits are raifed, then one plays on a pipe
and tabor, while others dance. Some of the bed voices among
the Indian women fing fongs in their own language^ and thofe
•vvho do not dance, fquat down in the ufual pofture till it comeff
to their turn. When tired with intemperance, they all lie
down together, without regarding whether they be near th^
wife of another or their own filter or daughter. Thefe fefti-
vities fometimes continue three or four days, till the priell
coming among them, throvvs away all the chicha, and difperfcs
the Indians, left they fhould procure more. ,i, ,
Their funerals are likewife folemnized with exccffiye dnQi:u8
turning four.
OFFER U. i4'^
^htbh; t'hey' Coriftder' as a •'certain indication o? 'li^r '^erfonnl
Iwraf^ions. • After a young man Has made choice' o'f'^a^'iVvnnsn,
he .(fks lici- oF her Father, iind Having obtained his Conf6'rit,thcy
begirt to 'cohabit together as iniun and wife, atid affift th'e fsither-
in-laW in cultivacih^ the land. At the end of iHree''"'bf four
mcJnths, and frequently of a year, the hiifband leaves !iii^ pride
or wife, without any ceremony, and perhaps cxpoftulatei witli
his father-in-law for endeavouring to deceive hini, by iriipofing
upon him his d3U2;hter, whom noHody elfe had thought wortny
ftf making a bedfellow; But if no difguit arifes in the mart "on
this accouni, or any other, after pafTing three or four months in
this commerce, which they call amanarfe, or to habituate One's
felFj they then marry; This cuflom is flill very cottunon,
though the whole body of the clergy have ufcd all their
endeavours to put a flop to it. Accordingly they always
abfolve them of that firi before they give them the nuptial
benediftion.
It has beeil obfervedj that the dependehcies of the juiifdic-
tions of Quito are ieated between the two Cordilleras of the
AndeSj and that the air is more or lefs cold, and the ground
more or lefs fterile, according to the height of the mount;n'ns.
Thefe barreii tracks are called defarts ; for though all the Cor-
dilleras are' dry, foitie are much more fo than others, and the
cbntinualfnow and frofls render fome parts of them incapable
of producing a (ingle plant, and confecjuently they are uninha-
bitable by man or beaft.
S'ome of thefe mountains, whlcTi appear to have their bafcs
refting 'dri diker' molrhtains,' fife to a niofh aftouifliiiig height,
and reaching far ab'oVe tJie clouds, aiie here, although in the
tnidlt of the torrid zonie, covered with perpetual fnow. From
experiments rriade with a barometer on the mountain of Coto-
paxi, it appealed that its fummit was elevated IJx thoufand two
hundred and fifty-two yards above the fuiface of the lea, fomc-
thing above three geographical miles, which greatlv exceeds the
height of any other mountains in the known worlds
,,'C6tbpaki becatric a volcano about the time when the Spaniards
firft arrived in this country. A new eruption happened m
i7,4'3, which-jha.d been for fome. days jJreceded by a. C9nt!nual.
^'i;^5^ijR5Ri^WWij^;.:?«ife> ?%ft,'^V^l'>J.^ fl'Pei^iurf ]. .W3S ipade ni
its f^sn^At^ ^3*3 lib three others near the middle of its declivity ;
th^fe^artS, whan the eruption commenced, were buried ijnder •
pi'odi'gibtfs-'inaflcs of fnbwl'lTle ignited' fubfta'iccs U-'hich' weio"
cjc'ftea, Dting'-riiingted -wilh a cbnlidciablc quantity' of fcibw. au.d ,
U ' ' '
:46 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
ipc, melting amidH; the flames, were carried down with fucri
a.rnnzing raj3idi|y, that the plain from Callo to Latacungn was
'Q^Vcrflovv'^^^',an,d ,^rr.t}T(e k9ufe&, , with ,their wretched irjhabita^iis,
\ve,rc fwept a\va,y in one general and inft.intaneous deftruftionr
The riv.er qf^ Latncunga was the receptacle of this dreadful
jB,ODd5 till bccopiing fwoilen above its banks, tlie torrent rolled
.over tl^e adjacent country, continuing to fweep away houfes and
cattle, and rendered the land near the town of the fame nairje
as the river, one vaft lake. Here, however, the inhabitants ha,tl
iu^-icicnt ,Avarning to favc their lives by flight, and retreated t,o
a mqre elevated i pot at lome diftance. During three days i\\p
volcano ejcfted cinders, while torrents of lava with melted ice
and fnow, pained down the fides of the mountain. The erup-
tion continued for feveral days longer, accompanied with terrible
roarings of the wind, rulhing through the craters which had
been opened. At length all was quiet, and neither fmoke nor
fire were to be feen ; until in May, 1744, the flames forced a
paflage through feveral other parts on the fides of the mountain -,
fo that in clear nights the flame, being reflcfted by the tranfpa-
rent ice, exhibited a \rery grand and beautiful illumination. On
the t3th of November following, it ejcftcd fuch prodigious
quantities of fire and lava, that an inundation, ecfual to the for-
mer, foon enfucd, and the inhabitants of the town of Latacunga
for fome time gave themfclves over for loft.
' The moQ: fouthern mountains of the Cordilleras is that' of
Mccas or Sangay, which is of a prodigious height, and the fjr
great^eli part of it covered with fnow ; yet from its fummit ilfues
a cotitin-uarflre, attended with explofions nvhieh are pbinly
heard at forty leagues diftanee. The country adjacent to this
volcano is entirely barren, beins^ covered with cinders ejefted'
from its mouth. In this motifitain riles the river Sangay, which
being joined by the Upano, forms the Payra,. a large river which
difcharges itfclf into the Maranon.
Pichincha. though famous for it? great height, is on-e thoufand
.two hundrc<{ and leventy-cight yards lower than the perpendi-
cular heioht of Cotopaxi, and was formerly a volcano, but the
mouth OF crater on one of its fides is now covered vrith fiand and
calcined matter, fo that at prefcnt neither fmoke nor fjve ifi'ut^
from it. When Don George Juan ari'd Don Antonio de yUoa
>v&rc fluUioncd on it for the purpofe of making aftronomical ob-
Jervattons, they found the qold Qn the, top of this mountain ex-
itrbmelyjfltteinfe, the wind v.iol!?ji-f>, an^ t^cy we.re,,j£rf (JU^intly
involved in In thick a fog, or, in otljer words, a' cloud, that
OF PER U. 147
ail objctt at fix or eight paces diftance waS 'ft:arce.ly^difcernib!e.
The air grew clear by the clouds moving nearer to tlic earth,
and on all fides furrounding the mountain to a vuft diftance,
feprefenting the fea with the mountain /landing like ^11 ifl^fid in
the center. When this happened, they heard the dreadful ribife
of the tempefts that difcharged themfelves on Quito and the
neighbouring country. They faw the lightning ill'uc fi'drti iho
clouds, and heard the thunder roll far beneath thcni. VvMu'ie
thii lower parts were involved in tempclls of thunder and r^iin,
they enjoyed a delightful ferenity ; the wind was abated, the
iky clear, and the enlivening rays of the fun moderated the
feyetity of the cold. But when the clouds role, their thicknefs
rendered refpiration ciflicuk ; fnow and hail fe]l continually,
and the wind i-eturned with all its violence, lo that it was im-
ppfFible entirely to overcome the fear of being, logetlicr with
their hut, blown down the precipice on whole c^gii it was built,
or pf-,bciiig buried in it by the conflant accumulations of ice and
fp5»\Ye-j; X^^'f fears were likewife incrcaled by the fall of enor-
mous fragments of rocks. Though the fmallcft crevice vifible
in their hut was (lopped, the wind was fo piercing that it pcne.-
trated through; and though the hut was imall, crowded >A/ith
inhabitarrts, and had feveral lamps conftantly burning, tire cold
was fo great, that each individual was obliged to have a cliufiiig-
difh of coals, and feveral men vi^ere conftantly employed everv
morning to remove the fnow which fell in the night. By the
feveritics of fuch a climate their feet were I welled, and io ten-
der, that walking was attended with extreme p:\in, then" hands
covered with chilblains, and their lips io fweiled and chopt, that
-Cy^ry.^naotion in fpeaking drew blood,
LIMA, OR LOS REYES.
The next divifion of Peru is the audience of Lima, v/lnch is
bounded on the north by Quito ; on the eail, by tlse Cordilleras
of the Andes ; on the louth, by the audience of Los CUarcos ;
and orl the weft, by the Pacific ocean ; it being about leycn
hundred and fevcnty miles in length from north to louth, but of
an unequal breadth.
The climate and foil of this country is uncommonly various.;
in lome places it is exceedingly hot, in others inlupportably
cold, and in the city of Lima, where rain never falls, it ■ is
ijtvlys' tbtnncratc. The featons vary within the couipafsi'o'f a
U 2 *
i'-^8^ GENERAL DESCRIPTION
few miles, aiid in xertam parts oF the audience, all trie vrci'ttt-
tudes of weather are experienced in tvventj'-foiif lioTiV^,^ ^It'iS
cxtiemely. remarkable that ho rains fall, or rivers floV oH ''thq
fcai 'cdaftsj-.thpugh the country is refreihed by thick fogs, ifeftvd
the.,hcat'aDatea_by denfe clouds that never condenfc into fhdw;-
jprs. Ihis phenornenon has drawn tlie attention or many
naturalifts, without thejr bcinrr able fa:ibfa6lorilv to account
fjor^it,. ■.-,,.-.
jSprjf^g begins, towards the clofe of the year,-'t'h'at"ts, abbtit'tti^
end of November or the beginning of December, when the
vapours which fill, the atmofphere during the Avinter fubfide,
and thej-; fun, tpjthe great joy of the inhabitants, a gairi appears,
and'the.cduntry then begins to revive, which, during the abferice
of his rays, had continued in a flate of laiipour. This is fuc-
fecded' hy furnmcr, which, though hot from the perpendiculir
direfiiipn of the fun's ray?., is far from being infu^poftable ; the
'^eatj'which, inaecd, \vou!d otherwile be excefTive, being mo-
derated by the fciuth winds, wjiich always bjow at (his feafon,
though with no great force. Vyinter begins at t3ic latter end of
'Tune or the beginning of July, and continues till Novembe'f or
I).ecepiber, when the foulh wind begins to blow flrnnger, and
- to produce a certain degree of cold, not, indeed, e(^ual to that
■^n the countries where the ice and fnow are known, but'iokeen
that the light dreilts arc laid by, apd cloth or other warm fluffs
■worr|. During the winter the earth is covered with fo thick
a foe, as totally to intercept the rays of the lun ; and the
•wirids, by blowing under the ihelter of the fog, retain the
particles they contrafi:ed in the frozen zone. In this feafon oiily
: ihe vapours diffolve into a very Imall dew, whiich every -Cvhere
.jeouallv moirrens the earth ; by which means all the hills, which
;. .during the other parts of the year ojfer nothing to the fight put
rocks and waftcs, are clcthed with verdure and enamelled with
. i),i)w,c».s of the moft beautiful colours. Tiicfe dews never fall
,;,j?'i'.-!liW^>)fl"^^''^'^''^^ '■^^ ^^ impin'r the roads or incfuimpde th^^^trjr=.
,,, :Ve}ier ^ .a very thin ftuff will not foon be wet through, ,p>ut^the
>. -continuance of, the niifts during the whole winter,, without
u,^i,ng ,?j>chaled by the fv;n, fertilizes e\'eiy part o|^the.c^u-nt)V.
, . ,V,!L.ima is.-as free from tempeJT:s as from rain, fo that thofc of. the
, , i|5h^hU;araf,5 w,ho, have neither .vihied the .m<">pntains r^pr jt!;a,vellcd
5PljaK4 a,vf,tl^^j|efQ:|-e extremely, jL^fi^L^,^ >y;1^i^^-v, .th'cy .,^i;ft he^r^the
JE ^CTtCr, )Or fe^, the, latter. But jil^.is .ypry j-erriarkaljle, tli^t what
-I js^hciiq,.p:r!tirc!y unknown,, ^ll^oyld be fo common thirty leagues
to the caft of Lima ; it being no farther^to the mountains, where
,.^^^^F E R U. J 49
violent rains and tempefts of thunder and lightning are as fre-
qiUQnt as at Quito. ,,,,,,
^;rlBut ti*<)>*g^^ t^^ c^Pjiit^ '}^ freed from the terror of thefe
tempefts, it is fubjeft to what is much more dreadful. Eartlir
quakes happen here fo frequently, that the inhabitants, ar«
under continual apprehenftojiS' of their being, from th^ir fud-
dennets and violence, buried in the ruins of their own houfes^j
yet thefe earthquakes, though fo fudden, have their prefage's^
or.e of the principal of which is a rumbling noile in the bowels
^qf, tbe earth, about a minute before the fhccks are felt, that
faeois to pervade all the adjacent fubterraneous part ; this is fol-
lowed by difrr.al bowlings of the dogs, who feem to prefage
the approaching danger. The beafts of burden pafTmg the
fhreets flop, and b}' a natural infhinft ipread open their legs, the
better to lecure themfelves from falling. On thefe portents
the terrified inhabitants fly from their houfes into the ftreets
witli luch precipitation, that if it happens in the night, they
appear quite naked ; the urgenc^;^ of the danger at once banifh-
ing all fenfe of delicacy or fhame. Thus the flreets exhibit
fuch odd and fingular figures as might afford matter of diverfion,
were it polTible to be diverted in fo terrible a moment. This
fudden concourle is accompanied with the cries of ichildren
waking out of their fleep, blended with the lamentations of
the women, whofe agonifing prayers to the faints increafe
the common fear and confufion. The men are alfo too much
affected to refrain from giving vent to their terror, fo that
the whole city exhibits a dreadful fcene of conllernation and
horror.
The earthquakes that have happened at the capital are very
finmerous. The firfl fince the eftablifliment of the Spaniards
was in 1582, buflUhe damage was much lefs confiderable than in
fome of the fucceeding. Six years after, Lima was again vifited
Vy another earthquake, fo dreadful that it is ftill folemnly comme-
' inorated every year. In i6og another happened, which overturn-
f?d many houfes. On the 2'7th of ^November, 1630, fuch' prodi-
gious damage was done in the city by an earthquake, that in
aicknowledgement of its not having been entirely demolifhed,
?[ feftival on that day is annually celebrated. Twenty-four
years after, on the 3d of Novem.ber, the mofl flatcly edifices
"\n the city, and a great number of houles, were deflroyed by
' 'ah earthquake, but the inhabitants retiring, few of them perifh-
' ed.'' Another dreadful one happened in 1678; but one of the
'"jTiofh terrible was on the ?.8ih of Oftober, ibS'ji It began at
'"■|bvJr in the morning, and defbroyed many of the fineft public
tvrr",'.
J50 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
iyuildings and houfcs, in which a great number cf the inhabit
tants penlhed ; but this was little more than a prthjde to what
foll6wuring tJiis lecond fluick, the
iea retiring conftderably, and ther> returning in mountainous
Avaves, entirely overwhelmed Callao, which is ai five mtlci
dilbnce from Lima, and all the adjacent 'country, together with
the miierable inhabitants. From that lime, i\x earthquakes
have happened at Lima previous to that of 1746. This laft
was on the 28th of Oftober, at half an hour after ten at night,
when the concufliops began with fuch violence, that in liale
more than three minutes, the grcateft part, if not all the
buildings in the city, were deftroyed,' burying under their ruins
thofe inhabitants who had not made lulHcient hafte inta the
ilreets and fquarcs, tlie only places of fafeiy. At length the
horrid effefts of the fird fhocjc ccafed, but the trantjuil^ty
was of fliort duration, the concu (lions iwiftly lucceedijig each
other. The fort of Callao alfo funk into ruins; but what it
luffered front the earthquake in its building was inconliderable^
•when compared to the dreadful cataihophe which followed;
for the lea, as is ulual on luch occalions, receding to a con-
fiderabie diftance, returned in mountainous waves, foaming
with tiic violence of the agitation, and luddcnly buried Caiho
and the neighbouring country in its flood. This, however,
was nut entirely efFcfied by the hrll iwcU of the waves, for
the fea retiring farther, returned with ftill greater impctuofity,
and covered both the walls and other buildings of the place j
io that what even had eicaped the firft inundltion, was totally
overwhelmed by thofe luccceding mountainous waves.. Twen-
ty-three fhips and veirds, great and luuil, were then m the
harbour, nineteen of which were lunk, and the other loui-,
among which was a frigate najned Si. Fermin, were carried by
the force cf the waves to a coniiderabie diftuuce up the country^
This terrible inundation and earthquake extended to other
parts on the coall, and fevcral towns underwent the latuc fate
as the city of Lima, where the number of perfons who pcrifh(*d
within two days after it began, ttnounted, according to the bo^
dies found, to one thouland three hundred, befides the maimed
and wounded,, mairy of whom lived only a ihoi-t'' timp-isiei
great torture, '■ ■- ■ , ::i . : * £)!!■
, ,T|ie country of Lima enjoys great fertilky^.i producing all
Jtinds of grain, and a prodigious variety of fruit. Here in-.
duftry and art fupply that moifture which the clouds withhold*
The; ai;veient Incas of Peru caufed fiftmll canals, tp-.te^,, formed,
in order to conduft the waters of the ri v'crs to ^vcriyrjpairt of
the country. The Spaniards, finding thefe ufcful works, ex-
ecuted to their hands, had only to keep them in order, and by
thefe are vs^^tered fpacious Selds of barley, large meadows, plar*
tations, vineyards and gardens, all yielding uncommon plenty.
Lima differs from Quito, where the fruits of the earth have no
eI«termitTed feafon, for here the harvcfl is gathered in, and the
trees drop their leaves m the proper feafon.
Although the fummer here is hot, yet venomous creatures
are unknown ; and the fame may be faid of the territory calltci
Vallcs, though here are fome ports, as Turnbez and Piur;?,
where the heat is almofl as great as that of Guayaquil. This
fingubrity can therefore proceed from no othex" caule than the
natural drought of tlie climate.
The audience of Lima is tiivided into four biflioprics, TruKr
illo, Guamanga^ Cufco and Arequipn. The dioeefe of Truxillo
lies to the north of the archicpifcopal dioeefe of Lima, and
like all the others is divided into feveral jurifdi£lions. The
city of Truxillo is feated in S'^^ 6' fouth latitude, in a pleafant
fituation, though in a fandy foil.
In the dioeefe of Guamanga is a rich q.uickfdver mine, from
which the inhabitants of a neighbouring town procure their"
whole fubfifte nee ; the coldnefs of the air in that place check-
ing the growth of all kinds of grain and fruit, fo that they
are obliged to purchafe them^ from their neighbours. The
^uicfefilver mines wrought here fupply all the filver mines
in Peru with that necelTary mineral, and notwitliilanding the
prodigious quantities already extrafted, no diminution is per-
ceived.
Cufco, which gives name to another dioeefe, is the moS;
ancient city in Peru, being of the fame date with the empire of
the Incas, and was founded by thsm as the capital of the
empire. On the mountain contiguous to the north part of the
eity ai-«i the ruins of a famous foft built by the Incas, whence it
appears, that iheir defign was to incloie the whole mountain
with a prodigious wall of fuck conflruftion as to render its
aicent ablblutcly impra£licable ^o an enemy^ in order to pievent
all approach to the city. This v/all was entirely of freeftone,
2nd ilrongly built, fome of the ftones being of a prodigious
152 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
magnitude. The city Cufco is nearly equal to that of
Lima.
. Jn this Wifhopric are feveral mines of gold and filvcr (liai
are extremely rich.
The fourth diocefe of the audience of Lima is Arequipa
Avhich contains the city of the fame name, one of the largclt
in all Peru : and it is delightfully feated in a plain, the houfcs
are well built of ftone, and generally lofty, commodious, finely
decorated on the out-fide, and neatly furniihcd within. Th<;
temperature of the air is extremely agree^tble, the cold bein*
never exCelTive, nor the heat troublefom", fo that the fields
are always clothed with verdure, and enamelled with flowers,-
as in a perpetual fpring. But thefe advantages are allayed by
its being frequently expofed to dreadful earthquakes, for by
ttiefe convulfions of Nature it has been four timet, laid in ruins.
The city is, however, very populous, and among its inhabi-
tants are many noble families.
In this bifhopric are feveral gold and filver mines, and in
fome parts are large vineyards, from which confiderable quan-
tities of wine and brandy are made. Among the other produc-
tions is Guinea pepper, in which the jurifdiftion of Africa in
th'is dlocere carries on a very advantageous trade, the annual
produce of thefe plantations bringing in no lefs than fixty
thoufand dollars per annum. The pods of this pepper are
about a (Quarter of a yard in length, and when gathered »rc
dried in the fun and packed up in bags of rufhes, each bag
containing an aroba or a quarter of a hundred weight, and thus
they are exported to all parts. Other places of this jurifdiftibh'i
are famous for vaft quantities of large and excellent olives, faj-'^
exceeding the fineflt produced in Europe, they being nefcrly
tkc fizeof a hen's egg.
L O S C H A R C O S.
The audience of Charcos, the laft divifton of Peru, is ec^^ual '
iii extent to that of Lima, but many of its parts are not )i6[
well inhabited, fome being full of vaft deferts and impenctrabtd '
fore fbs, 'while others have extenftve plains intercepted by the '
ftupendous height of the Cordilleras : the country is inhabited!^
only in fuchpafrts as are free ffbrtl' thofe inconveniences, *Tt ir "
bounded on the north by the "dlocefc of Cufco, and reaches
frfiithward to Buenos Ayres ; oti the eaft it extends to Biafil ;
aifd'on the weft, it reaches to the Pacific ocean, particuhMy'"a'tP'''
AliicaVni; ■•••The remainder 6f the province bordvr? on tlie'kiAi^-^'
dom of Chili,
0 F P E R U, 553
I'liis 2U(Jience is divided into the archbliKoprlc of Plata and
five biflioprics. We fhall befiin with the former..
The famous mountain of Potofi is known all oy.ef.„tbe.. com-
mercial world for the immenfe quantity of filvsrf it ,J;as pro-
duced. The difcovery of this amazing treaifure liappenfji at
the commencenierit of the year 1545, by a mere accidehtj-wljich
we fhall mention afterwards. At a (mall diHance from it ale
the hot medicinal baths, called Don Die?o, whither Ibme re-
fort for health, and others for diverfion.
•i'c.-j'; r ' . '- ■
At the tjjne when the fiift conqucfls were madej when erai-.
grations were mod frequent, the country of the Incas had a.
rnuch greater reputation for riches than. New-Spain, and, in
reality, for a long time much more conhderable treafures were
brought away from it. The defue of partaking of them mufl
heceffarily draw thither, as was really the cafe, a greater number
of Caftilians. Though almoft all of them went over thither
w.ith the hope of returning to their country to enjoy the fortune
they might acquire, yet the majority fettled in the colony.
They were induced to this by the foftnefs of the fclimate, the.
falubritv of the air, and the goodnefs of the provifions. Mexico,
prefented not the fame advantages, and did not give tlwm rea-
lon to e.xpeft fo much independence as a land infinitely more
tqmot?, frpjio^ thC; .mother fcountry.
Cufco ^ttrafted the conquerors in rrtultitudes f they found
this capital built on a ground that was very irregular, and di-
vided into as many quarters as there were provinces in the em-
pire, Each of the inhabitants might follow the ufages of his
native coutitiy, but every body was obliged to conform to the
wprlh'ip eftablifhed by the founder of the monarchy. There
was no edifice that had any grandeur, elegance or convenience,
becaufe the people were ignoraftt of the firft elements of archi-
tecture. The magnificence of what they called the " palace
of the fovereign, of the princes of the blood, anci of ,the great
mep pf^his) empife," confifted in the profufforx ^pf, (h,9,7tietalsi
that were lavished in decorating them. The temple of the Sun
was di(iinguiihed above all other ediffces 5 its walls were in-
crufied or il\eathed with gold and filver, ornamented with divert
figures, and loaded with the idols of all the nations \yhpi» the
Incas had enlightened and fubdued.
,^^_i|^\y;^s^:n.Qjtjj», fplicitude for their ojS'n .^f.?_fe^tation which
occupied the Sp3nia,rds at firll, they had no foonej- pillaged the
immenfe. riches which. liad been amaffed at Cufco for four cen-
X
>5.4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION"
tyrics^ than they went in great numbers in 1534, under the
order of Scbjillian de Benalcazar, to undertake the deftruflipji
of Quito, The other towns and boroughs of the empire wcj-(e.
oVer-run vvitb the fasne fpirit of rapine ; and the citizens and
the temples were plundered in all parts.
Thofe
rewer errors have been commuted in tne means of pfocuring ,
proV-ifions. The natives had hitherto lived hardly qn any things
biit maii'e, fill its and pulfe, for which they had ufed' no otHe|r
feafohirig except fait and pimento. Their liquors, which were
made from different roots, wei"eniore diverfified ; of thefe the
OF PERU. I'^g
cMi^h^'A^^as the mofl ufual ; but the conquerors \\^ere not fatisfie<^
eiY?ii6r witii the liquors or with the food of the people they had
fubdued. They imported vines from the old world, which fooa
multiplied fufficiently in the funds of the' coafts at lea, Piici,
Nafca, Moquequa, and Truxillo, to furnifh the colony wiih the
wine and brandy it wanted. Olives fucceeded ftill belter,' and
yielded a great abundance of oil, which wlV)y^3nn ferges, druggets, and in all
kinds of coiife 'ftufts. -^''^- -''^•- ■ ■'■'■^'r
* The manufatlurcs fubfcrviefit'ttf luxury are eftablifhed-'St
Arequipa, Ciifto arid Lima. In thefe three towns is made 9
prodigious i-itiihbcr of gold toys and plate, for the ufe of pri-
vate perfons, and alio for the churches. All theie manufac-
tures are biit cbarlely ^yrought, and mixed with a great deal of
fropper. We feldom diCcovcr more tafte in their gold and filver
laces and embroideries, which their manufaftures alio produce.
This is not altogether the cafe in regard to their lace, which,
\vhen mixed with that of Europe, looks very beautiful. This
laft manufafture is commonly in the hands of the nuns, who
employ iu it the Peruvian girls, and the young meihecs of the
tGvvns^ who for the moll part, before marriage, pais feme years
'Irf the '"'(Convent.
Other hands are employed in painting and gilding leather for
|-boms, in making with wood and ivory pieces of inlaid work
and fculptlire, and in drawing figures on the marble that is found
'•at Cucuca, or on linen imported from Europe. Thefe'different
"Works, which are almoft all manufaftured at Cufco, ferve for
" prnamonts' for houfes, palaces and temples ; the drawing of them
is not bad, but the colours are neither cxaft nor permanent.
If the Indians, who invent nothing, but are excellent imita-
|br^, had able muflers and excellent models, they would at' ieaft
' jni^ike good copyifts. At the dole of the lalt century, fotne
v/or|i:s''oT"a PeVuyian painter, nam'ed ^Michael de St. Jacques,
■• ivcre fe^due'ht to Rome, and the'corinoilifeurs di{coVercd'-'iiiaTks
' "of genius in them. '•^' ^'''''' ''"^- ' •' ■ ■'"' ''^-■'■■■•■'
flitttipLiKt^fevivians wcfd'lj'fi^atquainted MrilH ^a^lii^f'tlfey
Knew the ute of' ^uld and ftlvcr, for thev employed' them in
diucrent kind's of ornaments. Independent of what the tor-
rents and accident procured them of thcfc metals, fome «'iW?he$
had been opened of little depih. The Spaniard's ' hiiVe"'iiot
tiariimitted t'o us the manner in wliich iheie rich produ6fions
•were drawn from the bofom of the earth. Theirpiide, which
^h^ deprived us ' of fo much ulcful knowitd^^,' undoLibtefily
liiacle tfiem itViak. thai, in the inventions bf a ^^eV)plc"^''i^I%!n
"'^*^|ficy called'bal'barouij thei'fi was nothing that was \'vbJffi^t*(?be
■'''Recorded. •, '^^ ^-^^^ "^^^- ■-'-•'• ''^'^^"^'" ' : -^^"'^^.ijo
""■ ^'''hiS''i\kA0y$'i^'m''r^^H^r %" whi.t^lV"tKe'"MliSfH.ns
woi"i;ea'''tlVelt^' ininesi did riot' exten'cl (is ('Ke in'ines'tfieirifclves.
The conquerors opened them en all fides. At firll the gold
0 F P E R U, t
51
mines tempted the avarice of the greater number. Fatal ex-
perience diicouraged thofe whom paffion had not blinded : they
|;leirly faw, that, for fome enormous fortunes raifed in this
manner, great numbers who had only moderate fortunes, were
totally ruined. Thefe jnines funk into fuch difcredit, that, in
order to prevent them from being abandoned, the government
was obliged to talj.c the twentieth part of their produce, inftead
of the fifth, which it at firft received.
The mines of filver were more common, more equal, and
richer. They even produced filver of a ftngular fpecies, rarely
found elTewhere. Tow.ards the fca-coaft great lumps of this
metal are found in the fands.
There are a great number of other mines which are infinitely
more important, and are found in the rocks and on the moun-
tains. Several of them gave falfe hopes ; fuch,. in particular^
was that of Ucuntaya, difcovered in i'7i3: this was only ari
incruftation of almoft malTy filver, which at firfl yielded feveral
millions, but was foon exhaufled.
Others v/hich were deeper have been alike deferted : their
produce, though equal to what it v/as originally, was not fufH-
icient to fupport the expenfe of working them, which aug-
mented every day. The mines of Quito, Cufco and Are-
duipa, have experienced that revolution which awaits many of
the reft. , >
There are greater numbers of very rich mines which the
waters have invaded. The difpofition of the ground, which
from the fummit of the Cordilleras goes continually fhelving
to the South fea, inuft necelfarily render thefe events more
common at Peru than in other places. This inconvenience,
which with greater care and fkill might often have bpen pre-
vented or diininifhed, has been in fome inftapces remedied.
Joleph S.ilcedo, about the year 1660, had difcovered, not
far from the town of Puna, the mine of Laycacota : it was fo
rich, that they often cut the filver with a chizel. Profperity
had, io elevated the niind of the proprietor, that he permitted
all the Spaniards, who came to feek their fortune in this part
; .^jf.^the ; p,ew world, to work lome days on their own account,
•^^ij^hPHt weighing or ts^king any account of the prefents he
ipa,ae them. This generoiuy drew around him an infinite
number of people, whole avidity made them quarrel with each
other, and the h^vc of money made them take up arms and fall
upon one another ; and their beneuiftor, who had neglefted no
expedient to prevea; and exting'aifh their fanguinary conten-
158 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
tif*ns was hanged as being the author of them. Whilft he wns
in prilon, the water got pofTeirioni of his mine, Superftition
foon made it imagined, that this was a punifhment fflr 'the
horrid aft they perpetrated againft him. This idea of Divine
vengeance wsS' revered for a long time; but at lafl, in 1740,
Diego de Bachna aflTociated with other opulent people to avert ^
the fpringb which had deluged fo much trealurc. Tlje labours
which this difhcult undertaking required v/ere not finiflied till
i'j54. The mine yields as much now as it did at firft. But
niiiies ilill richer than this have been dilcovered : fuch, for
example, is that of Potofi, which was found in the fame coun-
try where the Incas worked that of Porco.
An Indian, nalned Hualpa, in 1545, purfuing feme deer, in
order to climb certain fteep rocks laid hold of a bufli, the roots
of which looferjed from the earth, and brought to view an
ingot of filvcr. I'hc Indian had recourie to it for his own'
ufi^ and never failed to return to his trealure every time that
his wants or his dcfues folicitcd him to it. The change that
happened in his fortune was remarked by one of his country-
men, and he difcovercd to him the fecret. The two friends
could not keep thqir council and enjoy their good fortune ;
they quarrelled ; on which the indilcreet confident difco-
vercd the whole to his mafter, Villaroell, a Spaniard who was
fettled in the neighbourhood. Upon this the mine became
known, and was worked, and a great number of them were
found in its vicinity; the principal of which are in the
northern part of the mountain, and their diieftion is from
north to foulh. The mofl intelligent people of Peru have
obferved, that this is in general the direction of the richell
mines.
The fame of wliat was pafiing at Potofi foon fpread abroad,
and there v/as quickly built at the foot of the mountaui a
town confifting of hxty thoufand Indians and ten •thoA'Pan'd' .
Spaniards. The flerility of the foil did not preventifs'being
immediately peopled. Corn, fruit,' flocks, American JlulFs,
European luxuries, arrived there from every quarter. Iridilf- '
try, which every where follows the current money/ could hot'*'
Icarch for it with fo much fuccels as at its iource. It evi-
dently appeared, that in 1738 thefe mines produced a'nnvJ'alt^P'
near nine iiundrcd and feventy-eight thoufand pounds, ' wit'lVoWP
reckoning the lilvcr which was not rcglftcred, an<{ vC-hat! h^d
been carried eft by fraud. From that time tiie pioduce hcfs
beeji io much diminifhcd, that no more than one C!n;'vt!v ps!l iS^
the, coin. which was for:Tierlv fli-uck is now made. -'^ ^"3"*
OF PERU. :59
. At the mines of Potofi, and all the mines of South- America,
the Spaniards, in purifying their gold and ftlver, ufe mercury,
with which they are fupplied from Guanca Vfeiieii ■'• The
common opinion is, that this mine was' difcovered iii 1564 :
the trade of mercury was thrn ftill free ; it became an excl'iifive
triadebin 157* : at this period all the mines of mercury wet6
fhutfiamd that of Guan<:a Velica aloue was worked, . the "
property of which the king referved to himfelf. It is not"
found to diminiHi. This mine is dug in a prodigioufly large'
mountain, hxty leagues from Lima. In its profound abyfs ar«
feen Ilieets, fquares, and a chapel, where the myfterieg of
religion on all fedivals are celebratod : millions of flambeaux
are continually kept to enlighten it.
Private people, at their own expenfe, work the mine of
G>y3nca Velica. They are obliged tp deliver to government^
at, a'l ftip.ulated price, all the mercury they extraft from it.
As foon as they have procured the quari>fity which the demands
cf.,;ODe.^year require, the work is fulpended. Part of the mer-
ci^^yifia^fold on the fpot, and the reft is fent to the royal maga-
zines throughout all Peru, from whence it is delivered out at
the lame price it is fold in Mexico. This arrangement, which
has occaftoned many of the mines to drop, and prevented
others from being opened, is inexcufable in the Spanifh fyftem ;
tii-e court of Madrid, in this refpeft, merits the fame re-
proaches as a miniftry in other countries Would incur, that
would be blind enough to lay a duty on the implements of
agriculture.
The mine of Guanca Velica generally affefts thofe who work
in-it with Convulfions : this and the other mines, which are
not Icfs unhealthy, are all woiked by the Peruvians. Thefe
iinfortunate viftims of an inia-tiable avarice are crowded all
together and plunged naked into thefe abyffes, the greateft
paj-t of which are deep, and all exceffively cold. Tyranny
ha§ invented this refinement in cruelty, to render it impoflfible
for any thing to efcape its leftlefs vigilance. If there are any
wretches who long furvtve fuch barbarity, it is the ufe of
t^V'oa thfit preferves them.
in . the Cordilleras, near the city of Paz, is a mountain of
remarkable height, called IMimani, which doubtlefs contains
imrnenfe riches ; for a crag of it being forne yezts ago fevered
by>-;f^; f|t.ail"i of lightning, and falling on a neighbouring moun-
tain, fuch a quantity of gold was found in the fragments, that
for fome time that metal was fold at Paz for eight pieces of
eight per ounce j but its fummit being perpetuaJLy covered
i6a' GENERAL DESCRIPTION &c.-
with ice and fnow, no mine has been opened in the moun-
tain.
The city of La Paz is of a middling fiie, and from its
fituation among the breaches of the Cordilleras, the ground ort
which it ftands is unequal, and it is alio furrounded by moun-
tains. When the river Titacaca is increafed, either by the
rains, or the melting of the fnow on the mountains, its current
forces along large maffes of rocks with fome grains of gold,
which are found after the flood has fubflded. Hence fome idea
may be formed of the riches inclofed in the bowels of thefe
mountains, a remarkable proof of which appeared in the year
1730, when an Indian, wafiiing his feet in the river, difco-
yered fo large a lump of gold, that the Marquis de Callle
Fuerte gave twelve thoufand pieces of eight for it, and fent.tt
a^ a^j^ef<^4tc^.the King of Spain,
■?.'ivy'<.ii)i3 .^n'j 1... .
vonl rfnw
H Hguoirif
') .«n£ibnl
Siii lo sbfl ; -3) ,9ntt ft
sldnboijl ilaJsam n»lIifcitO
( i6i )
HISTORY OF
C H I L L
V-^HILI is fituated laetween ^.^'^ and 45** fouth latitude, and
65** and 85® weft longitude ; its length is one thouland two
hundred and fixty miles, and its greatefl: haeadth five hundred
and eighty : it is bounded on the north, by Peru ; on the eaft^
by Paragua or La Plata ; on the louthj by Patagonia ; and on the
weftj by the Pacific oceani It lies on both fides of the Andes;
Chili Proper lies on the weft^ and Cuyo or Cutio, on the eaft.
The principal towns in the former are St. Jago and Baldivia ; in
the latter, St. John de Frontiera.
The firft attempt of the Spaniards upon this country was made
by Almagro in the year 1535, after he and Pizaro had completed
the conqueft of Peru. He fet out on his expedition to Chili
with a confiderable body of Spaniards and auxiliary Indians.
For two hundred leagues he was well accommodated with every
neceffary by the Indians, who had been fubjefts of the Emperors
of Peru ; but r%ching fhe barren country of Charcos, his troops
became difconten^ted through the hardfhips they fuffered, which
determined Almagro to climb the mOiintains culled Cordilleras,
in order to get the fooner into Chili ; being ignorant of the in-
valuable mines of Potofi, contained in the province of Charcos,
where he then was. At that time the Cordilleras were covered
with fnow, the depth of which obliged him to dig his way
through it. The cold made fuch an impreffion on his naked
Indians, that it is computed no lefs than ten ihouftnd of them
perilhed on theie dieadful mountains, one hundred and fifty
of the Spaniards fliaring the fame fate, while many of the fur-
vivors loft their fingers and toes through the excefs of cold. At
laft, after encountering incredible difficulties, Almagro reached
a fine, temperate, and fertile plain on the oppofite fide of the
Cordilleras, where he was received with the greateft kindnefs
by the natives. Thefe poor favages, taking the Spaniards for
Y
i62 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
deputies of iheir god Virachoca, immediately colleftcd for them
an offering of gold and filver, worth two hundred and ninety
thoufand ducats ; and foon after brought a prefcnt to Almagro
worth three hundred thoufand more. Thefe offerings only de-
termined him to conquer the whole country as foon as poflible.'"'
The Indians, among whom he now was, had acknowledged the
authority of the Peruvian Incas, or Emperors, and confcquently
gave Almagro no trouble. He therefore marched immediately
againft tho(e who had never been conquered by the Peruvians^,
and inhabited the fouthern parts of Chili, Thefe favages fought
with great rr.folution, and difputed every inch of ground; but
in five months lime the Spaniards had made fuch progrcls, that
they muft infallibly have reduced the whole province in a very
little time, h^d not Almagro returned to Peru, in confequencc'
of a commiffion fent him from Spain.
In i'54o, Pizaro having overcome and put Almagro to death,
fent into Chili, Baldivia or Valdivia, who had learned the rudi-
fnents of war in Italy, and was reckoned one of the beft. officers
in the Spanifh feivice. As he penetrated fouthward, however,
he met v.'iih much oppofition ; the confederated caziques fre-
quently gave hxTt battle, and difplayed great courage and reiolu-
tion, but could noir prevent him from penetrating to the valley
of Mafiocho, v/hch he found incredibly fertile and populous.
Here he founded the city of St. Jago, and finding gold mines in
the neighbourli'ood, forced the Indians to work in them, at the
fame time building a caftle for the fafcty and proteftion of his
new cofony. The aativcs, eXafperated at this flavery, immedi-
ately took up arms, attacked the fort, and though defeated and
repulfed, fet fire" to the out v/orks, which contained all the pro-
viitons of the Sjjanlarjls. Nor were they dilcouraged by thik
and many other defeats, but flill continued to carry on the war
with vigour. At laft, Valdivia having overcome them in rhany" '
battles, forced the inhabitants of the vale to fubmit ; upbn v/hich "
he immedi-ritcly fct them to work in the mines of Quild^ta.
'I'his indignity ofiFered to their countrymen redoubled the filry '
ef thole who remiiined at liberty. Their utmoft efforts, hov^-"
ever, were as yet unable to iKip Valdivia's progrefs.- ' J^Vfti^
erolfed tire larg5 rivers Nf-aulle and Hata, he traverfed a vaft
tra6l of country and founded the city of La Conception on the
Soutli fea' C(ii1l;- 'hfe ei'cttcd fortrcfiKes ih fevdfal ^arb bF ifr<»(*'
C(iumiy, in order to keep the natives' iri aWti, and builr thd'cVt'y'
caitcd Imperial, about forty leagues to the fouthward of Con-
ception. 1 he Spaniflr writers lay,, tl'.al tiie neighbouring^ valley
OF C H 1 L 1. 1^3
contained eighty tlioufand inhabitants of a peaceable difpofjiion,
and who were even fo tame as to fuffer Valdivia to pjircel out
their lands anaong his followers, wliile they themlelves remained
in a ftate of inaftivity. About fixteen leagues to the eaftward
of Imperial, the Spanifii general laid the foundations of the city
of Villa Rica, fo called on account of the ricli gold mines he
found there. But his ambition and avarice had now involved
him in difficulties from which he could never be extricated ; he
had extended his conqucfts beyond what his flrength was capa-
ble of maintaining. The Chilcfians were ftill as defirous as ever
of recovering their liberties. The horles, fire-arms, and armour
of the Spaniards, indeed, appeared dreadful to them ; but
thoughts of endlels flavery were ftill more fo. In the courfe
of the war they had difcovercd that the Spaniards were vulnera-
ble and mortal men like themfclves ; they hoped, therefore, by
dint of fuperiority in numbers, to be able to expel the tyranni-
cal ufurpers. Had all the nations joined in this relulution, the
Spaniards had certainly been exterminated ; but lome of them
wei-e of a pacific difpofition, while oihers confidered fervitude
as the greateft of all poflible calamities. Of this laft opinion
were the Aracceans, the moft intrepid people of Chili, and who
had given Valdivia the greatefl trouble. They all rofc to a man,
and chofe Capaulican, a renowned hero among them, for their
leader, Valdivia, however, received notice of their revolt
fooncr than they intended he fliould, and returned with all
expedition to the vale of Araccea ; but before he arrived, four-
teen thoufand of the Chilefians were tliere affembled under the
conduft of Capaulican ; he attacked them with his cavalry, and
forced them to retreat into the woods, but could not obtain a
complete viftory, as they kept continually lallying out and
harafling his men. At laft Capaulican having oblerved, that
fighting with fuch a number of undifciplined troops, only ferved
to contribute to the defeat and confuiion of the who'e, divided
his forces into bodies of one thoufand each, Thele he direfted
to attack the enemy by turns, and though he did not expeft
that a fingle thoufand would put them to flight, he direfted
them to make as long a {land as they could, when they were to
be relieved and Supported by another body, and thus the Spa-
niards would be at laft wearied out and overcome. Tlie event
fully anfwered his expectations. The Chilefians maintained a
fight for leven or eight hours, till the Spaniards, grovvincr faiut
for want of refrefhmcnt. retired precipitately., ,, Valdiyw prdtred.
Y V
^^i^. .^GENERAL DESCRIPTION
^'■^itsi zs 11.'. ■
them to poffefs a pafs at fome diftancf_,fVoin, tlic^^eSI, W''ftc5p
the purfuit ; bat this defign being difcovered to tbe Cti'ilefians
by his page, who was a native of that country, the Spaniards
xvere furroupded on all fides, and cut in pieces by the Indians.
The general was taken and put to death ; I'ome fay with tKc
"torture uftiaHy inflifted by thjofe favages on their prifoners ;
other?, that he had melted gold poured down his throat ; but
all agree, that the Indians made flutes and other inftruments of
his bones, andpreferved his flcull as a monument of their v^r.
tory, which they celebrated by an annual feftival. After this
viftory, the Chilefians had another engagement with their erie-
^•^inics, in which alfo they proved viftorious, defeating' tlie
-^Spaniards with the lofs of near three thoufand men j an 3 upon
ythis they bent their whole force againfl the colonics. The city
Pfbf Conception being abandoned by the Spaniards, was tafern
5<^and deftroyed ; but the Indians were forced to raife the fiege'of
■ Imperial, and their progrefs was at laft flopped by Garcia de
' Mendc^a, who defeated Capaulican, took him prifoner, and put
,' him to death. No defeats, however, could difpirit the Chile-
abfians ; they continued the war for fifty years, and to this day
•"'"yhey remain unconqucred, and give the Spaniards more trouble
\'' than any other American nation. Their mofl irreconcileable
'''^nemfes'a|feV'he inhabitants of Araccea and Tucapel", thbfe to
•'■ (he fduth of the river Bobio, or whofc country extends towards
'^ Yhe Cordilleras. The manners of thefe people greatly referable
- -^'{fi'{$ft:-6f^NclftH- America, but fpem ta have a mpfe watlike dif-
■"'pofftioii'; It is a conftant rule with the Chilefians never to fue
'"'for peace. 'The Spaniards are obliged not only to make the'firft
overtures, 'but: to purchafe it by prelcnts. They have at lalt
been obliged to abandon all thoughts of extending their con-
quefts,' atyd reduced to cover their frontiers by ercfting forts at
proper diftances.
7 he Spanifh colonics in Chili are difperfed on the borders of
the Sbuth fea. They are parted from Peru by a defert eighty
leagues in breadth, and bounded by the ifland of Chiloc, at the
extremity ne>it the fkraits of Magellan. There aie no fettle-
merits' eft 'the coafl except thole cf Baldivi^,.;Conception ij[land,
Valparaifo, and Goquimbo, or La Serena, which are all fea
ports. In the inland country is. St. Jago, the capital of the
colony'.' ' There is fio culture nor* habitation at any diftance, from
thefe town^. The' buildings' in the whole province are. low,
made of unburnt brick, and jnoflly thatched. Thi.^ praftjce is
ebferved on account of the fjequent earthquakes, and is pro-
. 0 F C H I L I, 165
oi^rly. adapted to the nature of the climate, as well as tothe m-
.aoipce.'of the inhabitants/'^^"*^^' ^mcii i^ {{^ fi-2')3Boyn^9n3i,bition
i66 GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c.
to extend his authority.* In the whole province of Chili
there are not twenty thoufand white men, and not more than
fixty thoufand negroes, or Indians, able to bear arms. The
military eftablifhment amounted formerly to two thoufand
men ; but the maintaining of them being found too expenftve,
they were reduced to ftve hundred at the beginning of this
century.
♦ With refpeft to the power of the governor of Chili, it is doubtful whether
the above is qorre-ft, as fome writers afTert that he is fubordinate to the viceroy
of Peru, in all matters relating to the government, to the finances, and to war,
but independent of him as chief adminiftrator of jufticc, and prefidcnt of the
royal Audience. Eleven inferior officers, dillributed in the province, are
charged, under his orders, with the details of adminiftration.
( >67 )
HISTORY O.F
PARAGUAY, OR LA PLATA.
P.
AR.AGUAY is fituated between 12*^ and 37° fouth latitude,
and 50" and 75" weft longitude ; its length is one thoufand
five hundred miles, and its breadth one thoufand. It is bound-
ed on the north, by Amazonia ; on the eaft, by Brafil ; on the
fouthj by Patagonia ; and on the weft, by Chili and Peru.
It is divided into fix provinces, viz. Paraguay, Parana,
SuAiRA, Uragua, Tucuman, and Rio de la Plata.
Tills country, befides an infinite number of fmall rivers, is
watered by three principal ones, the Paragua, Uragua, and.
Parana, which, united near the fea, form the famous Rio de
la Plata, or Plate river, and which annually overflow their
banks ; and on their recefs, leave them enriched with a flime,
that produces the greateft plenty of whatever is committed
to it,*
This vaft traft is far from being wholly fubdued or planted
by the Spaniards. There are many parts in a great degree
* The grand river La Plata dcferves a particular defcription. A Modenefe
Jefuit, by the name of P. Cattanco, who failed up this river, fpeaks in the
follov^ring language concerning it ; " While I refided in Europe, and read in
books of hiftory or geography that the river de la Plata was one hundred and
fifty miles in breadth, I confidered it as an exaggeration, becaufe in this hemif-
phere we have no example of fuch vaft. rivers. When I approached its mouth,
1 had the moil vehement defire to aicertain the breadth with my own eyes, and
I bava found the matter to be exaftly as it was reprefented. This I deduce par-
ticulai'lytfrom one circumftance when we took our departure from Monte Viedoj
a fort fvtuated more than one hundred miles from the mouth of the river, and
where its breadth is confiacrably diminiflied, we failed a complete day before
■We diftov'ered the land on the oppofite fide of the river ; and when we were in
the middle of the channel, we could not difcover land on either fide, and faw
nothing but the Iky and water, as if we had been in fome great ocean. Indeed,
we fhould have taken it to be fea, if the frefh water of the river, wliich was
turbid like the Pt>, hud not fitisued us that it was a river."
1^8 ^ GENERAL JyJESCRIPtlON
unknown to them, or to any other people in Europe. TTie
principal province of which wc have any knowledge, is that
which is called Rio de la Plata, towards the mouth of the
above-mentioned rivers. This province with all the adjacent
parts, is one continued plain for feveral hundred miles, ex-
tremely fertile, and produces cotton in great quantities ; tobacj
CO, and the valuable herb called paraguay, with a variety of
fruits, and the prodigious rich paftures, in which are bred fuch
herds of cattle, that it is faid the hides of the beafts arc all
that is properly bought, the carcafe being in a manner given in-
to the bargain. A horfe fome time ago might be bought for a
dollar, and the ufual price of a bullock, chofen out of a herd of
two or three hundred, was only four rails. But contrary to
the general nature of America, this country is deftitute of
woods. The air is remarkable fweet and ferene, and the Waters
of La Plata are equally pure and wholefome.
The Spaniards firft difcovered this country by failing up the
river La Plata in 1515, and founded the town of Buenos Ayres,
fo called on account of the excellence of the air, on the fouth
fide of the river, fifty leagues within its mouth, where it is fe-
vcn leagues broad. This is one of the mod confiderable towns in
South-America, the capital of this country, and the only place
of traffic to the fouth of Brafil. Here we meet with the mer-
chants of Europe and Peru, but no regular fleet comes hither
as to the other parts of South- America ; two, or.at moft three
regifter fhips make the whole of their regular intercourfe with
Europe ; their returns are very valuable, confiding chiefly of
the gold and filver of Chili and Peru, fugar and hides. Thofe
who have carried on a contraband trade to this city, have found,
it more advantageous than any other. The benefit of this con-
traband is now wholly in the hands of the Portuguefe, who
keep magazines Cor that purpofe in fuch parts of^Braiil taa- lie
near this country. muIuO zid o) h^(;ti
x. Buenos Ayres is regularly built, its ftreets are wide, the
houfes are exirecnely low, and each of them is accommodated
with a garden. The public and private buildings which, fixly
years ago, were all made of earth, are of more folid and com-
modious conftruftlon, fince the natives have learned the art
©f making brick and lime. The number of inhabitants 'is
about thirty thoufand. One fide of the town is defended by a
fortrefs with a garrifon of fix or feven hundred men ; the fhips
get to it by failing up a river that wants depth, is full of iflatids,
Ihoals, and rocks, and where ftorms are more frequent and
inore di-«adful tlitan on the ocean. It is ncccfliry to anchor
OF P A'RAQVA Y, VH I.A FIAT A.
«vlry 'tijght'^oft tkefprtt where they come to, and on the moft
rrioderate ddys a pilot muft go to found the way, for the ft^ip ;
after having furmounted thefe difficulties, ti>e Svip§ Sir?, obliged,
■»t the diftance of three leagues from the town^ to put their
goods oh board fomc light vefTel. and to go to lefu, and to
irik-f.'.rtlleir cargoes at incanado de Birragan, fituated feven
':fcj^'^ight leagues below; "'• ■-:•"-' ;--
-.5«-Taragua fends annually into the kingdom o( $m'*ir:^fm^
■'fe'cftie th»ufand five hundred, or two thoufand mules. They
'ffavel over dreary deferts for the diftance of eight or nine
hundred leagues. What is not man capable of doing, when
ncceffuy, refolution, and avarice are united ? neither deep
''jlivd miry fvvatrlps, nor furnmits of lofty mountains covcretl
'-Witb-'ei^rnal fnow, can bar his progrefs. The province of
■ Tucuman furnilhcs annually, fixteen or eighteen, thoufand oxen,
and four or five thoufand horfes, brought forth and reared upon
'ib^AWwiitei-ritibry; Paragua fends feveral articles of commerce
•.tS'Sp^xti^'hut they are all brought from neiglibouring diftrifts.
The only article it furniflies from its own territory is hides, all
- '*i*fefe are fent to Europe from Buenos Ayres.
■ We cannot quit this country without mentioning that extra-
ordinary fpeciis of commonwealth which the Jeluits erefted
in the interior parts, and concerning which thele crafty priefls
• htive endeavoured to keep, ftrangers in the dark.
•■?j>lAbout tthe middle of the kft century, thole fathers repre-
fented to the court of Spain, that the want of fuccels in their
miffions was owing to the fcandal which the immorality of tlie
-Spaniards never failed to give, and to. the hatred Avhich their
ftlfolent behaviour caufed in the Indians. They infrnuated,^ tliPt
were it not for thofe obOincles, the empire of the golpel might,
. by their labours, have been extended into the moll unknown
.' ^arts of America } and that all thofe count* ies might be fub-
dued to his Catholic majefty's obedience, without expenfe, and
• witabat force. This remonfhrance met with . iuccefs, , the
; fphere of their labours was maiked out, and the governois of
vthd ^gjtljfttent'tprovinces had orders not to interfere, not to
-. fii^ffer la-ny Spaniards to enter into this pale, v/ithcu4; liceflccs
fjom ■ the fathers ; they, on their part, agreed to pay, a certain
capitation taSf, in proportion to their flock, and to fend «. G€rta,n
nr^r^^jTjto. the king's worjts whenever the)' fliall be demanded,
. ;-^9fl ilhe^ ipifTions fhould become , populous enough to fuppiy
,jl>^Wr 1- ["vA ?.i ,,r;jrph ?.:nnvf nd} nvij s qu giiiiifi'l yd U o) SX^
f7 GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c.
gathering together about fifty wandering families, whom they
perfuacied to lettle, and they united them into a little townfhip.
This was the flight foundation upon which they built a
fiiperftrufture which amazed the world, and added much to
tlieir power, at the fame time that it occafioned much envy
ae Indians were in-
ftrufted in the militarv art, and could raife fixty tboufand men
well armed; thut they lived in towns, v/cre regularly clad,
laboured in agriculture, exercifed manufafturcs, lome even
afpired to the elegant arts, and that nothing could equal their
fubmifficn to autiiority. except their contentment under it.
Some writers have treated the charaAer of thefe Jefuits with
great feverity, aecufing tlrem of ambition, pride, and of carry-
ing their authority to luch an excefs, as to caufe not only per-
fons of both fexes, but even the magiflratcs, who were always
chofen fro^n among the Indians, to be correfted before them
with ftripes, afid by fuftering perfons of the highefk difkinftion,
witiiin their jurifdiftions, to kifs the hem of their garments as
•the' greateft honour. The priefls themfelvcs polfelTecl large
property, all manufactures were theirs, the natural prodirce of
the country u'as brought to them, and the treaiurcs annually
remitted to the luperior of the order, leemed to evince that
zeal for religion was not the only motive for forming thefe
miflions.. Tlie Fathers would not permit any of the inhabi-
tants of Peru, whether Spaniards, Meftizos, or even Indiarrs,
to come within their miffions in Paraguay. In the year 1757,
when part of this territory was ceded by Spain to the crown of
V BSE RVATIONS, &c. i-t
•Portugal in exchange for Saint Sacrament, to make the Uragua
the boundary of their pofl'effions, the Jefuits refuicd to comply
with this divifion, or to fuffer themielves to be transferred
from one hand to another, like cattle, without their own con-
fent. We were informed by the Spanilh Gazette, that't'lVe
Indians a£luaUy took up arms ; but notwithftanding the exa£l-
nefs of their difcipline, they were eafily, and with conli-
jderable flaughter, defeated by the European troops who wcic
fent to quell them; and in 1767, the Jefuits were removed
from America, by royal authority, and their late fubjtfts were
put upon the fame footing with the relt of the inhabitants of
the country.
— «"<"<"<-<-<-«<-4« ^ -^ ♦^> >•>•>••»••>•>•■> —
"WITH refpe£t to the iflands belonging to the Spanil"h mo-
narchy in this part of the globe, we fliuU notice them m
another place ; but in order to afford a more particular view
of the Spanifii intereft in her South-American colonies, as
well as of the policy purfued by her with relpeft to them, we
fhall offer a few additional general remarks on the government,
ecclefiaftical eftablifhment, and lyllem of trade carried on witli
them.
Notwithftanding the rapid depopulation of America, a very
conliderable number of the native race ftill remains both in
Mexico and Peru, efpecially in thofe parts which were not ex-
pofed to the firft fury of the Spanilh arms, or delolated by the
firff efforts of their indulhy, (liU more ruinous. In Guatimala,
Chiap:i, Nicaragua, and the other provinces of the Mexican em-
pire, which ftretch along the South fea, the race of Indians is
ftill numerous ; their fettlemcnts in fome places are fu populous,
as to merit the name of cities. In the drree audiences into
which New-Spain is divided, there are, a'S we have beiore
mentioned, at leaft two millions of Indians ; a pitiful remnant,
indeed, of its ancient population, but fuch as ffiU forms a body
•of people fuperior in number to that of all the other inhabitants
of this extenfive country. In Peru feveral diilriAs, parti<;u-
lariy in the kingdom of Quito, are occupied almoft entirely by
Indians. In other provinces they are mingled with the Spani-
aiid^t^nd in many of their lettlcments are almoft the only
-^^fhl-n W^O - pr^ftile; ; tiitS .linechanic an s, aw4f fiU .Woft ,qfi,^h«
Z 2.
172 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
inferior flations in focicty. As the inhabitants both of Mexico
and Peru were accuftom^d to a fixed reHdence, and to a certain
degree of regular induflry, lefs violence was requifite in bring-
ing ih^m to Je^ijie conformity with, the European modes of civil
life. ,-.^tt(;,j vy^hfrgyeF tH? Spaniards fettled among the favage
tribes of America, their attempts to incorporate with them
have been always fruitiefs, and oficn fatul to the natives. Im-
patient of reftiaintj and difdaining labour as a mark of fervility,
they either abandoned their original feats, and fought for inde-
pendence in mountains and forefts inacceflible to their opprel-
lors, or perifhcd when reduced to a ftate repugnant to their
ancient ideas and habits. In thediflrifts adjacent to Carthagena,
to Panama, and to £ueno$ Ayres, the delolation is more gene-
ral than even in thofe parts of Mexico and Peru, of which the
Spaniards have taken moft full poifeffion.
But the eflablifliments of the Spaniards in the new world,
though fatal to its ancient inhabitants, were made at a period
when that monarchy was capable of forming them to the bell
advantage. By the union of all its petty kingdoms, Spain was
become a powerful Hate, equal to lo great an undertaking. Its
inpnarchs having extended their prerogatives far beyond the
limits which once circumfcribed the regal power in every
kingdom of Europe, were hardly lubjeft to controul, either la
concerting or in executing their mealuies.
Such was the power of (he Spanifh monarchs, when they
were called to deliberate concerning the mode of eflablilhing
their dominion over the moil remote provinces which had
ever been fubjefted to any European flate. In this deliberation
they felt themlelves under no confututional reftraiut, and that
as independent maflers of their own relolves, they might iifue
the edifts requifite for modelling the govefn^en^ of the new
colonics, by a mere aft of prerogative.
This eaily interpofition of the Spanifh crown in order to
regulate the policy and trade of its colonies, is a peculiarity
which difthiguifhes their progrefs from that of the colonies of
ar;y other European nation. When the'Portuguele, the En-
glifi-i, and F)en9h, took pofrefUon of the regions in America,
the advantages which thefe proraifcd to yield were fo remote and
unceitain, that their colonies were fullered to ftruggle through a
hard infancy, ahnofl without guidance or proteftion from the
parent flute. But gold and filver, the lirfl productions, c^f
the Spanifh fettleraents in the new world, v/ere moie alluring,
an4 immediately attiafted the aiicntion of their iv.onarchs.
G 0 V ER N M E A' T, TR A D E, &c. , ^ 3-
ThbugH they had contributed little to the difcovery, and almoft
nothing to the conqueft of the new world, they inftantly
afiuined the funftion of its le'giflators, and having acquired a
fpecies of dominion formealy unknown, they formed a plan for
cxcrcifing it, to which nothing fiinilar occurs in the hidory of
human affairs.
The fundamental maxim of Spanifh jurifprudcnce with refpeft
to America, is toconfider what has been acquired there as vefted
in the crown, rather than in the ftate. By the bull of Alexan-
der VI. on which, as its great charter, Spain foimdcd its right,
all the regions that had been, ov fliould be difcovered, were be-
llowed as a free gift upon Ferdinand and liabella. They and
their (uccefTors were uniformly held to be the univcrlal pro-
prietors of the vaft territories which the arms of their lubjecls
conquered in the new world. From them all grants of land
there flowed, and to them they finally returned. The leaders
who condufted the various expeditions, the governors who
prefided over the different colonies, the ofiiccrs of juflice, and
the minifters of religion, were all appointed by their authority,
and removeable at their pleafure. The people who compoled
infant fettlements were entitled to no privileges indepen-
dent of the fovereign, or that ferved as a barrier againft
the power of the crown. It is true, that when towns were
built, and formed into bodies corporate, the citizens were per-
mitted to eleft their own magiftrates, who governed them by
laws which the community enafted. Even in the moft despotic
ftates, this feeble Ipark of libei ty is not exlinguiihed ; but
in the cities of Spanifh America, this jurildiftion is merelv
municipal, and is confined to the regulation of their own inte-
rior commerce and police. In whatever relates to public go-
vernment, and the general interefl:, the will of the lovereign is
law ; no political power originates from the people ; all centers
in the crown, and in the officers of its nomination.
When the conquefts of the Spaniards in America were com-
pleted, their monarchs, in forming the plan of internal Dolicy
tor their new dominions, divided tiiern into two imincule 00-
vernments, one fubjeft to the viceroy of New- Spain, the other
to the viceroy of Peru ; the jurifdiftion of the former extended
over all the provinces belonging to Spain in the northern divi-
lion of the American continent; under that of the latter, was
comprehended whatever flie pofTcfled in South- America. This
arrangement, which, from the beginning, was attended with
many inconvcniencies, became intoleviible when the' r'em.ote
piovinces of each vice-royalty began to improve in induflry
174 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
and population. As a remedy for thofe evils, a third vice-
royalty has been eflabliflicd in the prefent century at Santa Fe
de Bogota, the capital of the uew kingdom of Granada, the
juriMitli'^n I of which extends over the whole kingdom of
T:c;*rj JFirnj.e and the province of Qiiito. Thofc viceroys' riot
only l-eprcfcnt the pcrlon of their lovereign, but pofTels his
regal prerogatives within the precinfts of their own govern-
jqnents, ^n tljcir utmod extent. Like liini, they cxeicife fu-
pi;eme authority in every department of government, civil, mi-
litary and criminal. They have the fole right of nominating
the pel Ions who hold many offices of the highefl importance,
and the pccafional privilege of lupplying thoie which, when
llVey becoJTT^.yacant by death, aie in the royal gift, uatil the
iucceilor appointed by the king fliall arrive. The external
poirip of their government is fuited to its real dignity and
power. Their courts are formed upon the model of that at
Madrid, with horie and foot guards, a houfhold regularly edab-
Lihcd, numerous attendants, and enhgns of command, dilplay-
ing.,fu.ch niiignificcnce as hardly ictains the appearance of dele-
gated aut^hority.
But as the vicejoys cannot difcharge in perfon the funftions
c.f a iupreme magiflrate in cveiy part of their extenfive jurif-
dii^ion,, they aie aided in their government by officers and tri-
bunals fimilat to'thotc in Spain. The conduft of civil affairs in
the various provinces and didrifts, into which the Spanifh do-
minions in America are divided, is committed to magillrates of
vuiious orders and denominations ; fome appointed by the king,
otheis by tlie viceroy, but ;'ll iu!j(.£t to the command of the
latter, amenable to his juriidiftion. The adminidration of judice
ii vcftcd in tribuimlt, known by the name of Audiences, and
formed upon the moutl ot the court of chancery in Spain.
Theie aie eleven in nun:ber, and oiipenle judice to as many
difirifts, into which ll;e Spanifh dominions in Am.erica are di-
vided, 'rhe ntaiiber tvf judges in the comt of Audience is
vnricu?, according to the extent and inmortancc of their jurif-
diftidn. Thc.draion is no Icis honourable than lucrative. Both
civiland crimin.il caulcs come under their cognisance, and for
ejch prculiir judges are let .iparr. Tlie Spanim vice^'pW nave
often attempted to intiudc ilicmlclvcs into the feat of judice,
and vvi'th an ambition which their didance /roip the controul
of a'lupcrior rendered bold, Have afpircd at a power whifrh'-even
uieir mailer docs not vepturs to allume. In order t9 check
an \uur^>atipn whicli mint have annihilated jval-.ce and iecuruy
GOVE R N M E N T, T R A D E, &.c. 1 75
in the Spanifli colonies, by fubjefting th,e li'v^s and property of
all to the will of a firigle man, the viceroys have Dcen prohi-
bited, in themofl explicit terms, by i-epeated laws, from ir^ter-
fering in the judicial proceedings of the courts of Audience^
or from delivering an opinion, or giving a voice with refpeft to
any point litigated before them. In fome particular cafes, in
which any quellion of civil right is involved, even the political
regulations of the viceroy may be brought under the review of
the court of Audience, which, in thofe inilanccs, may be
deemed an intermediate power placed between him and the
people, as a conftitutional barrier to circumfcribc his jurif-
diftion. But as legal reflraints on a perion who reprefents the
fovereign, and is clothed with his authority, are little fuited to '
the genius of Spanifli policy, the hcfitation and rcferve witli
which it confers this power on the courts of Audience are re-
markable. They may advife, they may remonftrate ; but, iri
the event of a direft collifion between their opinion and the will
of the viceroy, what he determines inufl be carrieci into execu-
tion, and nothing remains for them but to lay the matter before
the king and the council of the Indies. Upon the death of i
viceroy, without any provilion of a fucceffor by the king, the
fupreme power is veiled in the court of Audience refident in
the capital of the vice- royalty, and the fenior judge, affifted by
his brethren, exercifes all the funftions of the vicerov while
tlie ofHce continues vacant. In matters which come under the
cognizance of the Audiences, in the courfe of their ordinary
jurifdiftion, as courts of juflice, their fentences are final in every
litigation concerning property of lefs value than fix thoufand
pefos ; but when the fubjeft in difpute exceeds that fum, their
decifions are fubjeft to review, and may be carried by appeal
before tlie royal council of the Indies.
In this council, one of the mod confiderable in the mnnarchv
for dignity and power, is veiled the lupreme government of all
tlie Spanifh dominions in America. It was fii ft eftablifhed by
Ferdinand, in the year 1511, and brought into a more perfeft
form by Charles V. in the year 1524. Its jurildiftion extends
to every department, ecelefiaftical, civil, military and commer-
cial.. All laws and ordinances relative to the government and
police '"of the colonies originate there, and muft be approved
of by two-thirds of the members, before they are ilfued ia the
name of the king. , All the offices, of which the nomination is
referved to the crown, are conferred in this council. To it
each perfon employed in America, from the viceroy downwards
is accountable : it reviews their conduct, rewards their ferviccs.
i'jS OSSERVATTOiXS ON THE
and inflifis thq; punifhm<|;nts duetto tne^rmalverla^ioiis ;^,bfffoVc
it, is laid all the intelligence, eithcir putlic or fecret, received
from America, and every fchemc of improving the adminiftra-
tion, the police^ p^ the Commerce of the colonics, is fuKmittcd
to its confideration. From the firfl inftitution of tlie coiihcil
of the Indies, it has been the conftant objeft of the catholic
monarchs to maintain its authority, and to make fuch additions
.from ,^ime to time, both to its power and its fplendor, as might
jrrerfd^F, it fqrrnidable to all their fubjefls in the new world.
Whatever degree of public order and virtue ftill remains in that
country, whei;e .fo many circumflances confpire to relax the
«,^fprmer, arKi to corrupt the latter, may be afcribed inf'a'gif-eat
,. .meafure to the wife regulations and viffilant infpeftion "of ■'tnis
_re(pcclable tribunal, ''
,As the king is fuppofed to be always prcferit in his cdujicil
t^ of the Indies, its meetings are held in the place where he
pjefides. Another tribunal has been infcitutcd, in order to re-
gulate fuch commercial affairs as required the immediate and
perfonal infpe&ion of thofe appointed to fuperintend thein :
this is called Cafa dc la Contratacion, or the houfe of trade,
and Was eClablifhed in Seville, the port to which commerce with
the iiew world was confined, as early as the ye^r 150;. ;It
,,iipay,.b? confidered both as a board of trade and, as "a c6(i^t of
judicature : in the former capacity, it takes cognizance^ of wlik-
cver relates to. the intercourfe of Spain with America ; it re-
gvil^ites w})atycommoditie5.fhouljd,)^e exported jth^^^ ha*
., the in{pe£lion of fuch ss are received in return : it decides cori-
. cerning the departure of the fleets for the Weft-Indies, the
freight and b^urdeiv of thej fhips, their equipment and dqfti^a-
i^^tion : in tJ;\^, la^iXer capacity it jirdges with refpeft t6 eVpry
^^quellion, -oivil^, commercial, _ or criminal, arifing in ■confe-
1 quence of the tranlaftions 9f Spain with America ; and in both
^i;|jl|ipfe departme.rLjls, ,its decifions are exempted from the review
,^^ ,a^vy-)CQii,r,t,but .that of the council of the Indies, " .
j^,^, Such is the great outline of that fyftem of government which
^.^.Spain has eftabhriied in her American colonies. To enumerate
^ the various (ubordinate boards and officers employed iii the ad-
^ .ITiiniflration of jufl.ice, in colle6ling the pubhc revenue, and in
. regulating the interior police of the country ; to defcribe
. ,th^r .difiercnt.funftiionSj, and to inq^uire into the mode arid effc6l
Hv^fri^^^i-*! operations, would prove a. detail no lefs intricate than
3«nunMfe,,atid uninterefting. ,
The full objc£t of tl^-e Spanifh monarchs was to fecure the
produftions of tlic colonics to the parent ftatc, by an abfolute
GOVERNMENT, TRADE^&c, 177
^^tihibidon of any intercourfe with foreign nations. Tliey took
poilenion of America by I'ight of conquefl, and, cfcihrcious not
only of the feeblenefs of their infant fettI"dmcHu,'1§m 'kwrne of
the difficulty ih cflablifhing their dominion '6vei*M'c'sff6rfV"Tl^o ex-
tenfive^ or in retaining fo many reluftant nations utiWei'"tnc-^''dk'e,
they dreaded the intrufion of ilrangers; they feven fh tinned th'cir
infpcftion, a,nd endeavoured to keep them at a diftancC from
theii: poafts. This fpirit of jcaloury and exclufion, which at
firfl: was natural, and perhjps ncccffaiy, augmented as their pof-
felTions in America extended, and the value of them came to be
trioferfully underftood : in confcquence of it, a lyftem of colo-
nizing wr.s introduced, to which there had hitherto been nothing
fimilar among mankind. In their American fettlcments, the
Spanifh monarchs took what was peculiar to cachj and (ludicd to
unite them. By fending colonies to regions fo remote, by eftab-
lifhmg in each a form of interior policy and adminiftration,
under diftinft governors, and with peculiar lau'S, they disjoined
them from the mother country. By retaining in their own
hands the rights of legiflation, as well as that of impofing taxes,
together with the power of nominating the perfons who filled
every department of executive government, civil or military/,
they fecured their dependence upon the parent flatc. Happily
for Spain, the fituation of her colonies was luch, as rendered it
ppfTible to reduce this new idea into practice. Almoft all the
countries which flie had dii'covered and occupied lay within the
tropicSi The produftions of that large portion of the globe are
different from thofe of Europe, even in its moft fouthern pro-
vinces. The qualities of the climate and of the loil naturally turn
the induflry of fucli as fettle there into new channels. When
the Spaniards firfl took poifeffion of their dominions in Amelita,
the precious metals which they yielded were the only objctt
that attraQ;cd their attention. Even when their efl-'orts began to
take a better direftion, they employed themfelvcS almoft wholly
in rearing fuch peculiar pfoduflions of the climate, as, from their
rarity or value, were of chief demand in the mother couritry.
Allured by vafh profpefts of immediat-e wealth, they dildained
to w^afte their induflry on what was leCs lucrative, but of fupe-
rjor moment. In order to render it imponible to correft this
Vrror, and to prevent them from making any efforts in induilry
vyhich might interfere with thofe of the mother country, tlie
cilabiiiliment oi^ fevpral 'fp^cles of manufaftures, and even the
culture of theVine,' or olfvc,"2ire prohibited in the Spanilli co-
lonies, under I'avecc penalties. They muft tru'ft' bhtirely 'fo the
A
.1 -jB OBSER V AT IONS ON THE
moth'er^'^tcViintrj' for the objefts of primary necefTity. Their
clofllfeX'their furniture, their in flruments of labour, their luxu-
ritfK' 'at^c, v^ef'g ffnporied from Spain. During a great part oT"
th'e fixteei^th eeHtury, Spsin, poflTefTing an extenfive commerce
and fiouffrtiinr*. ffiin'ufaftures, could fuppiv with eafe the groWihg;
detfttfnd? of her colonies from ' her own ftores. The produce of
tfeitilifhi^S' and plantaftions was given in exchancte for thefe :
hivfall thafthc colonies received, as well as all that they gave'/
\las ccyfiX'e^ed in Spanifh bottoms ; no veflel belonging to tlic
colonies 'Xv^is «five fabric of their ecclefiaftical eftablifhment has been a
burden on the Spanifii colonies, which has retarded the progrefs
of population and induftry. The payment of tythes is a heavy
tax on induftry ; and if the exaftion of them be not regulated
and circumfcribed by the wildom of the civil magiftrate, it be-
comes intolerable and ruinous : but, inflead of any rcflraint on
the claims of ecclefiaftics, the Inconfiderate zeal of the Spanifli
legiflators admitted them, into America in their full extent, and
at once impofed on their infant colonies a burden whicli is in no
flight degree opprefiive to lociety, even in its moit improved
ftate.
By the famous regulations of Charles V. in 3,54:1, the
Viigh pretenfions of tlie conquerors of the new world, who
confidered its inhabitants as flavcs, to whofc fervice they had
acquired a full right of property, were finally abrogated. From
that period the Indians have been reputed freemen, and entitled
to ihe priviUges of fidjifds. When admitted into this rank it
was deemed juji, that they fhould contribute towards the fupport
and improvement of the fociety which had adopted them as
members. But as no confiderable benefit could be expcftod
from the voluntary efforts of men unacquainted with regular
induftry, and averfe to labour, the court of Spain found it ncccf-
fary to fix and fecure, by proper regulations, what it tlijup-ht
reaionable to exaft from them. With this view, an annual tax
was impoled upon every male from the age of eighteen to fifty •
a^d ?tjthe lame time, the nature as well as the extent of the i'cr-
vices which they might be required to perform, were afcer-
tained with precifion. This tribute varies in different pro-
yififqs.; but if we take that paid in New-Spain as a medium its
ann.ual amount is nearly four fhillings a head. Every Indian is
either, an immediate vaffal of the crown, or depends upon fome
fubjeft to whom the dillrift in which he refides has bden granted
for a iimited lime, under the donomination of z\\ ■crh-miitnda.
A a 2
iSo OBS£RVAf!i}Ws''ON THE
In'{h'fe'foi'rtier'"c:
'/he bcncEt ariTing from the fervices of the Indinns accrue^
euher lo the crpwn, <>r to the holder of the encomienda,3i'ccor'a-
ir\g to the iame rule obierved in the payment or tribute : thole
lervices, however, which can now be Icrnlly exaftid., are very
4iff(?rent from, the tafks originally impofQd upon the Indians,
The nature of the work which ihcy muft perforrn is defined,
and a vecompcnce is granted for their labour. The dated fer-
.yices 4^"^.^'^^^'*^ °^ '^^^ Indians may be divided . into tvva
blanches: they are either employed in v/orks of primary ne-
ceflit^', without which focicty cannot fubfift comfortably, or
are compclleu to labour in the mines, frorn "^vji^c^^ ^hc. Spanifh
colonies derive their chief value and importance. In confe-
q^ucncc- ^)f the former, they arc obliged to affill in the culture of
inaize and other grain of neceffary confumption ; in tending
cattle ; in ei.irting edifices of public utility ; in building bridges,
and iij formirg high roads; but they cannot be co^ftrained to
'^our in raifing vines, olives and fugar-canes, or any Ipecies of
'- -••ation, which has tor its objcft the gratification of luxury
,ci crcial profit. In conlequqnce of t^e latter, thp Indians
.7, r] to undertake the more unpleafant ta{k, of extraft-
ii.> bowels of the earth, and of refining it by fuc-
cc liiN t 1 fs unwholefome than operofe, ,
, , . The i^iOvJt «-*( Vf'''V'''"§ t>"^'^ thefe fervices is the fame. TJie
Indians aic called out fucceflively i,n divifipns, Jerixie,d, Mu^
and no pcHon can be compcllc4;^P.§o bijt i.n.hjs tur,!;!;, , JJp.J'^.^l^,
the Duiiiljcr called out luulh not exceed the fcventh part of the
inhabitants in any diftrift. In New-Spain, where the Indiai^s
Bit iiiuie numerous, it is fixed at four in the hundred. During
M'hat time the labour of fuch Indians as are employed in agri-
cuhure continues, m'C have not been able to learn : byt in Peru,
each mita, or divifion, deftined for the mines, remains . there
fix nionllis ; and while engaged in this fervice, a, Uabour-er
never receives lefs than two ftiillings a day, and ^ofteA; earns
more th.m double that fum. No Indian, refiding at ''"^^ fuiiftions, jind to receive the, tythes and other
emoluments of the bcaelicc, without depending,, p9;.t^§Jutifc.
.-■.''-. ' ■ '
dl£Hon of the blfhop of the dioccfe, or being' fubjcft to his
cenfures. In conlequcncc of this, a new career of u(efulne(s,
as Well as new objects of ambition, prefented themfeives.
Whenever a call is made for a frcfli fupply of miffionaries,
men of the mofl ardent and arfpiring minds, impatient under
the reftraint of a cloiftcr, weary of its infipid uniformity, and
fatigued with the irkfome repeti'.ion of its frivolous funftions,
offer their fervice with eagernefs, and repair to the new woliid
in quefl of liberty and diftinftion : nor do thev purfue diftinc-
tion without fucccfs ; the highcfl ccclcfiaftical honours, as well
astht'Tiiofl: lucrative preferments in Mexico and Peru, are often
iii 'the hands of regulars; and it is chiefly to the monadic
orders that the Americans are indebted for any portion of
fcienre that is cultivated among them. They arc almofb the
only iSpahifh ecclcfiaftics from whom we have received any
accounts, either of the civil or natural hiftory of the Various
provinces in America.
From this brief furvey, fome idea may be formed of the
iriffeHor' Hate of the Spanifh colonies. The fyflem of commer-
cial ihtercourfe between them comes next in orcicr to be ex-
plainedci If the dominions of Spain in the new world had
beatt'of fuch moderate extent, as bore a due propoftion to the
parent 'ftate, the progrcfs of her colonizing might have been
attended with the fame benefit as that of other na-tions : but
ivhen, in lefs than half a century, her inconfiderate rapacity
had feized on countries larger than all Europe, her inability to
fill fuch vaft regions with a number of inhabitants fufficient
for the cultivation of them, was fo obvious, as to give a wrons;
direftion to all the efforts of the colonifts^ They did not
fotm compaft fettlements, where induftryj^'c'i't-iclumlcriB^Jl 'With-
iti proper limits, both in its views and operat'ions, is con-
duced with that fober, perfevering fpirit, which gradually
converts whatever is in its poffefllon to a proper ui'e, and derives
thence the greatefl advantage, Inftead of this, the Spaniards,
feduced by the boundlcfs profpcft which opened to them, di-
vided their poffefrions in America into goVet-nments of great
eSTtent: - As their numbet was too fmall to attempt the regular
ciiUuve bf the immenfe provinces, which they occupied irather
than peopled, they bent their attention to a few objecls, that
allured them with hopes of fudden and exorbitant gain, and
ttifft^d'yWay ■^itlt'^drttefn^tiTt'om the humbler paths of ihduft'ry.'
whidi lead nwie llowly, but with 'greater CertaiTntyVii) ^vyalth'
and increale of national ftren yield. Accordingly, as foon as the feveral countries
iB"Am«i ida' were fubjefted to the dominion of Spain, this was
ahiioft the only method of acquiring wealth which occured to
the adventurers by whom they were conquered. Such pro-*
^^ihces of the continent as did not allure them to fettle,- by the
pr^fpcft. of their affording gold and filver, were totally ncgleft-
ed. Thofe in which they met with a difappointment of the
fanguinc expeftations they had formed were abandoned. Even
the *alue of the illands, the firfl fruits of their difcovcries, and
the firft objcft of their attention, funk fo much in their cllima-
tion, when the mines which had been opened in them were
exhaufted, that they were deferted by many of the planters,,
^nd left to be occupied by more induftrious pofl'effors. All
crowded to Mexico and Peru, where the quantities of gold
and filver found among the natives, who learched for them
with little induftry and Icfs fkill, promifed an unexhaufted
ilore, as the recompcnce of more intelligent and perfevering
efforts.
During feveral years, the ardour of their refearches was
kept up by hope rather than fuccefs. At length, the rich
fiiver mines of Potofi, in Peru, were accidentally difcovered in
the year 1545, by an Indian, as he was clambering up the
mountain in purfuit of a llama which had ftraycd from his
flock. Soon after the mines of Sacotecas, in New-Spain, little
inferior to the other in value, were opened. From that
time, fuccelTive difeoveries have been made ir* both colonics,
and filver mines are now fo numerous, that the working of
them, and of foms few mines of gold in the provinces of
Tierra Firmc, and the new kingdom of Granada, has become
the capital occupation of the Spaniards, and is reduced into
a iyltem no lefs complicated than intcrefted. To deferibe
the nature of the various orc^s, the mode of extmfting them
from the bowels of the earth, and to explain the leveral pr< -
ccffcs by which the metals are feparated from the fubftances
with which they are mingled, cither by the a£lion of fire,
or the attraftive powers of mercuiy, is the province of the
natural philoiophcr or chymill, rather than of the hillorian.
GOVEkN'M E^ T> "^T R A i> £^ m. 185
The exuberant profufio'n \vith which the iTl<:)UntaIns of the
ri€w world poured forth their treafures afldnilhed mankind, \vho
had been hilheTtb a'ccaftctne'd to' receive a pentinous fupply of
the precious metals, from the more fcanty ftores contained In
the mines of the ancient hemifphere; According to principles
oF 'compiJtatiori, which appear to be extremely }moderatey ;the
tjuahtity of gold and filver that has been regularly, entered in.
the ports of Spain, is equal in value to four millions fterling
annually, reckoning from the year 1492, in; which America
wa,s di(covered, to the prefent time. Imrhenfe as this ium is,
the Spanifh writers contend, that as much more ought to be
added to It, in confideration of treafure wliich has been cxtrafted
from the mines, and imported fraudulently into Spain without
paying duty to the king. By this account, Spain has drawn
from the new world a fupply of wealth, amounting to mQ»;9;
tlian two thoufand ihillions of pounds fterling. ,;»
The. mines, which have yielded this amazing quantity of
ireafure, ai? not worked at thcexpenfe of the crown, or of
the pi^blic. In order to ' encourage private adventurers, the
perfon who difcovers and works a new vein is entitltd to the
property of it. Upon laying his claim to iuch a difcovery
before the governor bf the j/roVince, a certain extent of land
is meafured off, and a certain number of Indians allotted him,
under; the obligation of his opening the mine within a limited
,tJme, and of his paying the cuftomary duty to the king for
what it fhall produce. Invited by the facility with which fuch
grants are obtained, and encouraged by fome ftriking examples
of fuccefs in this line of adventure, not only the langulne and
the bold, but the tirhid and dilfident, enter upon it with afto-
nifhing ardour. The charms of this purfuit, like the rage for
deep play, are fo bewitching, and take Inch full pofTeflTion of
the mind, as even to give a new bent to the natural temper.
Under its influence the cautious become enterprifm?, and the
covetous protufe. Powerful as this charm naturally is, its force
is augmented by the arts of an order of men known in Peru by
the CdOt name of jIvircAdfj ; thele- are comrhonly pcrfons of def-
.p.erate, fortunes, who availirig themfelves of fome fliill in mine-
ialpgy,, accompaniedw'Ith the infinuating manner and confident
pretefi.jTions peculiar to projetliors, addrefs the wealthy and the
crgdi^ous : by plaufible defcriptions of the appearances which
they^ have ilifcbvered oT'i'fc^ • veins hitherto U'nsxplc«:ed ; by
producing, when requiiite, fpecimens of promifmg ore ; by af-
firming, with an impofing alTurance, that (uccels is cercaiuj and
B b
iBG OBSERVATIONS ON THE
that tlie expcnfe mud be trifling, they feldom fail to perfuade ;
an aflociation is formed, a {tuall fum is advanced by each co-
partner, the mine is opened, the fcarcher is entrufted with the
lole direftion of' every operation, unforefeen difHculties occur,
new demands of money are made, but amidfl a fucceflion of
diiappointments and delays, hope is never extinguifhed, and
the ardour of expeftation hardly abates.
Such is the fpirit that muft be formed, wherc\'er the a£livc
exertions of any fociety are chiefly employed in worliing mines
of gold and fi'lver. No fpirit is more adverfe to fuch improve-
ment in ag.riculture and commerce, as render a nation really
opulent.
But in the Spanifli colonies, government is ftudious to cherifh
a fpirit which it fhould hnvc laboured to deprcfs, and by the
fanftion of its approbation, augments that inconfiderate credu-
iity which has turned the aftive induftry of Mexico and Peru
into fuch an improper channel. To this may be imputed the
Sender progrefs which Spanifli America has made during two
centuries and a half, either in ufeful manufaftures. or in thofe
lucrative branches of cultivation which furnifli the colonies of
other nations with their ftaple commodities.
As the a6livity and enterprife of the Spaniards originally took
this direftion, it is now fo difficult to- bend them a different
way, that akhough from various caufes, the gain of working
mines is much decreafcd, the fafcination continues, and almoft:
every perfon who takes any aclive part in the commerce of
New-Spain or Peru, is dill engaged in fome adventure of this-
kind.
But though mines are the chief objeft of the Spaniards, snct
the precious metals which thefe yield form the principal article
in their commerce with America, the fertile countries which
they polfefs there abound with other commodities of fuch value
or fcHFcity, as to attraft a confiderable degree of attention.
Cochineal is a produftion almofl peculiar to New-Spain, of lueh
demand in commerce, that the fale is always certain, and it;
yields fuch profit as amply rewards the labour and care em-
ployed in rearing the curious infefts of which this valuable
drug is compoled, and preparing it for the maiket. Quinquina,
or Jefuit's bark, the moft lalutary firnplc, perhaps, and of molt
refl;or*ative virtue, that Providence has made known unto man,
is found only in Peru, to which it affords a lucrative branch of
commerce. The indigo of Guatimala is fuperior in quality to
that of any province in America, and cultivated to a confidera-
ble extent. Cacoa, though not peculiar to the Spanifli colo-
GOVERNMENT, TRADE, ISc. . i^j
ales, attains to its liigheft (late of perfeftion there, and fiom
the great confumption of cliocolate in Europe, as well as in
America, is a valuable commodity. The tobacco of Cuba, of
more exquifite flavour than any brought from the new woild ;
the fugar raifed in that ifland, in Hifpaniola, and in New-Spain,
together with drugs of various kinds, may be mentioned among
the natural productions of America, which enricli the Spanifli
commerce. To thele mufl be added, an article of no inconfi-
derable account, the exportation of hides, for which, as well
as for many of thofa enumerated, the Spaniards are more in-
debted to the wonderful fertility of the country than to their
own forefight and induftry. The domeftic animals of Europe,
particularly horned cattle, have multiplied in the new world
with a rapidity which almoft exceeds belief. A few years after
the Spaniards fettled there, the herds of tame cattle became fo
numerous, that their proprietors, as we have before obferved,
reckoned them by thoufands. Lels attention being paid to them
as they continued to increale, they were fullered to run wild,
and fpreading over a country of boundlels extent, under a mild
climate, and covered with rich pafture, their number became
immenfe. They range over the vail plains which extend from
Buenos Ayres towards the Andes, in herds of thirty or forty
thouland ; and the unlucky traveller who once falls in among
them, may proceed feveral days before he can difentangle him-
felf from among the crowd that covers the face of the earth,
and feems to have no end. They are hardly lefs numerous in
New-Spain, and in leveral other provinces ; they arc killed
merely for the fake of their hides ; and the flaughter at certain
feafohs is fo great, that the flenC.i of the carcai'es which are left
in the field would infeft the air, if large packs of wild do?s,
and vaft flocks of gallinazos, or Am.erican vultures, the mod
voracious of all the feathered kind, did not inftantly devour
i^hem. The number of thofe hides exported in every fleet to
Europe is very great, and is a lucrative branch of commerce.
Almoft all thele may be confidered as ftaple commodities pe-
culiar to America, and different, if we except that laft men-
tioned, from the produftions of Spain.
When the importation into Spain of thofe various articles
from her colonies firft became aftive and confiderable, her in-
terior induftry and manufaftures were in a ftate io profperous,
that with the produft of thele fl:ie was able both fOT:;u:chare the
commodities of the new world, and to aniwer its growincr
demands. Under the reigns of Ferdinand and li'abelia, and
B b 2
i88 OBSERVATIONS OS' THE
Charles X . Sp;un was one of the mod induRrious countries in
Europe ; her manufii^lures in wool, and flax, and filk, were fo
' extenfivc, as not only to furnifii what was lufficient for her
' own confumption, but to afford a furplus for expoitation.
"^When a market for them, formerly unknown, and to which
" file alone had accets, opened in America, fhe had recourfe to
her domeftic ftore, and found there an abundant fupply.
This new employment mufl naturally have added vivacity to
the fpirit of induftry ; nouriflied and invigorated by it, the
manufaflures, the population, and wealth of Spain might have
gone on increafing in the fame proportion with the growth of
her colonies ; but various caules prevented this. The fam?
thing happens to nations as to individuals. Wealth, which
flows in gradually, and with moderate increafe, feeds and nou-
rifhes that aftivity which is friendly to commerce, and calls it
forth into vigorous and well-conduced exertions-, but when
opulence pours in fuddenly, and with too full a ftream, it over-
turns all iober plans of induflry, and brings along with it a
■'taflc for what is wild and extravagant, and daring in bufinels
■ or in aftion. Such was the great and fudden augmentation of
power and revenue that the poRefTion of America brought into
Spain •, and fome fymptoms of its pernicious influence upon X.\\p
political operations of that monarchy foon began to appear.
When Philip II. afcended the Spanifh tlironc, with talents
far inferior to thofe of his father, and remittances from the co-
lonies became a regular and confiderable branch of revenue,
the fatal operation of this rapid change in the flate of the king-
dom, both on the monarch and his people, was at once con^
fpicuous. Philip, poffefTing Uiat fpirit of unceafing afTiduity,
which often charatlcrifes the ambition of men of moderate ta-
lents, entertained fuch an high opinion of his own refourcesi,
that he thought nothing too arduous for him to undertake; fhut
up himfelf in the folitude of the efcqrial, he troubled and
annoyed all the nations around him. Pie waged open \var
with the Dutch and Englilh ; he encouraged and aided a
rebellious f^ftion in France; he conquered Portugal, and main-
tained armies and garrifons in It.dy, Africa, and both the
Indies. By fuch a multiplicity of great and complicated ope-
rations, purfued with ardour durmg the courle of a long
reign, Spain was drained both of men and money. Under the
ivciik adir.iniflration of his fuccelTor, Philip ill. the vigour of the
nation continued to decreale, and funk into the lowed decline,
when. the inconfiUerate bigotry of that monarch expelled at otiC(ji
GOVERNMENT, TRADE, C3c. 189
near a million of his moft induftrious fubjeas, at the ycry time
when the exhaufted (late of the kingdom required feme extrV
ordinary exertion of political wildom to augment its numbers,
and to revive its flrength. Early in the feventeenlh centiiry,
Spain felt fuch a diminution in the number of her people, that
from inability to recruit her armies, (he was obliged, to cpntra.d
her operations ; her flourifliing m^nufaftures were fallen .^i^nto
decay ; her fleets, which had been the terror of all Europe,
were ruined ; her extenfive foreign commerce was loft. ; the
trade bet u- eon different parts of iier own dominions was inter-
. vupted, and the fliips which attempted to carry it on, were
taken and plundered by enemies whom flae once deipiled.
Even agriculture, the primary object of induilry in every prof-
perous ftate, was neglcfted, and one of the mofl fertile coun-
tries in Europe hardly raifed what was fpfficient for the fupport
of its own inhabitants.
In proportion as the population and manufuflures of Spain
declined, the demands of her colonies continued to increafe.
The Spaniards, like their monarchs, intoxicated with the
wealth which poured in annually upon them, deferted the
paths of induftry, to which they had been accuftorned, and
repaired with eagernefs to thole regions from whence this
opulence iffued. Bv this rage of emigration, another drain
was opened, and the flrength of the colonies augmented by ex-
haufting that of the mother country.
Spain, thinned of people, and decreafing in induftry, was
unable to fupply the growing demands, of her colonies ; fiie had
recouife to her neighbours ; the manufafturcs of the Low
Countries of England, of France, and of Italy, which her
wants called into exiftence, or animated with new vivacity,
furnifhed in abundance whatever fhe required. In vain did
the fuful ;ii"iental law, concerning the exclufton of foreigners
from tr.Kic with America, oppole this innovation. NecefTity,
more powerful than any ftatute, defeated its operations, and
conftrainsd the Spaniards themlelves to concur in eluding it.
The Ei'TJifli, the French, and Dutch, relying on the fidelity
and honour of Spanifh merchants, who lend their names to
cover the deceit, continue to (end out their manufaftures to
America, and received the exorbitant price for which they are
fold there, either in fpecie, or in the rich commodities of the
new w^orld. Neither the dread of danger, nor the allurement
of profit, ever induced a SpaniQi faftor to betray or defraud the
perfon who confided in him ; and that probity wliich is the
pride and diIlir.£lion of the nation, contributes to its ruin.
190 0 BSE RVATIO NS 0 N THE
The treafure of the new world may therefore be faid not to be-
long to Spain : before it reaches Europe, it is anticipated as
the price of goods purchafed from foreigners.
Thus the poffefiions of Spain in America have not proved a
fource of population and of wealth to her, in the fame manner
as thofe; of other nations. In the countries of Europe, where
the fpirit of induflry fubfifts in full vigour, every per fan
Icttled in fuch colonics as are fimilar in their fuuation to thofc
of Spain, is luppofed to give employment to three or four at
home in fupplynig his wants. Bai wherever the mother coun-
try cannot afford this lupply, eveiy emigrant may be confidered
as a citizen loft to the community, and ftrangcrs muft reap
all the benefit of anlwering his demands. Such has been the
internal ibite of Spain from the dole of the h>aeenth century,
and fuch her inability to lupply the growing wants of her
colonies.
The f.ital effefts of the difproportion between their demands,
and her CH])acity of aniwering them, have been much increafcd
by the mode in which Spain has endeavoured to regulate the
intercourfe between the mother country and the colonies. It
is from her' idea of monopolizing the trade with America, and
debarring her fubjecls there from any communication with
foreigners, that all her jealous and fyftematic arrangements
have ariien ; thefe are fo fiMgular in their nature and conlequen-
ces, as to merit a particular explanation. In order to lecure
the monopoly at which The aimed, Spain did not vefl the trade
with her colonies in an exclufive company, a plan which has
been adopted by nations more commercial, and at a period when
mercantile policy was an objeft of greater attention, and ought
to have been better underflood. The Dutch gave up the
w-hole trade with their colonies, both in the Ejft and Weft-
Indies, to exciufive companies. The EngliRi, the French, and
the Danes, have imitated their exa\nple with refpect to the
Eaft-Indian commerce, and the two former have laid a fimilar
reftraint upon iome branches of their trade with the new
world. The wit of man cannot, perhaps, deviie a method for
ch:cking the progrefs of induftry and population in a new
colony more eflcttual than this. T'ne intercft of the colony,
and of the exclulivc company, muft in evesy point be diame-
trically oppofite ; and as the latter pclTefles (uch advantages in
this unequal conteft, that it can preicribe at pleaiure the terms
*bf intercourfe, the iormer muft not only buy dear and fell
cheap, but rnuft i'uffcr the mortification of having the incrcafe
GOVERNMENT, TRADE, &c igj
of its furplus flock difcouraged by thofe very peri'ons to whom
alone it can diipofe of its pioduftions.*
Spain, it is probable, was preferved from frilling into this
error in policy, by the high ideas which {lie e:irly forrrte!d''^ott-
cernincr the riches of the new world. Gold and filver Werfe'
commodities of too high a value to veil a monopoly of tVietn
in private hands. The crown wifhed to retain the direftion 6f
a commerce fo inviting, and in order to fecure that, ordained
the cargo of every fhip fitted out for America, to be inlpefted
by the officers of the Cafa dc Contratacion in Seville, before
it could receive a licence to make the voyage ; and that on its'
return, a i-eport of the commodities which it brought fhould
be made to the fame board, before it could be permitted to
land them. In confequence of this regulation, all the trade of
Spain with the new world centered originally in the port of
Seville, and was gradually brought into a form, in- which it
has been condufted with little variation from the middle of the
fixteenth century, almoft to our own times. For the greater
fecurity of the valuable cargoes fent to America, as well as" for
the more eafy prevention of fraud, the commerce of Spain,
with its colonies, was carried on by fleets which failed under
ftrong convoys ; thefe fleets confifted of two fquadrons, one
diftinguiflied by the name of the galleons, the other by that of
the fluta, are equipped annually. Formerly they took their
departure from Seville, but as the port of Cadiz has been
found more commodious, they have iaiied from it fince the
year i -y 20.
The galleons defbined to fupply Terra Firma, and the
kingdoms of Peru an Chili, with almofl every article of luxury
or necelTary confumption that an opulent people can demand,
touch firfl; at Carthagena, and then at Porto Bello ; to the for-
mer, the merchants of Santa-Martha, Garaccas, the new king-
dom of Granada, and feveral other provinces refort ; the latter
is the great mart for the rich commerce of Peru and Chili,
At the lealon when the galleons are expcfted, the produft of all
the mines in thele two kingdoms, together with their other x'alu-
able commodities, is tranfported by lea to Panama ; from thence,
as foon as the appearance of the fleet from Europe is announc-
ed, they are conveyed aerofs the iflhmus, partly on nmlcs,
and partly dov/n the river Chagre to Porto Bello. This paltry
village, the climate of whieh, from the pernicious union of
* Smith's Inquiry, ii. 171.
i98 OBSERVATIONS ON fllE
exceflive heat, continual moifture, and the putrid exhalations!
arifing from a rank foil, is more fatal to life than any perhaps'
in the known v.'orld, is immediately filled with people. From
being the refidence of a few negroes and mulattoes, and of a
miferable garrifon relieved every thiee months, Poito Bello
affumes fuddenly a very different afpe£l, and its flreets are.
crowded with opulent merchants from every corner of Peiai^
and the adjacent provinces ; a fair is opened, the wealth of
America is exchanged for the manufaftures of Europe ; and
during its prefcribed term, as we have before obferved, the
richeft traffic on the face of the earth is begun and finifiied,
■with that fimplicity of tranlaftion and that unbounded confi-
dence Vvhich accompanies extenfive commerce. The flota holds
its courle to Vera Cruz, The treafures and commodities of
New-Spain, and the depending provinces, which were depofit-
ed at Pucbla de los Angeles, in expe6lation of its arrival, are
carried thither, and the commercial operations of Vera Cruz,
condufted in the fame manner with thole of Porto Bello, are
inferior to thefn only in importance and value. Both fleets,
as foon as they have completed their cargoes from America,
rendezvous at the Havunaah, and return in company to
ilurope.
The trade of Spain xvith her colonies, while thus fettered
2nd reflrifted, came necelfarily to be condufted with the fame
fpirit, and upon the fame principles as that of an exclufive
company.- Being confined to a fingle port, it was of courfe
tihrown into a few hands, and almolt the whole of it was
gradually engroffed by a finall number of wealthy houfes, for-
merly in Seville and now in Cadiz. Thefe, by combirtationsi
winch they can eafily form, may altogether prevent that compe-
tition which preis-rves commodities at their natural price ; and
by afting in concert, to which they are prompted by their
mutual intereft, they may raife and lower the value of them
at pleafure ; in conlequence of this, the price of European
goods in America is always high, and often exorbitant. A
hundred, two hundred, and even three hundred per cent, are
piofits not uncommon in the Commerce of Spain with her
colonies. From tiic lame ingrofiing fpirit it frequently happens,
that traders of the fecond order, whofe warehoules do not con-
tain a complete uirortment of commodities for the American
niaiket, cannot purchafc from the more opulent merchants fuch
goods as they want, at a lower price than that for which they
are lold in r.he colonies. With the fame vigilant jealoufy that
an cxclufi;e ccn5i>anv o'uardL^ aiiainll thq intrufion of the free
GO'VEkNMENT, TRADE, &c. 193
trSder, whofe overgl-own monopolifts endeavour to Check, the
progrels of every one whofe incroadimerits they drcud.* This
reftrdirit of the American commerce to one port, not only afFcfts
its domeflic ftate, but limits its foreign operations. A rhonopo-
lift may acquire more, and certainly will hazard lels by a con-
fined trade which yields exorbitant profit, than by an eJctenHve
commerce in which he receives only a moderate return of gain.-
It is often his intercfl not to enlarge, but circunilcribc the fpheVe*
of his aftivity, and inftead of calling forth more vigorous ex-
ertions of commercial induftry, it may be the objcft of his at^
tention to check and fet bounds to tliem. By fome fuch maxim
tlie mercantile policy of Spain feemS to have regulated its inter-
courfe with America; Inftead of furnifiiing the colonies with
European goods in luch quantity as might render both the price
and the piofit moderate; the merchants of Seville and Cadiz
leem to have lupplied them with a fparing hand, that the eager-
nefs of competition amongft cuftomers obliged to purchafe in a
fcanty market, might enable the Spanifh faftorS to difpole of
their cargoes with exorbitant gain* About the middle of the
laft century, when tlie exclufive trade to America from Seville
was in its mofl flourifhing ftate, the burden of the two united
fquadrons of the galleons and flota did not exceed twenty-fevea
thoufand five hundred tons» The fupply which luch a fleet
could carry, muft have been Very inadequate to the demands of
thole populous and extenfive colonies, which depended upon it:
for all the luxuries, and many of the necefl'aries of life.
Spain early became fenfible of her declenfion from her freign, languifhed. Thefe evils continued
to incre.ife, luid Spain, with dominions more cxtenfive and more
opuleni ihau any European fl^te, pofTefTed neither vigour, nor
nioncj', nor indnlliy. At Ic-ngth the violence of a great ra-
tion;il convulUon roufed the (lumbering genius of Spain. Thcr
eflorts of the two contending parties in the civd war. kindled
by the dil'pute concerning t!ic fucceJRon of the crovvn at the,
beginning of t!iis century, ciillcd forth, in fome degree, the an-
cient ipirit and vigour of the nation.
As fbon as the Bombons obtained quiet pofFelTion of the
tlirone, they difccrnod this cliangc in the fpirit of the people,
and took advantage of it. It was the firfl objeft of Philip V,
to (upDrcfs an innovstion which had crept in during the couife
of the war, and had overturned the whole fyflein of the Spanifh
commerce with America. Tlie Englilh and Dutch, by their fu-
periority in naval power, having acquired iuch command of the
fea, as to cut off all intercourfe between Spain and her colonies ;
SfKiin, in order to furnifli her lubjcfts in America with thote
ne'ccffaries of life, without which tliey could not exift, and as
tiie only means of receiving from thence any part of their trea-
furc,- departed fo far from the ufual rigour of its maxims, as to
open the trade with Peru to her allies the French. The mer-
chants of St. Malo, to whom Louis XIV. granted the privilege
of this lucrative corrtmercc, engaged in it with vigour, and car-
ried it on upon principles very different from thofe of the Spa^
niards. They fupplicd Peru with Europcijn commodities at a
moderate price, and not in ftinted quantity. The goods which
they inipofted v/ere conveyed to every province of SpaniHi-
America in fuch abundance as had never been known in any
former period. If this intercourfe had been continued, the
exportation of European commodities from Spain muft have
cealcd, and the dependence of the colonics on the mother
country have been at an end. The mofl peremptory injur.ftions
Vvcre therefore ilfucd, prohibiting the admilTion of foreign vef-
iels into any port of Peru or Chili, and a Spanifli fquadron was
employed to clear the South lea of intruders, whofe aid waS'
no longer ncceflary.
F)Ut thou'i^h on the ccflFation of the war, which was termi-
nated by the treaty of Utrecht, Spain obtained relief from one
incroaeumcnt on her commercial fyllem, flie was expofcd to
another, which fhe deemed hardly lels pernicious. As an in-
ducement that might prevail with Queen Anne to conclude
GOVERN :'I£ NT, TRADE, &c. 195
a peace, which France and Spain dcfired with equal ardour,
Philip V. not only conveyed to Great-Britain tlie Ailiento, or
contraft for iupplvirig (he Spanifli colonics wiih negroes,
•which had formerly been enjoyed by France, but grnntcd it, the
more extraordinary privilege of lending annually to the fair
of Porto Bello, a fliip of five hundred tons, laden with Eu-
ropean commodities. In confequence of this, Britifh factories
were eilahlilhed at Carthagena, Panama, Vera Cruz, Buenos
Ayres, and other Spanilii fettlements. The veil with which
Spain had hitherto covered the ftatc and traniaiiiions of her
colonies was removed. The agents of a rival nation, refidinf
in tlie towns of molt extenfive trade, and of chief rciort, had
the beft opportunities of becoming acquainted with the interior
condition of the American provinces, of oblcrving their dated,
and occafional wants, and of knowing what commudities nii'^ht
be imported into tliem with tlie greatcft advantage. In conie-
Quencc of information fo authentic and expeditious, the mer-
chants of Jamaica and other Engliili colonies who traded to the
Spanifu main, were enabled to ailort ar.d proportion their
cargoes to exattly to the demands of the m.arket, that the con-
traband commerce was carried on with a facility, and to an
extent unknown in any former period. This, however, was
no: the moft fatal coniequence of tlie AfTiento to tlie trade
cf Spain. The agents of the Britifli South fea company, under
cover of the importation which they were authoriled to make
by the fliip lent annually to Porto Bcllo, poured in their
commodities on the Spanifh continent, without limitation or
reftraint. Inftsad of a ihip of five hundred tons, as fliipu-
lait-d in the treaty, they ufualiy employed one whlcii ex-
ceeded nine hundred tons in burden ; fhe was accompanied
by two or three fmalicr velTels, which mooring in lome
neighbouring creek, lupplied her cUmdeftinely witlx frefit
baL-s of goods, to replace fuch as were fold. The infpecLors
of the fair, and officers of the revenue, gained by cxt>rbtunt
prcfents, connived at the fraud. Thus, partly by the opera-
tions of the company, and paitly by the activity of pri-
vate interlopers, almofl; the whole ir?.de of Spanifh-America
was ingroffed by foreigners. I'hc immeiife commerce of the
g-iUeons, formerly the pride oF Sp-iin, and the envy of
other nations, funk to nothing, aiid the fquudron itielf re-
duced from fifteen thouland to two thouiaad. tons, irived
hardly any purpolc but to letch home lac royal revenue
grifing Iroin the fifth on filver.
C c 2
196 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
While Spnin obferved thofe incroachmcnts, and fcU their
pernicious cffefts, it was impoiTiHle not to make fome efFort to
reftrain them. Her fiifl expedient was'to ftation (liips tVf force,
under tlie appellation of guarda cdftas^'nipon the coafts of thole
provinces, to which interlopers tn'oft frequently rfeforftd.
Some check wns bv tliis means given to the pfogrefs of the
contraband trade, though in dominions fo extenfive. and )o
acccflible by fea, hardly any number of cruilers was JufRcient
to guard againft its inroads in every quarter. This interruption
of an intcrcourfe which had been carried on with fo much
facility, thr.t the merchants in the Britifli colonies were accul-
tomed to confider it almoft as an allowed branch of commerce,
excited murmurs and complaints, Thele authorifed in lome
meafure, and rendered more interefling, by leveraj unjuftihabl?
afts of violence committed by the captains of the Spanifli
guarda coflas, precipitated Great-Britain into a war with Spain,
in confcqucnce of which the latter obtained a finalreleafe'fiom
the AfTiento, and was left at liberty to regulate the commerce t)f
her colonies, without being reflrained by any engagerpent witli
a foreign power. ' '"'^ '
As the formidable incroachments of the Englifli btl tli^'Ame-
rican trade had difcovered to the Spaniards the vaiit 'confumpr
tion of European goods in their colonies, and tiught th.cm' the
advantage of accommodating their importations'to the occafional
demand of the various provinces, they percei^'ed the n'eceflity
of devifmg fome method of fupplying their colonies, different
from their ancient one, of fending thither periodical fleets.
That iTiodc of communication had been found f»ot ojijy to be
upccrlain, as the dep^^f-Ue of the galleons and fiota was Tome-
times retarded by various accidents, and often prevented by the
wars which raged in Europe ; but long cjfperience had flicwn it
to be ill adapted to nfFord America a regular and timely fupply
pf what it wanted. The fcarcity of European goods in the
Spanifli {ettlements frequently became cxcefTive ; their price
rofe to an enormous heiehl ; the vigilant cye'^of mercantile
attention did not fail to oblerve this favouiable opportunity,
an ample fupply was poriired in liy interlopers from tVicEnglifi-!,
the French, and Dutch iflands ; and when the galleons at
length arrived, they found the mi^ikcts lo glutted by (his illicit
commcicc, thiit there was no demand for the corriirnoai^'ies with
AvhiPh- 'ti^ey wis're loaded. In 'oVci'er to remedy th'is',^ Spain
Inas pertfiined a confrderable' paVt'''of her comnVertc^' with
America td 'He carried on by 'rcgiilvr fhips. "^hefS^ai't^ fitted
out 'dili-fn'^the intervals bet''t\'<^fcw'^'h'e Aatcd fc'afbiiV {vfnsn the
GOVERNMENT, TRADE, &r. . 197
galleons and flota fail, by merchants in Seville or Xacliz.,^iapon
obtaining a licence from tlie council of the indies, for which
they pay a very high premium, and are deftined for thofe ports
in America where any extraordinary demand is ft^refejen or
cxpeftcd. Bv this expedient, luch a re,^ular fupply of the
commodities, for which there is the grcatcft demand, is convey-
ed to the American market, that ihc interloper is no longer
siUured by the fame profpeft of cxceflTive gain, or the people in
thfircolonies urged by the fame neceffity to engage in the hazard-
ous adventures of contraband trade.
la proportion as experience manifeflcd the advantages of
carrying on trade in this mode, the number of regifler fliips
increaied, and at length, in the year 1748, the galleons, af(er
having been employed upwards of two centuries, were finally
Jaid alidc. From that period there lias been no intercourfe with
Chili and Peru but by fingle fhips, difpaiched from time to time '
as occafion requires, and when the merchants expeft a profita-
ble market will open. Thefe flnips fail round cape Horn, and
convey direftly to the ports in the South lea the productions
and manufaftures of Europe, for which the people fettled in
thofe <;ountries were formerly obliged to repair to Porto Bello
or Panama. Thefe tow^ns, as has been formerly oblerved, mull
gradually decline when deprived of that commerce to which
they owed their profperity. This diiadvantagc, however, is
more than compcnfated by the beneficial effo6ts of this neu--
arrangement, as the whole continent of South-America receives
new lupplies of European commodities with fo mucli regularity,
and in luch abundance, as muft not only contribute greatly
to liic happinefs, but increafe the population of all the colo-
nies fettled there. But as all the rcgiiier Oiips deflined for the
South feas muft ftill take their departure from Cadiz, and are
obliged to return thither, this branch of the Ainerican com-
merce, even in its new and improved form, continues fubjeft
to the rcftraints of a fpecies of monopoly, and feels all the
pernicious cfFe^is of it.
Among the new taftcs which tlie people of EiJrope have
acquired, in conlequcnce of importing the proriu6iions of
thofe countries which they conquered in America, that for
chocolate is one of the mofc univerfal. The ufe of thi^ liquor
made with a paftc formed of the nut or almond of the cococa
tree, compounded with various ingredients, the Spaniards firfh
learned from the Mexicans; and it has appeared to them, and
to the otlier European nations, lo palatable, io nourifliing,
and fo wholelome, that it has become a commercial article of
198 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
confideroble importance. The cocoa tree grows fpontaneouflv
in fcveral parts of the torrid zone, but the nuts of the bed
Mjuality, next to thofc of Guaiimala, on the South fea, are
produced in the rich plains of Caraccas, a province of Terra
Firm Charles III. laid open the trade to the windward iflands,
Cuba, Hilpaniola, Porto-Rico, Margarita and Trinadad, to his
i"ubje£ls in every province of Spain. He permitted them to
fail from certain ports in each province, which are fpecified
in the editl, at any feafon, and with whatever cargo they deem-
ed mofl proper, without any other warrant than a fimple clear-
ance from the cuftom-houfe of the place whence they took, their
departure. He releafed them from the numerous and oppref*
five duties impofed on goods exoorted to America, and in
place of tlie whole lubftitutcd a moderate tax of fix in the
hundred oa the commodities fent from Spain. He allowed
them to return either to the fame port, or to any other where
they might hope for a more advantageous market, and there
to enter the homeward cargo, on payment of the ufual duties.
This ample privilege, which at once broke through all the
fences which the jealous policy of Spain had been labouring,
for two centuries and a half, to throw round its commercial
intcrcourfc with the new world, was foon after extended
to Louiliaua, and to the provinces of \ ucatan and Cam-
peachy.
Still, however, the commercial regulations of Spain, with
refpeft to her colonies, are too rigid and lyftematical to bd
carried into complete execution. The legiflature that loads
tiade with impofitions too heavy, or fetters it by reftriftions
too levere, defeats its own intention, and is only multiplying
the inducements to violate its ftatutes, and propofing an high
premium to encourage illicit traftic. The Spaniards, both in
Europe and America, being circumlcribed in their mutual
intercourfe by the jealoufy of the crown, or opprefled by its
cxaftions, have their invention continually on the ftretch hovV
to elude its cditls. The vigilance and ingenuity of private
interelt difcover means of effecting this, which public wiidom
cannot fore'ee, nor public authority prevent. This fpirit^
cownierafting thdt of the laws,^ pervades the comrtierce of
Spain with America in all its branches, and from the higiiett
departments m government delcends to the loweft. The vciy
oiHcers ;ippoinied to check contraband trade are often employed
as inftrumenls in carrying it on ; and the boards inftituted to
reftrain and punifi"i it, are liie channels through v/hich it flows.
Tlie king is liippofcd, by the moft intelligent Spanifti writers,
GOVERNMENT, TRADE, &c. 201
to be defrauded, by various artifices, of more than ont-half oF
the revcraie which he ought ,io receive from America ; arid as
long as it is tlie intereft of fo many perfons to Ikreen tb.ofc
artifices from detctlion, the Itrwu-ledge of them will never reach
the throne.
Before we clofe this account of the Spanifli trade in America,
there remains one detached, but important brancii of it, to be
mentioned. . Soon after his accelhon to the thrope, Philip II.
formed a fcheme of phuiting a colotiy in the Philippine iflands,
which had been neglected fince the time of their difcovery ;
and he accomplifhed it by means of an armament fitted out
from New- Spain; Manilla, in the ifland of Luconia, was the
flation chofen for the capital ot this new eftablifliment. From
it an aftive commercial intercourfe began with the Chinefe, and
a conflderable number of that induftrious people, allured by
the profpeft of gain, fettled in the Philippi;ie illands under the
Spanifh protcftion : they fupplied the colony fo amply with nil
the valuable produftions and manufaftuies of the Eall, as enabled
it to open a trade with America, by a courl'e of navigation the
longefh from land to land on our globe. In the infancy of this
trade it was carried on with Callao, on the coafi of Peru ; but
experience having difcovered the impropriety of fixing upon
that as the port of communication with Manilla, the ftaple of
the commerce between the eafk and well was removed from
Callao to Acapulco, on the coaft of New-Spain.
After various arrangements, it has been brought into a re-
gular form : one or two (hips depart annually from Acapulco,
which are permitted to carry out filver to the amount of five
hundred thoufand pcfos, but they have hardly anv thing elfe of
Value on board ; in return for which, they bring back fpices,
drugs, china and japan wares, calicoes, chintz, muflins, filks,
and every precious article, with which the benignity of the cli-
mate, or the ingenuity of its people, has enabled the Eafl to
fupply the reft of the world. For fome time tiie merchants of
Peru were admitted to participate in this traffic, and might fend
annually a fliip to Acapulco to wait the arrival of the veflels
from Manilla, and receive a proportional fhare of the commo-
dities which they imported. At length, the Peruvians were
excluded from this trade by moft rigorous editls, and iW the
commodities from tiie Fall relerved fokly for the confumption
of New-Spaiui
In conlequence of this indulgence, the inhabitants of that
country enjoy advantages unknown in the other Spanilh coio-
D d
202 OBSERVATIONS, &c.
nies. The manufaftures of the Eaft are not only more fuhed
to a warm climate, and more Ihowy than thofe of Europe, but
can be fold at a lower price ; while, at the lame time, the pro-
fits upon them are lo confiderable, as to enrich all thofe who arc
employed, either in bringing them from Manilla, or vending
them in New-Spain, As the intercft both of the buyer and
feller concurred in favouring this branch of commerce, it has
continued to extend in fpitc of regulations, concerted with the
inoft anxious jealouly to circumfcribe it. Under cover of what
the laws permit to be imported, great quantities of India goods
are poured into the maikets of New-Spain, and when the llota
arrives at Vera Cruz from Europe, it often finds the wants of
ihe people already fupplied by cheaper and more acceptable
commodities.
There is not, in the commercial arrangements of Spain, any
circumflance more inexplicable than the permifTion of this trade
between New-Spain and the Philippines, or more repugnant to
its fundamental maxim of holding the colonies in perpetual de-
pendence on the mother country, by prohibiting any commercial
intercourle that might luggell to them the idea of receiving a
iupply of their wants from any other quarter. This permiffion
inuft appear flill more extraordinaiy, from conlidering that
Spain hcrle'lf carries on no direft trade with her fcttlements in
the Philippines, and grants a privilege to one of her American
colonics, which Ihe denies to her lubjefts in Europe. It is
probable, that the colonifts who originally took polfeffion of
the Philippines, having been fent out from New-Spain, begun
this intercourle with a country which they confidercd, iri
fome meaiure, as their parent ftate, before the court of Madrid
■was aware of its confcquences, or could eftablifli regulations in
order to prevent it. Many remonflrances have been prclented
agaiafl. this trade, as detrimental to Spain, by diverting into
another channel a large portion of that treafure which ought to
flow into the. kingdom, as tending to give rile to a fpiiit ot in-
dependence iu the colonies, and to encourage innumerable
frauds, againll which it is impoflablc to guard in traniaclions fo
far removed from the infpeclion of government. But as it re-
quires no flight effort of political wildom and vigour to abolifl'i
iuiy piatlice which numbers arc interefled in lupporting, and
to whitii tune has added the' fanftion of its authority, the Com-
nicrcc between New-Spain and Manilla feetns to be as confi-
derable as ever, and may be confidered as one chief caufe of the
elegance and Ipkndur confpicuoub in this ^aft'^oi the Spanilh
doniiiiious.
( 203 )
PORTUGUESE SETTLEMENTS
SOUTH-AMERICA,
■•<"<"<^4» •*■ •^>*">"> —
B R A S I L.
T,
HIS territory is fituated between the equator and 35" fouth
latitude, and 60° weft longitude ; it is about one tliouland five
hundred and fixty miles in length, and one thouland in breadth;
but, meafuring along the coaft, it is two thoufand miles long,
and is bordered with mountains that open from time to time,
and form good harbours where veflels may lie in fafety.
It is bounded by the mouth of the river Amazon and the
Atlantic ocean on the north; and by the fame ocean on the
eaft ; on the fouth by the river Plata ; on the weft by moraifes,
lakes, torrents, rivers, and mountains, which feparate it from
Amazonia and the Spanifh poffeflions. On the coaft are three
fmall iflands, where fhips touch for provifions on their voyage
to the South feas, viz. Fernando, St. Barbaro and St. Catherine's.
It was accidentally difcovered by the Portuguele in 1500.
Emanuel, king of Portugal, had equipped a fquadion of thir-
teen lail, carrying twelve hundred Ibldicrs and failors dcftined
for the Eaft-Indies, under the conduft of Peter Alvarez Cabral.
This admiral, quitting Lifbon on the oth of March 1500, ftruck
out to fea to avoid the coaft of Guinea, and ftcered his courie
fouthward, that he might the more eafily turn the cape of Good
Hope. On the 24th of April he got fight of the continent of
South-America, which he judged to be a large ifland at lome
diftance from the coaft of Africa. Coafting along for fonie
time, he ventured to fend a boat on fliore, and was nftonifhed
to obfcrve the inhabitants entirely different from the Africans.
D d 2
204 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
in featuic?, hair and complexion. It was found, however,
impiatlicable to feize upon any of the Indians, M'ho retired
with great celerity to the mountains on the approach "of the
Portugucfc; yet, as the failors had dilcovered a good harbour,
the admiral thought proper to come to an anchor, and called
the bay Puerto Scguro. Next day he fent another boat on
fhore, and had the good fortune to lay hold on two of the na-
tives, whom he clothed ai}d treated kindly, and then dilmiffed,
to make a proper report to their countrymen. The flratagem
had the defired effcft. The Indians, having heard the relation
of the prifoners, immediately crowded to the fhore, hnging,
dancing, and founding horns of different kinds ; which induced
Cabral to hnd, and take folemn poffeffion in the name of his
Portugucfe majefty.
As fopn as tlie court of Lifoon had ordered a furvey to be
taken of the harbours, bays, rivers and coafls of Brahl, and
■was convinced that the country afforded neither gold nor filver,
they held it in fuch contempt, that they fent thither none but
condemned criminals and abandoned women. Two fhips were
fent every year from Portugal, to carry the refufe of the king-
dom to this new world, and to bring home parrots, and woods
for the dyers and cabinet-makers. Gusger was afterwards added,
but loon after prohibited, left it fhould interfere with the fale
of the fame article from India.
In 1548, the Jews, many of whom had taken refuge in Por-
tugal, beginning to be perlecuted by the inquifition, were
ftrippcd of their pofleflions, and banifhed to Erafil. Here,
however, they were not entirely forfaken : many of them found
kind relations and faithful friends ; others, who were known
to be men of probity and underRanding, obtained money in,
r.dvance from merchants of difierent nations, with whom they
had formerly had tranfaflions. By tlie affiflance of forae en-
terprifmg men they were enabled to cultivate lugar-canes, which
they hrft procured from the ifland of Madeira. Sugar, which
till tJjen had been uicd only in medicine, became ai,i article of
luMUT ; nrinces and great men wpraaN eager to procure "them-
Iclvfs this new fpecies of indulgence. This circumftance proved
favourable to Brafil, and enabled it to extend its fugar planta-
tions. The court of Lilbon, nolwithflanding Us ^ prejudices,
began to be fenfible, that a colonv might be benential to the mo-
ther country, without producing gold or filver; and this fettle-
ment,;yf)hi(Ch hadbeen wholly left to the management of the colo-
rii£&, wa^ nowithai,!C,}itt tpdelcrve fomcl;tn4of attention': and acr
0 :p B P. A $ I L. 205
cordingly Thomas d^ Spuza was fent thither, in 1549. to re-
g'.ilatc and faperintend it.
Xhis able governor began by reducing thefe men, who had
always lived in a ftite of anarchy, into proper Subordination,
and bringijig their fcattered plantations clofer together; after
which he applied himiclf to acquire fome information refpeft-
ing the natives, with whom he knew he muft be necelTarily
engaged either in traffic or war. This it was no eafy matter
to accomplifli, Brafil was full of fmall nations, fome of which
inhabited the forefls, and others lived in the plains and along
the rivers: fome had fettled habitations, but the greater num-
ber of thera led a roving life, and mofl of them had no inter-
^c£)urfe witlveach other. It is not to be fuppofed, that fuch a
people would be at all dilpofed to fubmit to the yoke which
the Portuguefe wanted to put upon them. At firfl they only
declined all intercourfe with thcfe ftrangers ; but finding them-
felves purfued in order to be made flaves, and to be employed
in the labours of the field, they took the relblution to murder
and dqvour all the Europeans they could feize upon. The,
friends and relations of the favages that were taken prifoners
alfo ventured to make frequent attempts to refcue them,
and were Ibmetimes fucc^fsful ; fo that the Portuguefe were
forced to attend to thq double employments of labour and:
war.
Souza, by building San Salvador, gave a center to the
colony ; but the honour of iettling, extending, and making.
it really ufeful to the mother country, was referved for the^
Jeiuits who attended him. Thefe men, who for their arts of
infinuation and addrefs have been equalled by none, dilperied>
themfelves among the Indians. When any of the mifiionaries.
were murdered, they were immediately replaced by olliers ;
and feeming to be infpired only with fentiments of peace
and charity, the Indians, in procefs of time, grew not only,
familiar but paffionately fond of them. As the mifiionaries
were too few in number to tranfaft all the bufinefs themfelves,
they fre-quently deputed fome of the moft intelligent Indians
in their flead. Thefe men, having diflrihutcd hatchets,
knives, and looking-glafTes, among the favages they met with,
reprefented the Portuguefe as a harmlefs, humane, and good
fort of people.
The proipcrity of the colony of Brafil, which Was vifible
to all Europe, excited the envy of the French, Spaniards and
Dutch fucceilively : the lattei-, indeed, bid faire'ft- for the con-
queft of* the whole ; their admiral Henry Lonk arrived, in the
ooS GENERAL DESCRIPTION
beginning of the year 1630, witli forty-fix men of war, on
the coafl of Fernambucca, one of the largeft and bed fortified
Captainfhips of ihcfe parts. He reduced it after feveral obflin^ite
erlgngements, in which fhe was always vitlorious. The troops
he left behind fubdued the captainfhips of Termaraca, Pareiba,
and Rio Grande, in the years 1633, 1634, and 1635. Thefe,
as well as Fernambucc^, furnifhed annually a large quantity of
fugar, a great deal, of wood for dying, and other commodities.
The Hollanders were io elated with the acquifition of this
wealth, which flowed to Amflerdam inftcad of Lifbon. that
they detemined to conquer all the I^rafils, and intrufted Mau-
rice of Nair.tu with the conduct of this enterprife. That gene-
ral reached the place of his deftination in the beginning of the
year 1637 '• ^^'- f*^""*! the foldiers lb well diiciplined. the com-
manders iuch experienced men. and fo much readinefs in all
to engage, that he dircftly took the field. He was fuccefTivcly
oppofed by Albuquerque, Banjola, Lewis Rocca de Borgia,
and the Brafilian Cameron, the idol of his people, paflion-
atcly fond of the Portuguele, brave, aftive, cunning, and who
wanted no q'ualification necefTary for a general, but to have
learned the art of war under able commanders, Tbcfe feveral
chiefs exerted their utmoft CiTorts to defend the poflTeirions
that were under their protection ; but their endeavours proved
inefFeftual. The Dutch Icizcd upon the captainfhips of Siara,
Scrcgippe, and the greater part of that of Bahia. Seven of
the fifteen provinces which compofed the colony had already
fubmitted to them, and they flattered themfelves that one or
two campaigns would make them mafters of the reft of their
enemies pofieffions in that part of Arnerica, when they were
fuddenly checked by the revolution happening on the banifh-
ment of Philip IV. and placing the duke of Bragnnza on the
throne. After th-s, the Portuguefe recovering their fpirirs,
foon drove the Dutch out of Brafil, and have continued maf-
ters of it ever fince.
The country of Brafil is divided into the following provin-
ces, or captainfhips, as they are called, vi?. Paria, Maragnano,
Siara, Rio Grande, Pareiba, Tamarica, Fernambucca, Scregip-
pe, Bahia, Porto Segurn, Efnerito Santo, Rio dc Janeiro, ' An- "
gra, St. Vincent, and Del Rev. " ' '^'''
The harbours of Brafil arc Panambuco, AH SnintF, Rio Ja-
neiro, the port of St, Vincent, the harbour of Gabriel, and the
port of St. Salvador ; and with rcfpea l^ riVcrs, thei-e arc a great
number of noble flrcams, which ivnitfc ^^th^Vhe ^fvers'A^azoq''^'
.ind Plala, befides others which fall ii^?)^W^ A^lVn^fc'^cean. """ '
0 F B R A S I L. 207
The climate of Brafil has been defcribed by two eminent
naturalifts. Pile and Margrave, who oblerved it with a philo-
iophical accuracy, to be temperate and mild, when compared
with that of Africa ; they alcribe this chiefly to the refrefning
wind which blows continually from the lea. The icir is not
only cool, liut chilly through the night, fo that the natives
kindle a fire every evening in their huts. As the rivers in this
country auriually overflow their banks, and leave a fort of flimc
upon the ijnds, the loil here muft be in many places amazingly
rich ; and this correfponds with the bed infoimation upon the
fubjeft. The vegetable produftions are Indian corn, fugar
canes, tobacco, indigo, hides, ipecacuana, baliara, Brafil wood,
which is of a red colour, hard and diy, and is chiefly uied in
dying, but not the red of the beft kind. ficre is alio the
yellow fuftic, of ufe in dying yellow, and a beautiful piece of
Ipeckled wood, made ule of in cabinet v/ork. Here are five
different forts of palm trees, fome curious ebony, and a great
variety of cotton trees. This country abounds in horned
cattle, which are hunted for their hides only, twenty thouiand
being fent annually into Europe. There is alio a plenty of
deers, hares, and other game. Amongll the wild beafls found
here, are tigers, porcupines, janouveras, and a fierce animal,
fomewhat like a greyhound ; monkeys, floths, and the topi-
raffou, and a creature between a bull and an als, but without
horns, and entirely harmlefs, the flcfli is very good, and has
the flavour of beef. There is a numberlefs variety of fowl,
wild and tame, in this country; among thefe are turkeys, fine
white hens and ducks. The remarkable birds are the humming
bird; the lankima, fometiincs called the unicorn bird, from its
having a horn, iwo . or three inches long, grow ing out of its
forehead ; the guira, famous for often changing its colour, being
firft black, then aflti-coloured, next white, afterwards fcarlet,
and laft of all crimlon : which colours grow richer and deeper
the longer the bird lives. Among the abundance of fifh with
which the feas, lakes, and rivers of this country are flored, is
the globe fifli, lb called from its form, whicli is io befet vvith
fpines like a hedgehog, that it bids defiance to ail filh of prey.
But the molt reitu-.rkable creature is the fea bladder/ fo called
becauTe if greatly refembles one, and fwiins on the iu^face of
the waives-,- the infide is filled with air, except a i'mall quantity
of wa'tfer, thaf ferves 10 puife it.- The- Odn is very thin and
tianfparent,' and like a bubble raited in' tht vhller-refiejfts ail the
colours of i^he fky. , BrafiJi breeds a gfear '.^ari^fv of ferpent*
ajid venomous C{;eatyre»j asaasg which' arg' the' Ir.dian laiiiman-.
2o8 GE.VERAL DESCRIPTION
der, a four-kggeH infeft, the fling of which is mortal ; the
ibivaboca, a Ipecies of ferpent, about feven yards long, and
half a yard in circumference, vvhofe poifon is inftantaneouflv
fatal ; the rattk-Inake, which there attains an enormous fize ;
the liboyd, or roe-buck fnaki?, which, authors inform us are
capable of fwallowing a roe-buck whole with his hornSj being
between twenty and thirty feet in length, and two yards in
circumference. Befides thofe, there are many other iniefts and
ferpents of a dangerous and venomous nature.
The gold and diamond mines are but a recent difcovery ;
they were firft opened in the year 1681, and have fince yield-
ed above five millions flerling annually, of which fum a fifth
belongs to the crown^. So plentiful are diamonds in this coun-
try, that the court of Portugal has found it neceffary to reftrain
their importation, to prevent too great a dimunition of their
value. They are neither fo hard nor fo clear as thofe of the
Eaft-Indies, nor do they fparkle fo much, but they are whiter.
The Brafilian diamonds are fold ten per cent, cheaper than the
Oriental ones, fuppofing the weights to be equal. The largeft
jiiamond in the world was lent from Brafil to the king of
Portugal ; it weighs one thoufand fix hundred and eighty
carats, or twelve ounces and a half, and has been valued at
fixty-fix millions feven hundred and eighty-feven thoufand
five hundred pounds. Some fkilful lapidaries, however are
of opinion that this fuppofed diamond is only a topaz, in
which cafe a very great abatement mufl be made in its valuer
The crown revenue arifing from this colony amounts to two
millions flerling in gold, if we may credit fome late writers, be-
fides the duties and cuftoms on merchandife imported from that
quarter. This, indeed, is more than a fifth of the precious
metal produced by the mines, but every other confequent ad-
vantage confidered, it probably does not much exceed the truths
The extra£lion of gold is neither very laborious nor danger-
ous in Brafil. It is icmetimes on the furface of the foil, and
this is the purefl; kind, and at other times it is neceifary to dig
for it eighteen or twenty feet, but feldom lower. It is found
in larger pieces upon the mountains and barren rocks than in
the valleys, or on the borders of the river. Every man-^wbo
di!ct>vers a mine, muR; give notice of it to the government. If
the vein be thought of little confequence by perlons appointed
to examine it, it is always given up. to the public ; if it be
declared to be a rich vein, the government vcferve a portion of
it to themfelves ; another fhare is given to the commandant, a
third to the intcndant, and two {hares are fecured to the difco-
OFBRASIL. 209
V6rer. The miners aire obliged to deliver to the k'irig of Portugal
a "fifth part of all the gold which is extrafted.
St. Salvador is the capital of Brafil. This city has a noble,
fpacious and comrhodious harbour, is buih on a high and lleep
rock, having the fea upon one fide, and a lake forming a crelcent
on the dthef. The fituatidn tnakes it in a rnanner impregnable
by nature, and tlie Portuguefe have belides added to it very
ftrong fortifications ; it is populous, magnificent, and beyond
compai-ifon the liioft gay and opulent in all Brafil.
The trade of Brafil is very great, and increafes every year.
The Portuguefe have opportunities of fupplying themlelves with
llaves for their feveral works, at a much cheaper rate than any
other European power that has fettlcments in America, they
being the only European nation that has eftabliflied coloiues in
Africa, from whence they import as many as forty thoufand
negroes annually.
The excelTive confluence of people to the Brafil colonies, as
'vVell from other countries as from Portugal, not only enlarges
the imports of gold, diamonds, fugar, tobacco, hides, drugs and
ttiedicirics, but what is of infinitely more importance to Europe
ih general, the exportation of the manufaftures of this hemif-
phere, of which the principal are the following : Great-Britain
fends woollen manufaElures, fuch as fine broad medley cloths, fine
Spanifh cloths, fcarlet and black cloths, ferges, duroys, druggets,
fagathies, fhalloons, camblcts, and Norwich lluflFs, black Col-
chefter bays, fays, and perpetuanas, called long ells, hats, (lock-
ings, and gloves. Holland, Germany, and France, chiefly ex-
port fine hollands, bone lace;, and fine thread ; filk manufaftures,
pepper, lead, block tin, and other articles, are alfo fent from
different colonics. Bcfides the particulars already fpecified,
EnglandTikewifc trades with Portugal, for the ufe of the Brafils,
in copper and brals, wrought and unwrought pewter, and all
kinds of hardware; all which articles have fo enlarged the Por-
tuguefe trade, that inftead of twelve fhips ufually employed in
the Brafil commerce-, there are how never fewer than one hun-
dred fail of large velfels conftantly going and returning to thofe
Colonics. To all this may be added, that Brafil receives from
Madeira great q^uantity of wine, vinegar, and brandy ; and from
the Azores, liquors to the amount of twenty-five thoufand pounds
per annum. Indeed, the commerce of Brafil alone is fufficient
to raife Portug-il to a confiderable height of naval power, as it
maintains a conftant nurfery of feamen ; yet a certain infatua-
tion in the policy of the country has prevented that ^ffc£l even
2fo GENERAL DESCRIPTION
amicin; aU thefe extniordinary advantages. All the fhips in this'
trade being under the direftion of the government, have their
appoiuted feafons of going and returning, under convoy of a
Certain number of men of war ; nor can a fingle fliip clear out
or go, except with the fleet, but by a fpecial licence from the
king, which is fcldom granted, though it is eafily determined
that/uch reftriftions can prove no way beneficial to the generiil
commerce, though p'ofilbly the crown revenue may be better
guarded thereby. The fleets fail in the following order, and at
the following ftjted periods: that to Rio de Janeiro fets fail in
January ; the ilcet to Bahia, or the bay of All Saints,' in Fe-
bruary ; and the third fleet, to Fernambucca, in the month of
March.
The native Brafilians are about the fize of th> EuropeanE. but'
not fo flout. They are fubjeft to fewer diftempers, and are long
lived. They wear no cloathing ; the women wear their hair ex-
tremely long, the men cut their's fhort ; the women wear brace-
lets of bones of a beautiful white, the men necklaces of the
fame; the women paint their faces, and the men their bodies.
f^^e food of the Brafilians is very fimple ; they live upon fhell
Mh by the fea fide, along the rivers by fifhing, and in the foreflff
by hunting • and when thefe fail, they live upoti cafTava and
other roots. They are extremely fond of dancing and other
amufenients, and thefe araufementS are liot interrupted by the^
■Worfhip of a Supreme Being, for it is faid they know of none,
nor is their tranquillity diflurbed- by the dread of a future ftate,'
of wlijch they have no idea. Th6y have, however, tireir magi-
cians, who, by flrange contortionSj fo far work upon the cre-
dulity of the people, as to throw them into violent convulfions.
If the irnpoitures of thefe magicians are detcfted, they are im-
mediately put to death, which ferves in fome meafure to check
the fpirit of deceit. Every Brafilian takes as many wives as he
choofes, and puts them away wheh he gets tired of them. When
the women lie in, they keep their bed but a day or two ; then
the mother, hanging the child to her neck in a cotton fcarf, re-
turns to her ufual occupRtion, without any kind of inconveni-
ence. Travellers are received with diltinguiflied marks of civi-
lity by the native Brafilians ; wherever they go they are (ur-
roundcd with women, who wafli their feet, and welcome them
Xvith the moil obliging cxprelTions. But it would be an unpar-
donable afiront if they fliould leave the family where they were
nrft entertained, in hopes of better accommodation in another.
Some of th«fe virtues, however, weie moie applicable to thefe
OF B RA S I L. 2u
natives, before they were corrupted by an intcrcourfe with
the Europeans.
"With refpeO; to the religion of Brafil, though the king of
Portugal, as grand maflcr of the order of Chrift, is folely in pof-
fefhon of the titles ; and though the produce of the crufade be-
longs entirely to him, yet in this extenfive country, fix bifhopr
lies have been fucceffively founded, which scknowledge for
their fuperior the archbifhop of Bohia, eflablifhed in the year
J 552. The fortunate prelates, mod of them Europeans, who
fill thefe honourable fees, live in a very commodious manner,
upon the emoluments attached to the function of their miniftry,
and upon a penfion of from fifty to one thoufand two hundred
and fifty pounds per ann. granted to them by the goveinment.
Amonof the infferior clergy, none but the miOTionaries who are
fettled in the Indian villages arc paid, but the others find fuffi-
cient refources in the fuperftition of the people. Befides an
annual tribute paid by every family to the clergyman, he is
entitled to two fliillings for every birth, for every wedding, and
every burial. Though there is not abfolutcly an inquifition in
Brafil, yet the people of that country arc not protefted from the*
outrages of that barbarous and infernal inftitution.
The government of Brafil is in the viceroy, who has two
councils, one for criminal, the other for civil affairs, in both of
which he prefides ; but there is ^o part of the world where the
lawyers are more corrupt, or the chicanery of their profefilon
more pratlifed.
Only half of the captainfhips, into which this country is di-
vided, belong to the crown, the reft being fiefs made over to
^ome of the nobility, in reward of their extraordinary fervices
who do little more thafi acknowledge tlie fovefcignty of the
Jcing of Portugal.
E e 2
( 212 )
FRENXH rOSSESSIOiNS,
SOUTH-AMERICA,
=—.«..<■•« <-^-* ^ »^>>..v..>..__
C A y E N N E,
C,
'AYENNE IS bounded north and caft, by the Atlantic ccc^n ;
fouth, by the Amazonia ; and weft, by Guiana, or Surinam. It
extends two hundred and forty miles along the coaft of Guiana,
and nearly three hundred miles within land,^ ^y'"g between the
equator and the 5th degree of north latitude.
The laud along the coafl is low, and very fubjc6l to inunda-
tions during the rainy feafons, from the multitude of rivers
which rufh down froni the mountains with great impetuofity.
Here the atmofphere is very hot, rnoift and unwholefome, efpe-
cially where the woods are not cleared away ; but on the higher
p^rts wliere the trees are cut down, and the ground laid out in
plantations, the air i? more healthy, and the heat great, miti-
gated by the fea breezes. The foil in many parts is very fertile,
producing f»gar, tobacco, Indian corn, fruits, and other necef-
iaries of life.
The French have taken poffefllon of an ifiand upon this coaft,
called alfo Cayenne. This fettlemcnt was begun in 1635. A
report had prevailed for fomc time before, that in the interior
parts of Guiana, there was a country known by the name of del
Dorado, which contained immenfe riches in gold and precious
ftones, more than ever Cortes and Piznrro had found in
Mexico and Peru, and this fable had fired the imagination of
every nation in Europe. It is fuppofed that this was the coun-
try in queft of which Sir Vv^altcr Raleigh went on his lafl voyage ;
0 F C A YE N N E, 2,^
»nd as the French were not behind tlieir neighbours in their
endeavours to find out fo defirable a country, iome attempts for
this purpofe were likewife made by that nation much about the
fame time, which at laft coming to nothing, the adventurers
took up their refidence on the iiland of Cayenne. In 1643,
fome merchants of R.ouen united their ftock, with a defign
to fupport the new colony, but committing their affairs to one
Poncet de Bretigny, a man of a ferocious dilpofition, he de-
clared war both againfl; the colonifts and favages, in confcquence
of which he was loon maffacred. This cataftrophe entirely ex-
tinguifhed the ardour of thefe affociates ; and in 1651 anew
company was eftabliflned. This promifed to be much more con-r
ftderable than the former ; and they fet out with fuch a capital as>
pnablard them to colleft feven or eight hundred colonifts in the
city of Paris itfelf. Thefe embarked on the Seine in order to
fail V down to Havre de Grace, but unfortunately the Abbe de
Marivault, a man of great virtue, and the princfpal promoter
of the undertaking, w^as drowned as he was ftepping into his
boat. Another gentleman who was to have a£tcd as general,
was affallinated on his paffage ; and twelve of the principal
adventurers who had promiied to put the colony into a flou-
rifhing fituation, not only were the principal perpetrators of
this aft, but uniformly behaved in the fame atrocious manner.
At laft they hanged one of their own number, two died, three
were banilhed to a defert ifland, and the reft abandoned them-
felves to every kind of excels. The commandant of the
citadel deferted to the Dutch with part of his garrifon. The
favages, roufed by numberlefs provocations, fell upon the re-
rrjainder ; fo that the few who were left, thought themfelves
happy in efcaping to the Leeward iflands in a boat and two
canoes, abandoning' the fort, ammunition, arms, and mcrchan-
dife, fifteen months after they had landed on the ifland.
In 1663, a new company was formed, whofe capital amount-
ed only to eight thoufand feven hundred and fifty pounds.
By the afliftance of the miniftry they expelled the Dutch, who
had taken pofTeflion of the ifland, and fettled themfelves much
more comfortable than their predeceflors. In 1667, the ifland
was taken by the Englifti, and in 1676 by the Dutch, but
afterwards reftored to the French, and fmce that time has never
been attacked. Soon after, fome pirates, laden with the fpoils
they had gathered in the South feas, came and fixed their
refidence at Cayenne, refolving to employ the treafures they
had acquired in the cultivation of the lands. In 1688, Ducaffc,
an able feaman, arrived with fome fliips from France, and
£14 GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c,
propofed to them the plundering of Surinam. This propofal
excited their natural turn for plunder, the pirates betook them-
lelves to their old trade, and almoft all the reft followed their
example. The expedition, however, proved unfortunate ;
many of the affailants were killed, and all the reft taken
prifoners and fent to the Caribbee iflands. This lofs the colony
has never yet recovered.
The ifland of Cayenne is about fixteen leagues in circum-
ference, and is only parted from the continent by two rivers.
By a particular formation, uncommon in iflands, the land is
higheft near the water fide, and low in the middle. Hence
the land is fo full of morifTes, that all communication between
the different parts of it is impoffiblc, without taking a great
circuit. There are fome fmall trafts of an excellent foil to be
found here and there ; but the generality is dry, fandy, and
foon exhaufted. The ojjly town in the colony is defended by a
covert way, a large ditch, a very good mud rampart, and five
baftions. In the middle of the town is a pretty confiderable
eminence, of which a redoubt has been made that is called the
fort. The entrance into the harbour is through a narrow chan-
nel, and fliips can only get in at low water owing to the rocks
and reefs that are fcattered about this pafs.
The firft produce of Cayenne was the arnotto, from the
produce of which, the colonifts proceeded to that of cotton,
indigo, and laftly, fugar. It was the firft of all the French
colonies that attempted to cultivate coffee. The coffee tree
was brought from Surinam in 1721, by feme deferters from
Cayenne, who purchafed their pardon by fo doing. Ten or
twelve years after ihcy planted cocoa; we have very little
account of the produce with refpcft to quantity, but as far back
3S the year 17.52, there were exported from Cayenne two hun-
dred and fixty thoufand five hundred and forty-one pournds of
arnotto, eighty thoufand three hundred rnd fixty-lhree pounds
of fugar, feventeen thouland nine hundred and nineteen pounds
of cotton, t'.venty-fix tiioufand eight hundred and eighty-one
pounds of coffee, ninety-one thoufand nine hundred and fix-
teen pounds of cocoa, fix hundred and eighteen trees for
timber, and one Iiundred and four planks. ,
( 215 )
DUTCH POSSESSIONS
SOUTH^JMERICJ.
^— ; <■ <-<-^-4» ^ »y»->-> — -''
SURINAM, OR DUTCH GUIANA.
X HIS province, the only one belonging to the Dutch on the
continent of America, is fituated between 5'' and 7? north
latitude, having the mouth of the Oronoko and the Atlantic,
on the north ; Cayenne, on the eaft ; Amazonia, on the fouth ;
and Terra Firma on the weft,
I'he Dutch claim the whole coafl from the mouth of Oro-
noko to the river Marowyne, on which are fituated their
colonies of Effequibo, Demcrara, Berbice, and Surinam. Ths j^
latter begins with the river Saramacha, and ends with the
Marowyne, including a length of cOaft of one hundred and
twenty miles.
A number of fine rivers pafs through this couritry, the prin-
cipal uf which are Effequibo, Surinam, Demerara, Berbice,
and Conya. Effequibo is niiie miles wide 2t its mouth, and
is more than three hundred miles in length. Surinam is a
beautiful river, three quarters of a mile wide, navigable for
the largeft veffels four leagues, and for fmaller veftels fixty or
fcventy miles farther. Its bcinks, quite to the water's edge, arc
covered with evergreen mangrove trees, which render the
paffage up this river very deligluFul. The Demerara is about
three quarters of a mile wide where it empties into the Suri-
namj is navigable for large vefftls one hundred miles _: a hun-
^i6 CEXERAL DESCRIPTlN'
v '. _ .- V .' _ - . ■' , ■ ■
dred miles farther are feveral falls of eafy afcenf, above whidi
itdivid(?s into (he fouth-weft and fouth-eaft'branches.'''''^^ ''
- The witer of the ■ lower parts in the river is brack ifh^^'^'ind
unfit fof ufe f'^d the inhabitants are obliged to iriaUe u'fd' of
irain water, -Which" is here uncommonly fweet and good. It^ is
caught itffeiflerhs placed undei^ ground, and before drinking, is
fet in large earthen pots to fettle, by which means it become^
very ' clear and wholefome. Thefe cifterns are lb large aha
ii'unibir6us',"' that'^va'fer is feldom fcarce.
In the "months of September, Oftober, and November, the
climate is unlxeakhy, particularly to ftrangcrs. The common
difeafes ite putrid and other fevers, the dry bellj'-adif, ''' a^H
the dropfy. One hundred^ miles back from the fea, the Toil
is quite different, a hilly country, a pure, dry, wholefome
air, where a fire fometimes would not be difagreeable. Alonjj?
the fea coafl the water is unwholefome, the air damp and rultryi'
The thermometor ranges from 75"^ to 90** through the year.
A north-eaft breeze never fails to blow from about nine o'clock
in the morning through the day, in the hottelt fea fens. As
the days and nights throughout the year are very nearly of
an equal length, the air can never becc)me extremely heated^
nor the inhabitants fo greatly incommoded by the heat, as
thofe who live at a greater diflance from the equator. The
feafons were formerly divided regularly into rainy and drV ;
but of late years fo much dependence cannot be placed upon
tbem, owing probably to the country's being more cleared,
by which means a free paffage is opened for ihe Sir ancj
^un nii.i . . i isv/on:-
vapours.
Through the whole country runs a ridge of oyfler fhelfi?,'-
nearly parallel to the coaft, but three or four leagues from if,
of a confiderable breadth, and from four to eight fee:!: dcep^
compofed of fhells exaftly of the fame nature as tHofe whicli
form the prelcnt coaft : from this and other circumftances,
there is great reafon to believe that the land, from that diflance
fiom the Tea, is all new land, rcfcued from the Water by Tome
revolution in nature, or other unknown oaufe.
On each fide of the rivers and creeks are fituated the plan-
tations, containing from five hundred to two thoufand acres
each, in number about five hundred and fifty in the' whole
colony, producing at prefcnt annually about fixleen thoufand
hogfhcads of fugar, twelve million pounds of coffee, fcvea
hundred thoufand pounds of cocba, eight hundred and fifty
thoufand pounds of cotton : all which articles, cotton exce'p'ted,'
OF SURINAM, OR DUTCH GUIANA, ai?
have fallen ofF within fifteen years, at leaft orle third, owing
to bad management, both here and in Holland, and to other
caufes. Of the proprietors of thefe plantations, not above
eighty refide here. The fugar plantations have many of them
tvater mills, which being much more profitable than others,
iand thie fituation of the colony admitiiing of them, will proba-
bly become general ; of the reft, fome are worked by mules,
others by cattle, but from the lowhefs of the country none by
the wind. The eflates are for the greateft part mortgaged for
as much or more than they are worth, which greatly dilcou-
rages any improvements which might otherwife be mude. VV'as
it not for the unfortunate fituation of the colony in this and
other refpefts, it is certainly capable of being brought to a
great height of improvement ; dyes, gums, oils, plants for
medicinal purpofes, See, might, and undoubtedly will, at lome
future period, be found in abundance. Rum might be dif-
tUled here ; indigo, ginger, rice and tobacco, have been, and
may be farther culiivated, and many other articles. In the
woods are found miny Jiinds of good and durable timber, and
feme woods for ornamental pUrpofes, particularly a kind of
iriahogany called copic. The foil is perhaps as rich and as
luxuriant as any in the world ; it is generally a rich, fat, loam)''
earth, lying in lome places above the level of the rivers at high
water, which rife about eight feet, but in mod places below it.
Whenever, from a continued courfe of cultivation for many
years, a piece of land becomes impoverifhed, for manure is not
known here, it is laid under water for a certain number of
years, and thereby regains its fertility, and in the mean time a
new piece of wood land is cleared; This country has never
experienced thofe dreadful fcourages of the Weft-Indies, hurri-
canes and droughts ; from the lownefs of the land it has not
to fear^ nor has the produce ever been deftroyed by infers or
by the blafl:. In {hort, this colony, by proper management,
might become equal to Jamaica^ or any other. Land is not
wanting ; it is finely interfefted by noble rivers, and abundant
creeks ; the foil is of the beft kind ; it is well fiiuated, and
the climate is not very unhealthy : it is certainly growing
better, and will continue fo to do, the more the country is
cleared of its woods, and cultivated.
The rivers abound with fifh, fome of which are good ; at cer-
tain leafons of the year there is plenty of turtle. The woods
abound with plenty of deer, hares, and rabbits, a kind of buifa-
Ff
2i^ CEXERAL DESCRIPTION
loc, and two fpecics of wild hogs, one of which, the peccary,
is remaikable for having its navel on the back.
The woods are iufeflL-d with fcvcral fpecies of tigers, but with
no other ravenous or dangerous animals. The rivers are ren-
'dercd dangerous by alligators, from four to feven feet long, and a
mjn was a fliort time lincc crufhed between the jaws of a fifb,
but its name is not known. Scorpions and tarantulas arc found
here oT a large fize and great venom, and other infects without
rrumber, loine of them very dangerous and IroublefoiTie. The
torporific ccl, the touch of which, by means of the bare hand
or any condu£l(;r, has the efl'cft of a ftrong elcctrica-l Ihock.
Serijenls alio, loine of wliich arc venomous, and others, as has
been allcitcd by many credible perfons, are from tweatv-five to
fifty feet long. In the woods are monkey's, the floth, and par-
rots in all their varieties ; alio iome birds of beautiful plumage,
among others the flamingo, but few or no fmging birds.
Paramaribo, htuated on Surinam river, four leagues from the
fca, north latitude 6®, weft longitude 55*^ from Greenwich, is
the principal town in Surinam. It contains about two ihouiand
whites, one half of whom are Jews, and eight thouiand flaves.
The houles are principally of wood, fome few have glals win-*
dovvs, but generrilly they have wooden fhutters. The ftreets are
fpacious and ftraight, and planted on each lide with orange or
tamarind trees.
About feventy miles frotn the fea, on the fame river, is at
village of about forty or fifty houies, inhabited by Jews. This'
village, and the town above mentioned, with the intervening
plantations, contain all the inhabitants in this colony, which
amount to three thoufand two hundied whites, and forty-three
thoufand flaves. T"he buildings on the plantations arc many of
them coftly, convenient, and airy. The country around: is thin-
ly inhabited with the native Indians, a harmlels friendly race of
beings. They are, in general, fliort of flatuie, but remarkably
well' made, of a light copper colour, ftraight black hair, without
beards, high cheek bones, and broad fhoulders. In their ears,
nofes, and hair the women wear ornaments of filver, &c. Botlr
men 'and v/orr.en go naked. One nation or tribe of them tie
the lower ])art of the legs of the female children, when young,
with a cord bound very tight for the breadth of fix inches about
the ancle, which cord is never afterwards taken off but to put
on a ncv/ one, by which means the flcfli, which fliould otherwife
grow on that part of the leg, increales the calf to a great fize,
and leaves the bone below nearly bare. This, though it muft
jcndcr them very weak, is reckoned a great beauty by them.
OF SURINAM, OR DUTCH GUI ANA. 2:9
The language of the Indians appears to be very fofr. Tl.cy are
mortal enemies to every kind of labour, but Deverthelefs m.inu-
fafture a few articles, fuch as very fine cotton hammocks, ear-
then water pots, bafkets, a red or yc!io^\' dye called roucau, nna.
lome other trifles, all which they exchange for luch articles r>
they (land in need of.
They paint themfelves red, and fomc are curioufly figured.
with black. Their food confifts chieflv of filh and crabs; and
cafTava, of which they plant great quantities, and this is almoft
the only produce they attend to. They cannot be faid to be
abfolutely wandering tribes, but their huts being nicely a few
crois flicks covered with branches, fo as to defend them from
the rain and fun, they frequently quit their habitations, if thev
fee occafion, and eftablilb them elfewhere. They do not fliua
the whites, and have been lerviceable againft the runaway ne-
groes,
Dr. Bancroft obfervcs, that the inhabitants of Dutch Guiana
are either whites, blacks, or the reddifh brown abori?inal na-
tives. Tiie promiscuous intercourfe of thefc different people
have generated feveral intermediate cafts, wiiofe colours depend
on their degree of conlanguinity to eitlier whites, blacks, ne-
groes, or Indians.
The river Surinam is guarded hv a fort and two redoubts at
the entrance, and a fort at Paramaribo, but none of them of any
flrength, lo that one or two frigates v/ould he lufHcicnt to make
themlelves mailers of the whole colony, ?.nd never ^^■,^s there .1
people who inore ardently wilhed for a change of government
than the inhabitants of this colony do at this ti:T!e, The many
giievances thev labour under, and the i:w.\iexse kurtiien op
TAXES, which threaten the ruin of the colonv, m.:ke thcr.i cx-
culable in their general defire to change tiie Dutch for a French
government. This is precilely the cafe in Europe, tlie taxes
are lo enormous, and the oppreffion of the Stntholtierian go-
vernment lo great, that we may venture to allcrt. that no human
power fand we cannot tlnnk a Dunne one tcill intcrjercj can polli-
bly prevent mitch longer a revolution from taking place.
The colony is not iminediatcly under the States' General, but
under a company in Holland, called the Dirctlors of Surinam,
a company firft formed by the Stntes General, but now fupply-
fng its own vacancies ; by thern are appointed the governor and
all the principal CiHcers both civil ajid mihtary. Tlie interior
government confills of a governor, and a fuprcirc and inferior
council ; the members of the latter aic chofc:\ by t!ie governor
I' f 2
2*o GENERAL DESCRIPTION
from a double riominaticn of the principal inhabitant?, j^nd
thoie of the former in the lame manner. By thefe powers, an4
by a magiftrate prefiding over all criminal affairs, juftice is exe-
cuted, and laws are enafted neceflTary for the interior govern-
ment of the colony ; thofe of a wore general and public natyrc,
are ena^ed by the direftors, and req^uire no approbation by the.
court.
The colony i^ guarded by about one thoufand fix hundred
regular troops, paid by the direftors. Thefe troops, together
with a corps of about two hundred and fifty free negroes, paid
by -the Dutch government, and another fmali corps of chaffeurs,
and as liiany flaves as the court thinks fit to order from the
planters, from time to time, are difperfed at pofts placed at pro-
per diftances on a cordon, lurrounding the colony on the land
fide, in order, as far as pofllble, to defend the diftant plantations
and the colony in general, from the attacks of feveral dangerous
bands of runaway flaves, which from very fmall beginnings
have, from the natural prolificacy of the negro race, and the
continual addition of frefh fugitives, arrived at fuch a height
Ss to have cofl the country very great fums of money, and
much lofs of men, without being able to do thefe negroes any
effc6;ual injury.
The colony was firft podeffed by the French as early as the
year 1630 or 4P, and was abandoned by them on account of its
unheaithy climate. In the year 1650 it was taken by fom«
Euglifhmen, and in 1662 a charter grant was made of it by
Chailes II; About this time it was conhderably augmented by
the lettlement of a number of Jews, who had been driven out
of Cayenne and the Brrafils, whofe defcendants, with other
Jcwsf.compofc at prefent one half of the white inhabitants of
the culony, and are allowed great privileges. In 1667 it was
tdkcp by the Dutch, and the Englifli having got poffelfion about
tlie fame time of the then- Dutch colony of New-York, each
party retained its conquell ; the Englifh planters moft of them
iciircd to Jam-iica, leaving their flaves behind them, whofe lan-
guage is ilill Englifli, but fo cctiupted as not to be underfloo^
at firft by an EngUfhmano
( 221 )
ABORIGINAL AMERieA.
OR THAT PART WHICH
THE ABORIGINAL INDIANS POSSESS.
•<"<"«<4-f- •^>.>.> .
AMAZONIA.
A.
-MAZONIA is fituated between the equator and 20® fouth
latitude ; its length is one thuuland four hundred miles, and
its breadth nine hundred miles : it is bounded on the north by
Terra Firma and Guiana ; on the eaft by Brafil ; on the fouth
by Paraguay ; and on the weft by Peru.
The air is cooler in this country than could be expefted,
confidering it is fituated in the torrid zone. This is partly
owing to the heavy rains which occalion the rivers to overflow
their banks one-half of the year, and partly to the cloudinefs
of the weather, \yhich obfcures the fun great part of the time
he is above the horizon. During the rainy fealbn the country
is fubje£t to dreadful ftorms of thunder and lightning.
The foil is extremely fertile, producing cocoa nuts, pine
apples, bananas, plantains, and a great variety of tropical
fruits ; cedar, redwood, pak, ebony, logwood, and many other
forts of dying wood ; together with tobacco, fugar canes,
cotton, potatoes, balfam, honey, &c. The woods abound with
tigers, wild boars, buffaloes, deer, and game of various kinds.
The rivers and lakes abound with filh. Here are alfo fea-cows
and turtles ; but the crocodiles and water ferpcnts render fifh-
ing a dangerous employment.
The river Amazon is the largeft in the known world. This
river, fo famous for the length of its courfe, this great vaflTal
of the fea, to which it brings the tribute it has received from
fo many of its own tributaries, feems to be produced by innu-
merable torrents, which rufh down with amazing impetuofity
from the eafiern declivity of the Andes, and unite in a fpa-
223 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
cious plain to form this immenfe river. In its progrefs of
three thoufand three liundred miles it receives the waters of a
prodigious number of rivers, fome of which come from far,
and arc very broad and deep. It is interfperfed witli an infinite
number of iflands, which are too often overflowed to admit of
culture ; it falls Into the Atlantic ocean under the equator, and
is there one hundred and fifty miles broad.
The natives of' this country, like all the other Americans,
are of a good ftaturc, have handlome features, long black hair,
and co.jper complexions. They are faid to have a tafle for the
imitative arts, efpcciully painting and fculpturc, and make good
mechanics. Tiieir cordage is m;ide of the barks of trees, and
their fails of cotton, their hatchets of tortoife fhells or hard
(lones, their chifcls, plains and wimbles, of the horns and
teeth of wild beafls, and their canoes are trees hollowed. They
fpin and weave cotton cloth, build their houfes with wood and
clay, and thatch them with reeds. Their arms in general are
darts and javelins, bows and arrows, with targets of cane or
fiih fkins. The feveral nations are governed by their chiefs or
caziques ; it being oblervahlc, that the monarchird form of go-
vernment has prevailed almofh univerlally, both among ancient
and nudeni barbarians, doubtlefs on account of its fuperior
advantages with refpcft to war and rapine, and as requiring a
much lels refined policy than the republican lydcm, and thcie-
forc bcfl adapted for the favage flate. The regalia, which dif-
tinguifli the chiefs, are a crown of parrots feathers, a chain
of tygcrs teeth or chws, which hnrgs round the waifl:, and a
wooden Iword, which, according to (oir.e authors, were iii-r
tended for hieroglyphics.
As c?ily as the time of Hercules and Thefeus, the Greeks
hid imngined the exiilence of a nation of Amnzons ; with this;
fible they embellifncd the hiftory of all thc*ir heroes, not ex-
cepting tliat of Alexander; and the Spaniards, infatuated v.'ith
this dream of antiquity, transferred it to America. They
reported, thit a republic of female warriors n£lujl!y sx'.ftcd in
America, who did not live in focicty wir.h men, and only
admitted them once a year for the purpofcs of iprocrcation. To
give the, more crcdi;; to this romantic fl-ory, it was reported,
not without re;ifon, that the v/crncn in Amci ;c,i were all fo
unhappy, and were tsented with luth contempt and inhumanity
by the men, that m.inv of them had ag'-eed to rad fouth lati-
tude its length is eleven hundred miles, and its breadth three
hundred and" Hfty : it is bounded north by Chili and Paragua ;
eaft by the Atlantic ocean ; fouth by the ftraits of Magellan ;
weft by the Pacific ocean.
The climate is faid to be much colder in this country than
in the north under the fame parallels of latitude, which is
imputed to the Andes, which pafs through it, being covered
with eternal fnow : it is almoft impofifible to fay what the foil
would produce, as it is not at all cultivated by the riatives.
The northern parts are covered with wood, among which is
an inexhaullible fund of large timber ; but towards the Ibuth',
it is faid, thefe is not a fingle tree large enough to be of
ufe to mechanics. There are, however, good pafiures, which
feed incredible numbers of horned cattle and horfes firft car-
ried there by the Spaniards, and now increafed in an amazing
degree.
It is inhabited by a variety of Indian tribes, among which
are the Patagons, from whom the country takes its name, the
Pampas and the Goffores : they all live upon fifh and game,
and what the earth produces fpontaneoufly : their huts are
thatched, and, notwithflanding the rigour of the climate, they
wear no other clothes than a mantle made of feal flcin, or the
flcin of fome bead, and that they throvv off when they are
In aftion : they are exceedingly hardy, brave and aftive, mak-
ing ufe of their arms, v/hich are bows and arrows headed with
flints, with amazing dexterity.
Magellan, who firft difcovered the ftraits which bear his
name, and after him Commodore Byron, have repoi-ted, that
there exifts, in thefe regions, a race of giants ; but others,
who have failed this way contradift the report. Upon the
whole we may conclude, that this ftory is, perhaps, like that
of the female republic of Amazons,
The Spaniards once built a fort upon the ftraits, and left z
garrifon in it to prevent any other European nation pafling
r.iiat way into the Pacific ocean ; but moft of the men pcriflied
OF PATAGONIA. 225
by hunger, whence the place obtained the name of port Famine,
and fince that fatal event, no nation has attempted to plant colo*
■ nies in Patagonia. As to the religion or government of thefe
favages, we have no certain information : feme have reported,
that thefe people believe in invihble powers, both good and evil ;
and that they pay a tribute of gratitude to the one, and deprecate
the wratli and vengeance of the other. ,
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS.
AVe have now traverfcd the feveral provinces of that exten-
five- region, which is comprehended between the ifthmus of
Darien and the fifty-fourth degree of fouth latitude. We have
taken a curfory view of the rivers, the foil, the climate, the pro-
duftions, the icommeirce, the inhabitants, &c.
The hiftory of Columbus, together with his bold and adven-
turous aftions in the difcovery of this country, we have but
flighlly noticed in this account, as we had done this in a pre-
ceding part of this work,* His elevated mind fuggefled to hini
ideas fupcrior to any other man of his age, and his afpiring ge-
nius prompted hini to make greater and more noble efforts for
new discoveries : he croffed the extenfive Atlantic, and brought
to view a world unheard of by the people of the ancient hem-
ifphere. This excited an enterprifing, avaricious, fpirit among
the inhabitants of Europe ; and they flocked to America for the
purpol'es of plunder. In confequence of which, a fcene of bai-
barity has been afted, of which South-America has been the
principal theatre, which fhocks the human mind, and almofl lla^r-
gers belief. No fooner had the Spaniards fet foot upon the
American continent, than they laid claim to the ioil^ to (he
mines, and to the fervices of the natives, wherever they came,.
Countries were invaded, kingdoms were overturned, innocence
was attacked, and happinefs had no afylum. Diifpotifm and
cruelty, with all their terrible fcourges, attended their advances
in every part : they went forth, they conquered, they ravaged,
they deftroyed : no deceit, no cruelty, was too great to be made
ufe of to latisfy their avarice : juflice was dilregarded, and
mercy formed no part of the characier of thefe inhuman con-
querors : they were intent only on the profecution of fchemes
moft degrading and mod fcandalous to the human charatler. In
South'- America, the kingdoms of Terra Firma, of Peru, of Chili,
of Paragua, of Brafil, and of Guiana, fuccelTively fell a facrificc
to their vicious ambition and avarice. The hiftory «f their
* See vol. i. page i.
Gg
fi£6 CENERAL description, Bcc,
feveral reduftions was too copious to be inferted at large in a
X^ork of this kind ; but we have endeavoured to afford the rea-i
der a brief view of thofe tranfaftions which have blailed the
charat^ier of all thofe who had any thing to do with the conqueffc
of this part of the globe. Let us then turn from thefe diftreff-
ing fcenes ; let us leave the political world, where nothing but
Ipeftacles of horror are prefented to our view ; where fcenes of
blood and carnage diftraft the imagination ; where the avarice,
injuftice and inhumanity of men, furnifh nothing but uneafy
fenfations ; let us leave thefe, and enter the natural world,
whofe laws are conftant and uniform, and where beautiful,
grand and fublime objefts continually prefent themfelves to our
view.
We have given a defcription of thofe beautiful and fpacious
rivers which every where interfeft this country ; and of that
immenfe chain of mountains, which runs from one end of the
continent to the other. Thefe enormous malTes, which rife to
fuch prodigious heights above the humble furface of the earth,
where almoft all mankind have fixed their reftdence ; thefe
maffes, which in one part are crowned with impenetrable and
ancient forefis, that have never refounded with the firoke of the
hatchet, and in another, raife their towering tops, and arreft the
clouds in their courfe, while in other parts they keep the travel-
ler at a diflance from their fummits, either by ramparts of ice
that furround them, or from vollies of flame ifTuing forth from
the frightful and yawning caverns ; thefe maffes giving rife to
impetuous torrents defcending with dreadful noife from their
open fides, to rivers, fountains and boiling fprings, fill every be-
holder with aflonifhment.
The height of the mofl elevated point in the Pyrenees is,
according to Mr. CofTini, {\% thoufand fix hundred and forty-fix
feet. The height of the mountain Gemmi, in the canton of
Berne, is ten thoufand one hundred and ten feet. The height
of the peak of Teneriffe, is thirteen thoufand one hundred and
feventy-eight feet. The height of the Chimborazo, the moft
deVated point of the Andes, is twenty thoufand two hundred
atid eighty feet. Thus, upon comparifon, the higheft part of the
Andes is feven thoufand one hundred and two feet higher thart
the peak of TencrifFe, th« moft elevated mountain known in the
j^cieat hf^jnifphcre.
( 227 )
HISTORY
OF THE
WEST-INDIA ISLANDS.
X HE vaft continent of America is divided into two parts,
North and South, the narrow ifthmus of Darien I'erving as a
link to conned them together ; between the Florida fhore on the
northern peninfula, and tlae gulf of Maracabo on the fouthern,
lie a multitude of iflands, which are called the Weft-Indies,
from the name of India, originally aflfigned to them by Colum-
bus ; though, in confequence of the opinions of feme geogra-
phers of the fifteenth century, they are frequently known by
the appellation of Antilia or Antilles ; this term is, however,
more often applied to the windward or Caribbean iflands.
Subordinate to this comprehenfive and fimple arrangement,
neceffity or convenience has introduced more local diftinftions :
that portion of the Atlantic which is feparated from the main
ocean to the north and eaft. by the iflands, though known
by the general appellation of the Mexican gulf, is itfelf
properly divided into three diftin£t parts ; the gulf of Mex-
ico, the bay of Honduras, and the Caribbean fea, fo called
from that clafs of iflands which bound this part of the ocean
on the eaft, Df this clafs, a group nearly adjoining to th«
caftern fide of St. John de Porto Rico is likewife called the
Virgin ifles,* The name of Bahama iflands is likewife given, or
* It rnay be proper to obfervc, that the old Spanifti navigators, in f^eakin^
of the Weft-India iflands, frequently diftinguifh them into two clalfes, by
the terms Barlovento and Sotavcnto, from wlience our Windward and Leeward
iilands, the Caribbean conftituting, in ftri£l propriety, the former clafs, and
^e iflands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hifpaniola and Porto Rico the latter ; but the
Englifh marines appropriate both terms to the Caribbeart iflands only, fub.
dividing them according to their fuuation in the courfe of trade ; the Wind-
ward iflands, by their arrangement, terminating, I believe, with Maitinico, and
the Leeward commencing at Dominica and extending to Porto Rico. £"-
tfixrd's Hijl. Vol. I. p. 5.
G g 2
22g GENERAL DESCRIPTION
applied, by the Englifh, to a cluRer of fmall iflands, rocks and
reefs of fand, which ftretch in a notth-wefterly diieftion for
the fpace of nearly three hundred leagues from the northern
coaft of Hifpaniola to the Bahama ftrait oppofile the Florida
fnore.*
Such of the above iflands as are worth cultivation now belong
to Great-Britain, Spain, France, HoLLAN"Dand Denmark,
The British claim
Nevis,
Montferrat,
Barbuda,
Anguilla,
Bermudas,
The Bahama iflands.
Jamaica,
Earbadoes,
St, Chriftopher's,
Antigua,
Grenada, and the Grenadines,
Dominica,
St, Vincent,
The Spaniards claim
Cuba, Trinidad,
Part of St. Domingo, or Kif- Margnretta,
paniola, Porto Rico.
The French claim
Part of St. Domingo,
Martinico,
Guadaloupe,
St. Luciaj
St. Bartholomew, Defeada,
Marigaiante,
Tobago.
The Dlitch claim
CurafTou, or Curacoa.
St. Euftatiaj
S^ba,
The Danes claim
The iflands of St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John's.
The climate in all the Weft-India iflands is nearly the fame,
allowing for thcfe accidental differences which the feveral
fituations and qualities of the lands themfelves produce. As
they lie within the tropics, and the fun goes quic-e over their
heads, pafTing beyond them to the north, and never returning
farther from any of them than about thirty degrees to the
louth, they would be continually fubjefted to an extreme and
* The v'l'Olc group is called by the Spaniards Lucayo?,
OF THE WEST'.INDIA ISLANDS. 2251..
intolerable heat, if the trade winds, rifing gradually as the fun
gathers ftrength, did not blow in upon them from the fea, and
refrefh the air in fuch a manner, as to enable them to attend •
their concerns even under the meridian fun. On the other
hand, as the night advances, a breeze begins to be perceived,
which blows fmartly from the land, as it were from the center,
towards the fea, to all points of the compafs at once. '
By the fame remarkable Providence in the difpofition of
things it is, that when the fun has made a great progrefs towards
the tropic of Cancer, and becomes in a manner verticle, he
draws after him fuch a vaft body of clouds, which fhield them
from his direft beams, and diffolving into rain, cool the air
and refrefli the country, thirfty with the long drought, which
commonly prevails from the beginning of January to the latter
end of May.
The rains in the Weft-Indies are like floods of water poured
from the clouds with a prodigious impetuofity ; the rivers
fuddenly rife ; new rivers and lakes are formed, and in a fhort
time all the low country is under water.* Hence it is, that
the rivers which have their fource within the tropics, fwell
and overflow their banks at a certain feafon ; but fo miftaken
were the ancients in their idea of the torrid zone, that they
imagined it to be dried and fcorched up with a continual and
fervent heat, and to be for that reafon uninhabitable ; when, in
reality, fome of the largeft rivers of the world have their courfe
within its limits, and the moifture is one of the greateft incon-
veniencies of the climate in feveral places.
The rains make the only diftinftion of feafons in the Weft-
Indies ; the trees are green the whole year round ; they have
po cold, no frofts, no fnows, and but rarely fome hail ; the
ftorms of hail are, however, very violent when they happen,
and the hailftones very great and heavy. Whether it be owing
to this moifture, which alone does not feem to be a fufiicient
caufe, or to a greater quantity of a fulphurcous acid, which
predominates in the air of this country, metals of all kinds
that are fubjeft to the aftion of fuch caufes ruft and canker
in a very fhort time ; and this caufe, perhaps, as much as
the heat itfelf contributes to make the climate of the Weft-
Indies unfriendly and unpleafant to an European conftitu-
tion.
It is in the rainy feafon, principally in the month of Auguft,
more rarely in July and September, that they are affaulted by
* "Wafer's Jourpey acrofs the Ifthmus of Parien.
ft3o GENERAL DESCRIPTION
hurricanes, the mod terrible calamity to which they are fubjeft
as well as the people in the Eaft-Indies, from the climate ; this
deftroys, at a ftroke, the labours of many years, and proftrates
the mod exalted hopes of the planter, and at the the moment
when he thinks himfelf out of danger. It is a fudden and
violent florm of wind, rain, thunder and lightning, attended
with a furious fwelling of the feas, and fometimes with an earth-
quake ; in fhort, with every circumftance which the elements
can aflemble that is terrible and dgftruftive. Firft, they fee
a. prelude to the enfuing havoc, whole fields of fugar-canes
whirled into the air, and fcattered over the face of the country.
The ftrongeft trees of the foreft arc torn up by the roots, and
driven about like ftubblc ; their windmills are fwept away in a
nioraent ; their utenfils, the fixtures, the ponderous copper
boilers, and ftills of feveral hundred weight, are wrenched
from the ground and battered to pieces; their houfes are no
proteftion : the roofs are torn off at one blaft ; whilft the rain,
which in an hour raifes the water five feet, ruflies in upon them
with an irrefiftible violence.
The grand flaple commodity of the Weft-Indies is fugar ;
this commodity was not at all known to the Greeks and Ro^
mans, though it was made in China in very early times, from
whence was derived the firft knowledge of it ; but the Portu-
guefe were the firft who cultivated it in America, and brought
it into requeft, as one of the materials of a very univerfal lux»
jiry in Europe. It is not determined, whether the cane, from
which this fubftance is taken, be a native of America, or
brought thither to their colony of Brafil by the Portuguefe,
from India and the coaft of Africa ; but, however that may be,
in the beginning they made the moft, as they ftill do the beft,
fugars which come to market in this part of the world. The
juice within the fugar cane is the moft lively, excellent, and
the leaft cloying fweet in nature, which, fucked raw, has
proved extremely nutritive and wholelome. From the molaftes
rum is diftiiled, and from the fcumniings of the fugar a meaner
fpirit is procured. The tops of the canes, and the leaves
which grow upon the joints, make very good provender for
their cattle, and the refufe of the cane, alter grinding, fervcs
for fire, fo that no part of this excellent plant is without its
ufe.
They compute that, when things are well managed, the rum
and molaffes pay the charges of the plantation, and the fugars
are clear gain. However, a man cannot begin a fugar plania-
OT THE WEST. INDIA ISLANDS. 231
tion of any confequence, not to mention the purchafc of the
land, which is very high, under a capital of at leaft five
thoufand pounds*
The negroes in the plantations are fubfifted at a very eafy
rate ; this is generally by allotting to each family of them a fmall
portion of land, and allowing them two days in . the week,
Saturday and Sunday, to cultivate it j fome are fubfifted in
this manner, but others find their negroes a certain portion of
Guinea or Indian corn^ and to fome a fait herring, or a fmall
portion of bacon or fait pork, a day. All the reft of the charge
confifts in a cap, a fhirt, a pair of breeches, and a blanket, and
the profit of their labour yields ten or twelve pounds annually.
The price of men negroes, upon their fiirft arrival, is from
thirty to fifty pounds, women and grown boys lefs : but fuch
negro families as are acquainted with the bufinefs of the iflands
generally bring above forty pounds upon an average one with,
another ; and there are inftances of a fingle negro man, expert
in the bufinefs, bringing one hundred and fifty guineas ; and
the wealth of a planter is generally computed from the number
of flaves he poffeffes.
( 232 )
BRITISH WEST-INDIES.
— <-«-<<-f» -^ ♦!>>•>->••
J A M A I C A.
X HIS ifland, the largeft of the Antilles, and the moft valua-*
ble, lies between 17° and :g^ north latitude, and between -jS^
and ■y^^ weft longitude, is near one hundred and eighty miles in
length, and about fixty in breadth ; it approaches in its figure to
an oval. The windward paflage right before it hath the ifland
of Cuba on the weft, and Hilpaniola on the eaft, and is about
twenty leagues in breadth.
This ifiand was difcoverd by Admiral Chriftopher Columbus
in his fecond voyage, who landed upon it May 5, 1494, and was
io much charmed with it, as always to prefer it to the reft of
the ifiands ; in corrl'equence of which, his fon chofe it for his
dukedom. It was fettled by Juan d'Efquivel, A. D. 1509, who
built the town, which, from the place of his birth, he called
Seville, and eleven leagues farther to the eaft ftood Melilla.
Orifton was on the fouth fide of the ifland, feated on what is now
called the Blue Fields river. All thefe are gone to decay, but
St. Jago, now Spanifh-Town, is ftill the capital. The Spaniards
held this country one hundred and fixty years, and in their time
the principal commodity was cacoa ; they had an immenfe ftock
of horfes, afTes, and mules, and prodigious quantities of cattle.
The Englifh landed here under Penn and Venables, May 11,
1654, and quickly reduced the ifland. Cacoa was alfo their
principal commodity till the old trees decayed, and the new ones
did not thrive ; and then the planters from Barbadoes introduce
ed fugar canes, which hath been the great ftaple ever fince.
OF JAMAICA, 233
The profpeft of this iiland from the fea, by reafon of its con-
fhant verdure, and many fair and fafe bays, is wonderfully plea-
fanti The coait, and for feme miles within the land, is low ;
but removing farther, it rifes, and becomes hilly. The whole
ifland is divided by a ridge of mountains running eaft and weft,
fome rifing to a great height ; and thefe are compofed of rock,
and a very hard clay, through which, however, the rains that
fall inceffantly upon them have worn long and deep cavities,
which they call gullies. Thefe mountains, however, are far
from being unpleaiant, as they are crowned even to their fum-
mits by a variety of fine trees. There are alfo about a hundred
rivers that iffue from them on both fides ; and though none of
them are navigable for any thing but canoes, are both pleafing
and profitable in many other refpefts. The climate, like tirat of
all countries between the tropics, is very warm towards the fea,
and in marlhy places unhealthy ; but in more elevated fituations
cooler, and where people live temperately, to the full as whole-
fome as any part of the Weft-Indies. The rains fall heavy for
about a fortnight in the months of May and Oftober ; and as
they are the caufe of fertility, are ftiled feafons. Thunder is
pretty frequent, and fometimes flrowers of hail ; but ice or
fnow, except on the tops of mountains, are never fcen, but on
them, and at no very great height, the air is exceedingly cold.
The moft eaftern parts of this ridge are famous under the
name of the Blue Mountains. This great chain of ruffaed
rocks defends the fouth fide of the ifiand from thofe boifterous
north-weft winds, which might be fatal to their produce. Their
ftreams, though fmall, fupply the inhabitants with good water
which is a great blefling, as their wells are generally brackifa.
The Spaniards were perfuaded that thefe hills abounded with
metals; but we do not find that they wrought anv mines, or if
they did, it was only copper, of which they faid the bells in
the church of St, Jago were made. They have feveral hot
fprings, which have done great cures. The climate v/as cer-
tainly more temperate before the great earthquake, and the iiland
was fuppofed to be out of the reach of hurricanes, which fince
then it hath feverely felt. The heat, however, is very much
tempered by land and fea breezes, and it is afterted, that the
hotteft time of the day is about eight in the morning. In the
night, the wind blows from the laud on all fides, fo that no
Ihips can then enter their ports.
In an ifland fo large as this, which contains above five mil-
lions of acres, it may be very reafonably conceived that there
are great variety of foils. Some of thefe are deep, bhck, and
H h
231 GEiV^RAL DESCRIPTION
rich, and mixed with a kind of potter's earth, others flialtoW
and fandy, and feme of a middle nature. There arc many fa-
vannahs, or wide plains, without ftones, in which the native
Indians had luxuriant crops of maize, which the Spaniard*
turned into meadows, and kept in them prodigious herds of
cattle. Some of thefe favannahs are to be met with even amongft
the mountains. All thefe different foils may be juftly pro-
nounced fertile, as they would certainly be found, if tolerably
cultivated, and applied to proper purpofes. A fufficient proof
of this will arife from a very curfory ixvlew of the natural and
artificial produce of this fpacious country.
It abounds in maize, pulfe, vegetables of all kinds, meadows
of fine grafs, a variety of beautiful flowers, and as great a
variety of oranges, lemons, citrons, and other rich fruits.
Ufeful animals there are of all forts, horfes, affes, mules, black
cattle of a large fize, and fheep, the flefh of which is well
tailed, though their wool is hairy and bad. Here are alfo goats
and hogs in great plenty, fea and river fifh, wild, tame, and wa-
ter fowl. Amongft other commodities of great value, they have
the fugar cane, cacoa, indigo, pimento, cotton, ginger, and
coffee ; trees for timber and other ufes, fuch as mahogany, man-
chineel, white wood, which no worm will touch, cedar, olives,
and many more. Befides thefe, they have fuftic, red wood, and
various other materials for dying. To thefe we may add a multi-
tude of valuable drugs, fuch as guaiacum, china farfaparilla,
caffia, tamarinds, Vanellas, and the prickle pear or opuntia,
which produces the cochineal, with no inconfiderable number
of odoriferous gums. Near the coaft they have fait ponds, with
which they fupply their own confumption, and might make any
quantity they pleafed.
As this ifland abounds with rich commodities, it is happy
likewife in having a number of fine and fafe ports. Point Mo-
rant, the eaftern extremity of the ifland, hath a fair and com-
modious bay. Paffing on to the fouth there is Port-Royal ; on
a neck of land which forms one fide of it, there Hood once the
faireft town in this ifland ; and the harbour is as fine a one as
can be wifhed, capable of holding a thoufand large veffels, and
ftill the ftation of the Englifla fquadron. Old harbour is alfo a
convenient port, fo is Maccary bay ; and there are at leall twelve
more between this and the weftern extremity, which is point
Negrillo, where fhips of war lie when there is a war with
Spain. On the north fide there is Orange bay, Cold harbour,
Rio Novo, Montego bay, Port Antonio, one of the fineft in
OF JAMAICA, 235
the. ifland, and feveral others. The north-weft winds, which
fometimes blow furioufly on this coaft, render the country on
that fide lefs fit for canes, but pimento thrives wonderfully ;
and certainly many other ftaples might be raifed in fmali planta-
tions, which are frequent in Barbadoes, and might be very ad-
vantageous here in many refpefts.
The town of Port-Royal ftood on a point of land running far
out into the fea, narrow, fandy, and incapable of producing
any thing ; yet the excellence of the port, the convenience of
having fhips of feven hundred tons coming clofe up to their
wharfs, and other advantages, gradually attra£led inhabitants in
fuch a manner, that though many of their habitations were built
on piles, there were near two thoufand houfes in the town in
its moft flouriftiing ftate, and which let at high rents. The
earthquake by which it was overthrown, happened on the ■ytli
of June, 1692, and numbers of people perifhed in it. This
earthquake was followed by an epidemic difeafe, of which up-
wards of three thoufand di^d ; yet the place was rebuilt, but
the greateft part was reduced to afhes by a fire that happened on
the 9th of January, 1 703, and then the inhabitants removed
moftly to Kingfton. It was, however, rebuilt for the third
time, and was raifing towards its former grandeur, when it was
overwhelmed by the fea, Auguft 28, 1722J there is, notwith-
ftanding, a fmall town there at this day. Hurricanes fi nee that
time have often happened, and occafioned terrible devaftation ;
one in particular, in 1780, which almoll overwhelmed the little
fea port town of Savannah la Mar.
The ifland is divided into three counties, Middlefex, Surry,
and Cornwall, containing twenty parifhes, over each of wh^h
prefideS a magiftrate, ftyled a cuftos; but thefe parifhes in pomt
of fize are a kind of hundreds. " The whole contains thiity-fix
towns and villages, eighteen churches and chapels, and about
twenty three thoufand white inhabitants.
The adminiftration of public affairs is by a governor and
council of royal appointment, and the reprefentatives of the
people in the lower Houfe of AfTembly. They meet at Spanifh-
town, and things are condufted with great order and dignity.
The lieutenant-governor and commander in chief has five thou-
fand pounds currency, or tljree thoufand live hundred and
feventy-one pounds eight (hillings and fix-pence three faitliings
fterling, befides which, he has a houfe in Spanifli-town, a pen
or a farm adjoining, and a polink or mountain for proviftons, a
fecretary, an under fecretary, and a domeflic chaplain, and
other feeSj which make his income at leafl eight thoufand five
H h 2
236 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
hundred and fifty pounds currency, or fix thoufand one hundred
pounds fterling.
The honourable the council confifts of a prefident and ten
members, with a clerk, at two hundred and feventy pounds,
chaplain one hundred pounds, ufher of the black rod and mef^
fenger, two hundred and fifty pounds.
The honourable the affenribly confifts of forty- three members,
one of whom is chofen Ipeaker. To this ailembly belongs a
clerk, with one thoufand pounds falary ; a chaplain, one hun-
dred and fifty pounds ; mefTcnger, fe\'en hundred pounds ;
deputy, one hundred and forty pounds ; and printer, two hun-
dred pounds.
The number of members returned by each parifh and county
are, for Middlefex feventeen, viz. St. Catharine three, St. Do-
lothy two, St, John two, St. Thomas in the Vale two, Claren^
don two, Vere two, St. Mary two, St. Ann two: for Surry
fixteen, viz. Kingfton three, Port-Royal three, St. Andrew two,
St. David two, St. Thomas in the Eaft two, Portland two, St.
George two : for Cornwall ten, viz. St. Elizabeth two, Weft-
morland two, Hanover two, St. James two, Trelawney two.
The high court of chancery confifts of the chancellor (go-
vernor for the time being) twenty-five mafters in ordinary, and
twenty mafters extraordinary, a regifter, and clerk of the pa-
tents, ferjeant at arms, and mace-bearer. The court of vice
admiralty has a fole judge, judge furrogate, and commiflary,
king's advocate, principal regifter, marfhal, and a deputy-mar-
fhal. The court of ordinary confifts of the ordinary (governor
for the time being) and a clerk. The fupreme court of judi-
cature has a chief juftice and fixteen aftiftant judges, attorney-
general, clerk of the courts, clerk of the crown, lolicitor of
the crown, thirty-three commifTioners for taking affidavits, a
provoft-marfhal-genera), and eight deputies, eighteen barrifters,
befides the attorney-general and advocate-general, and upv.'ards
of one hundred and twenty pra£lifing attornies at law.
The trade of this ifland will beft appear by the quantity of
fliipping, and the number of feamen to which it gives employ-
ment, and the nature and quantity of its exports. The follow-
ing is an account from the books of the infpc£lor-general of
Great-Britain, of the number of veffels of all kinds there re-
giftered, tonnage, and number of men, which cleared from the
levera] ports of entry in Jamaica, in the year 178^, exclufive
of coafling iloops, wherries, &c.
OF JAMAICA,
«37
Number
of Veffels.
Tonnage.
Men.
For
Great-Britain . . 242
63471
7748
Ireland ... 10
1231
9»
American States . 133
13041
893
Br. Amer. Colonies 66
6*33
449
Foreign Weft-Indies 22
1903
155
Africa .... 1
109
8
Total 474
85888
9344
It muft, however, be obferved, that as many of the veffels
clearing for America and the foreign Weft-Indies make two
or more voyages in the year, it is ufual, in computing the real
number of thofe veflels, their tonnage and men, to deduft one
third from the official numbers. With this correftion the
total to all parts is four hundred veffels, containing feventy-
cight thoufand eight hundred and lixty-two tons, navigated by
eight thoufand eight hundred and forty-five men.
The exports for the fame year are given on the fame autho-
rity, as follows :
£38
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
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OF JAMAICA,
239
But it mufl be noted, that a confiderable part of the cotton,
indigo, tobacco, mahogany^ dye-woods, and mifcellaneous arti-
cles, included in the preceding account, is the produce of the
foreign Weft- Indies imported into Junaica, partly under the
free-port law, and partly in fmall Britifii velTels employed ia a
contraband traffic with the Spanifh American territories, pay-
ment of which is made chiefly in Britifh manufaftures and
negroes; and confiderable quantities of bullion, obtained by
the fame means, are annually remitted to Great-Britain of
which no precife accounts can be proeureJ,
The General Account of Imports into Jamaica will ftaild
nearly as follows, viz.
IMPORTS INTO JAMAICA,
£, y. d.
From Great-Britain'^
direft, according | Britiih manu-
to a return of the \ fattures
Infpeftor Gene-
ral for 1 78 -J.
Foreign mer-
chandife
■75 3
£.
(/.
■ 686,657 2 3
From Ireland, allowing a moiety of the whole
import to the Britifh Weft-Indies, confifting
of manufaftures and falted provifions to the
amount of 350,0001.
From Africa, five thoufand three hundred and
forty-five negroes,* at 40I. fterling each— -
(this is wholly a Britifh trade, carried on in
(hips from England) ....
From the Brililh Colonies in America, including
about twenty thoufand quintals of falted cod
from Newfoundland ....
From the United States, Indian corn, wheat,
flour, rice, lumber, ftaves, &c. imported in
Britifh fhips
From Madeira and Teneriffe, in Ihips trading
circuitcufly from Great-Britain, five hundred
pipes of wine, exclufive of wines for re-ex-
portation, at 30I. fterling the pipe
■758,932 5 4
175,000 o 0
213,800 o o
3O5COO o o
90,000 o o
15,000 o o
1.282,732 5 4
* Being an average of the whole number imported and retained ia the idm*
foi ten years, 1778 to 1787, as returned by the Infpeaor-Gcneral.
240
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
£. s. c.
Brought over 1,2825-731 5 ^.
From the foreign Weft-Indies, under the free-
port law, &c, calculated on an average of
three years* ..... 150,000 o o
£•15432,732 5 4
From returns of the Infpeflor- General. The following are the particular*
for the year 1787.
Cotton wool
-
i94,ocX) lbs.
Cacoa _ - . -
-
64,750 lbs.
* Cattle, viz.
Affes
- 43
' Horfes . - -
233
r Mules - - -
585
Oxen - -
243
Sheep - - -
98
- 1,202 No.
Dying woods
-
5,077 Toni.
Gum guaiacum
-
79 Barrels.
Hides - . * -
-
4.537 No.
Indigo - - - .
-
4,663 lbs.
Mahogany - - -
-
9,993 Planks.
Tortoife fhell
-
655 lbs.
Dollars - - -
-
53,850 No.
t)F jfAMAICA.
241
A REtliRN of the number of Sugar Plantations in the
ifland of JAMAICA, and the Negro Slaves thereon, on
the 28th of March, 1789, diftinguifiiing the feveral Paiifhes,
County of Middlefex,
Parifh of St. Mary .
Do, St. Anne . . .
Do. St. John . .
Do. St. Dorothy . .
Do. ScTho. in the Vale
"Do. Claretidon . *
Do. Vere ....
Do. St. Catharine .
Sugar
Plant.
63
30
21
12
33
56
26
3
Negroes
thereon
12,06,5
4,908
3'7i3
1,776
5.327
10,150
5>279
408
Total in the County of Middlefex 244
County of Surry.
Parin^ of St. Andrew
Do. St. George .
Do. Portland . . .
Do. Port-Royal . .
Do. St. David . .
Do. St. Tho. in the Eaft
Do. Kingfton . . .
24
3.540
14
2,795
23
2,968
3
358
12
l,8qo
«3
15,786
Total in the County of Surry 1
59
County of Cornwall.
Panlh of Trclawney
Do. St. James . . ,
Do. Hanover j, . ,
Do. Wellmorcland ,
Do. St. Elizabeth . ,
83
15,692
67
12,482
b9
13=33"
b2
11,219
2b
5,112
Total in the County of Cornwall 007
-"•7,337
57.S35
Total in Jamaica 710
128,798
li
( 242 )
BARBADOES.
B.
'ARBADOES, the moft eaftelly of all the Caribbee iflanda,
fubjcft to Great-Britain, and, according to the beft geographers,
lying between 59° 50' and 62°^ 2' of weft longitude, and be-
tween la** 56' and 13'' 16' of north latitude. Its extent is not
certainly known ; the moft general opinion is, that it is twenty-
five miles from north to fouth, and fifteen from eaft to weft ; but
thefe menfurations are fubjeft to fo many difficulties and uncer-
tainties, that it wil' perhaps convey a more adequate idea of this
ifland to tell the reader, that in reality it does not contain above
one hundred and fcven thoufand acres. The climate is hot but
not unwholefome, the heat being qualified by fea breezes ; and
a temperate regimen renders this ifland as fafe to live in as any
climate Ibuth of Great-Britain ; and, according to the opinion of
many, as even Great-Britain itfelf. This ifland has on its eaft
fide two ftreams that are called rivers, and in the middle is faid
to have a bituminous fpring, which fends forth a liquor like tar,
and ierves for the fame ufes as pitch or lamp oil. The ifland
abounds in wells of good water, and has feveral rrfervoirs for
rain water. . Some parts of the foil are faid to be hollowed into
caves, fome of them capable of containing three hundred people,
Thefe are imagined to have been the lurking-places of runaway
negroes, but may as probably be natural excavations. The woods
that formerly grew upon the ifland have been all cut down, and
the ground converted into fugar plantations. When thofe plan-
tations were firft formed, the fbil was prodigioufly fertile, but
has fince been worn out, infomuch, that about the year 1730,
tbe planters were obliged to raife cattle for the fake of their
dung, by whicli means the profit of their plantations was reduced
to lefs than a tenth of its ufual value. Notwithftanding the
fmallnefs of Barbadoes, its foil is different, being in fome places
fandy and light, and others rich, and in others fpungy, but all
of it is cultivated according to its proper nature, fo that the
ifland prcfents to the eye the moft beautiful appearance that can
0 F BARBADOES, 243
be imagined. Oranges and lemons grow in Barbadoes in great
plenty, and in their utmoft perfeftion. The lemon juice here
has a peculiar fragrancy. The citrons of Barbadoes afford the
beft drams and fweetmeats of any in the world, the Barbadoes
ladies excelling in the art of preferving the rind of the citron
fruit. The juice of the limes, or dwarf lemons, is the moft
agreeable fouring we know, and great quantities of it have of
late been imported into Britain and Ireland. The pine apple is
alfo a native of Barbadoes, and grows there to much greater per-
feftion than it can be made to do in Europe by any artificial
means. A vaft number of different trees peculiar to the climate
are alfo found to flourifh in Barbadoes in great perfeftion, fuch
as the aloe, mangrove, calabafh, cedar, cotton, mallic, &c. Here
likewife are produced feme fenfitive plants, with a good deal of
garden ftuff, which is common in other places. In fhort, a na-
tive of the fineffc, the richeft, and mofl diverfified country in
Europe, can hardly form an idea of the variety of delicious,
and at the fame time nutritive vegetable produftions with which
the ifland abounds.
When Barbadoes was firft difcovered by the Englifh, few or
no quadrupeds were found upon it, except hogs, whicli had
been left there by the Portuguefe. For convenience of carriage
to the fea fide, fome of the planters at firfl procured camels,
which undoubtedly would in all refpefts have been preferable ta
horfes for their i'ugar and other works ; but the nature of the
climate difagreeing with that animal, it was found impoffible to
preferve the breed. They then applied for horfes to Old and
New-England ; from the former they had thofe that were fit for
fhow and draught ; from the latter thofe that were proper for
mounting their militia, and for the faddle. They had likewife
fome of an inferior breed from Curaffao, and other fettlements.
They are reported to have had their firft breed of black cattle
from Sonavifta, and the ifle of May ; they now breed upon the
ifland, and often do the work of horfes. Their affes are very
ferviceable in carrying burdens to and from the plantations.
The hogs of Barbadoes are finer eating than thofe of Britain, but
the few fheep they have are not near fo good. They likewife
have goats, which, when young, are excellent food. Racoons
and monkeys are alfo found here in great abundance. A variety
of birds are produced on Barbadoes, of which the humming bird
is the mofl remarkable. Wild fowl do not ofien frequent this
iilaiid, but fometimes teal are found near thsir ponds. A bird
1 i 2
244 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
which they call the man of war, is faid to meet fhips at Jwenty
leagues from land, and their return is, to the inhabitants^ a furc
fign uf the arrival of ihefe (hips. When the wind blows from
the fouth and fouth-weft, they have flocks of curlews, plovers,
fnipcs, wild pigeons, and wild ducks. The wild pigeons are
very fat and plentiful at fuch fcafons, and rather larger than thofe
of England, The tame pigeons, pullets, ducks, and poultry of
all kinds, that are. bred at Barbadoes, have alio a Hne flavour,
and are accounted more delicious than thofe of Europe. Their
rabbits are Icarce ; they have no hares, and if they have deer of
any kind, they are kept as curiofities. The infefts of Barbadoes
are not venomous, nor do either their fnakes or their fcorpions
ever fling. The mufl:cttoes are troublefome, and bite, but arq
more tolerable in Barbadoes than on the continent. Various
ether infcfts are found on the ifland, fome of which are trou-
blefome, but in no greater degree than thofe that are produced
by every warm fummer in England, Barbadoes is well fupplied
with fifh, and fome caught in the fea lurrounding it are almoft
peculiar to itfelf, fuch as the parrot fifli, fnappers, grey cavallos,
terbums, and coney filh. The mullets, lobfters, and crabs caught
here are excellent ; and the green turtle is, perhaps, the greateft
delicacy that ancient or modern luxury can boaft of, At Bar-
badoes this delicious fliell fifh feldom fells for lefs than a fliilling
a pound, and often for more. There is found in this ifland a
kind of land crab, which eats herbs wherever it can find them,
and flriekers itfelf in houfcs and hollow trees, Accordiiig to
report, they are a fhell fifh of padage, for in March they travel
to the fea 'm great numbers. ,
The inhabitants may be reduced to thiee clafles, viz. the
mafters, the white lervants, and the blacks. The former are ei-
ther-Englifli, Scots, or Irifii ; but the great encouragement given
by the government to the peopling of this and other Weft-Indian
iflands, induced fome Dutch, French, Portuguefe, and Jews,
to fettle among them ; by which, after a certain time, they ac-
quire the rights of naturalization in Great-Britain. The white
fervants, whether by covenant or purcbyfe, lead more eafy lives
than the day-l;«bourers in England, and when they come to be
ovcrfecrs, their wages and other allowances are confiderable.
1 he manners of the white inhabitants in general are tlie fame as
in moil polite towns and countries in Europe. The Capital of
the ifland is Eiidgc-towu,
OF BARB ADO ES. 245
When the Englifh, fpme time after the year 1625, firft land-
ed here, they found it the moft deflitute place they had
hitherto vifited. It Had not the leali appearance of ever hav-
ing been peopled even by favages, I'here was no kind of
beads of pafture or of prey, no fruit, no herb, no root fit for
fupporting the life of man. Yet, as the climate was fo good,
and the foil appeared fertile, fome gentlemen of Imall fortune
in England refolved to become adventurers thither. The trees
were fo large, and of a wood fo hard and flubborh, that it was
with great difficulty they could clear as much ground as was
necefi'ary for their fubfiftence. By unremitting perfeverance,
however, they brought it to yield them a tolerable fupport ;
and they found that cotton and indigo agreed well with the foil,
and that tobacco, which was beginning to come into repute in
England, anfwered tolerably. Thefe profpefts, together with
the florm between king and parliament, which was beginning
to break out in England, induced many new adventurers to
tranfport themfelves into this ifland. And what is extremely
remarkable, fo gieat was the increafe of people in Barbadoes,
twenty-five years after its firfh fettlement, that in 165O, it con-
tained more than fifty thoufand whites, and a much greater
number of negro and Indian flaves. The latter they acquired
by means not at all to their honour ; for they feized upon all
thofe unhappy n^en, without any pretence, in the neighbour-
ing iflands, and carried them into flavery ; a praftice which
has rendered the Caribbee Indians irreconcileable to us ever
lince. They had begun a little before this to cultivate fugar,
which foon rendered them extremely wealthy. The number
of flaves therefore was ftill augmented ; and in 1676 it is fup-
pofed that their number amounted to one hundred thoufand,
which, together with fifty thoufand whites, make one hundred
and fifty thouland on tiiis fmall fpot ; a degree of popula'tion
unknown in Holland, in China, or any other part of the world
rp^oll renowned for numbers. At the above period, Barbadoes
employed four hundred fail of fhips, one with another, of one
hundred and fifty tons, in their trade. Their annual exports
in fugar, indigo, ginger, cotton, and citron-water, were above
thirty-five thouland pounds, and their circulating cafh at home
was two hundred thoufand pounds. Such was the increafe of
population, trade, and wealth, in the courfe of fifty years.
But fince that time this ifland has been much on the decline,
which is to be attributed partly to the growth of the Frencli
fugar colonies, and partly to our own eftabliflimenis in the
fieighboLuing ifles. Their numbers at prefent are faid to be
«4S GENERAL DESCRIPTION
twenty thoufand whites, and one hundred thoufand flav«s.
Their commerce confifls of the fame articles as formerly, though
they deal in them to lefs extent.
Barbadoes is divided into five diftrifts and eleven parifhes,
and contains four towns, viz. Bridge-town, Oftins, or Charles-
town, St. James's, formerly called the Hole, and Sperght's-
town. Bridge-town, the capital, before it was deftroyed by
the fires of 1766, confifted of about fifteen hundred houfes
which were nrollly built of brick ; and it is ftill the feat of
government, and may be called the chief refidence of the
governor, who is provided with a country villa called Pilgrims,
fituated within a mile of it ; his falary was raifed by Queen
Anne from twelve hundred to two thoufand per ann. the
•whole of which is paid out of the exchequer, and charged to
the account of the four and a half per cent duty. The form
of the government of this ifland fo very nearly refembles that
of Jamaica, which has already been defcribed, that it is unne-
ceffary to enter into detail, except to obferve that the council
is compofed of twelve members, and the aflembly of twenty-
two. The moft important variation refpefts the court of
chancery, which in Barbadoes is conflituted of the governor
and council, whereas in Jamaica the governor is fole chancellor.
On the other hand, in Barbadoes, the governor fits in council,
even when the latter are afting in a legiflative capacity : this
in Jamaica would be confidered improper and unconftitutional.
It may alfo be obferved, that the courts of grand feflions, com-
mon pleas and exchequer in Barbadoes, are dillinft from each
other, and not as in Jamaica, united and blended in one lupremc
court of judicature.
We fhall clofe our account of Barbadoes with the following
authentic document.
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( 243 )
SAINT CHRISTOPHER'S.
X HIS iflind, commonly called St. Kitt's, is fituatcd in 62*
tveft. longitude and 17° north latitude, about fourteen leagues
from Antigua; is twenty miles long and about feven broad;
it was dilcovered in November, 1493? by Columbus, and
named after himfelf, but was never planted or poffcffed by the
Spaniards : it is in reality the oldefi of all the Britifh fettlements
in the Weft-Indies, and the common mother both of the French
and Englifh fettlements in the Caribbean iflands. It was
firft fettled by a Mr. Warner arid fourteen other pcrfonS in
1623. Mr. Warner, a refpeftable gentleman, had accompanied
Capt. North in a voyage to Surinam, where he had become
acquainted with a Capt. Painton, a very experienced feaman,
who fuggefted to him the advantages of a fettlement on one
of the Wcfh-India iflands deferted by the Spaniards, and pointed
out this as eligible for fuch an undertaking. Mr. Warner
returning to Europe in 1620, determined to carry this
projeft into execution. He accordingly failed wiih the above
party to Virginia, from whence he took his paffage to St.
Chriftopher's, where he arrived in the month of January, 1623,
and by the month of Septem'ber following had raifed a good
crop of tobacco, which they propofed to make their ftaple
commodity.
Unfortunately, their plantations were deftroyed the latter
fend of the year by an hurricance ; in confequence of which
calamity, Mr. Warner returned to England, and obtained the
powerful patronage of the Earl of Carlifle, who caufed a fhip
to be fitted out and laden with all kinds of neceflaries, which
arrived on the 18th of May following ; and thus faved a fettle-
ment which had otherwife died in its infancy. Warxier himfelf
did not, however, return till the year 1625, when he carried
with him a large number of other perfons. About this time,
and, according to fome writers, on the fame day with Warner,
arrived D'EIr.ambuc, the captain of a' French privateer, toge-
ther with about thirty hardy veterans belonging to her ; fhe
had been much damaged in an engagement with a Spanifli
galleon •, they were received kindly by the Englifti, and
OF ST. CHRtSTOPHER'S. 249
ir«5maincd with them on the ifland, from whence, by their united
endeavours, they drove the original inhabitants.
After this exploit, thcfe two leaders returned to their re-
fpeftive countries to folicit fuccours, and bringing with them the
name of conquerors, they met with every encouragement.
Warner was knighted^ and, by the influence of his patron, lent
back in 1626, with four hundred frefll recruits, amply fur-
nilhed with neccffaries of all kinds. D'Efnambuc obtained from
Cardinal Richelieu, the then minifter of France, the eflabliili-
rtient of a feparate company, to trade with this and fome other
iflands. Subfcriptions, however, did not come in very rapid, and
the fhips fent out by the new company were fo badly provided,
that of hOe hundred and thirty-two new fettlers, who failed
from France in, 162-7, the greater part perilhed miferably at
fea for want of food. The Englilh received the furvivors, and,
to prevent contefts about limits, the commanders of each nation
divided the idaud as equally as polTible among their refpeftive
followers. The illand thus continued in the hands of the
French and Englifh until the peace of Utrecht, when it was
tinally ceded to Great-Britain. We are not, however, to fup-
pofe, that during this period harmony and good-will prevailed ;
on the contrary, the Englifh were three times driven off the
ifland, and their plantations laid Wafte : nor were the French
much lefs fufferers. Such ard the confequences of thofe curfod
fyilems of maxims of government, which beget a fpirit of en-
mity againfl all thofe who are of a different nation. After the
peace of Uirecht, the French polfeirions, a few excepted, were
iold for the benefit of the Engl-ifli government ; and in ^"j^^
eighty thoufand pounds of the money was granted as a niarriage
portion to the Princefs Anne, who was betrothed to the Prince
of Orange. In i-ySi, it was attacked and taken by the Frenchj
but again ceded to Britain at the peace of it83. '
About one-half of this illand is fuppoled to be unfit for cul-
tivation, the interior parts confiding of many high and bat icn.
motintains, between which are horrid precipices and thick woods.
The loftiell mountain, wliich is evidently a decayed volcano,
is called Mount Mifery ; it riles three thouland feven hundred
and eleven feet perpendicular height from tlie fea. Nature has,
however, made a rccompcnfe for the fterililv of the mountjins
by the iertdity of the pjains. The foil is a dark grey loam,
very light and porous, and is fuppofed by Mr, Edwards* to be
the produ^^tiun of lubierrancous hres finely incorporated with a
* Vide Hidjiy of WePt-Indies, vol. i p. 429.
K k
250 GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c.
pure loam or virgin mould ; this foil is peculiarly favourable td
the culture of fugar. In the fouth-wefb part of the ifland hot
fulphureous fprings are found at the foot of fome of the moun-
tains : the air is, on the whole, falubrious, but the ifland is
fubjeft to hurricanes.
St. Chriftopher's is divided into nine parifhes, and contains
four towns and hamlets, viz. BaflTeterre, (the capital) Sandy-
point, Old road, and Deep bay ; of thefe, Baffeterre and Sandy
point are ports of entry eftablifhed by law. The fortifications
on this ifland are Charles fort and Brimftone hill near Sandy
point, three batteries at Baffeterre, one at Fig-tree bay, another
at Palmeton point, and fome others of little importance.
St. Chriftopher's contributes twelve hundred pounds cur-
rency per annum towards the fupport of the governor-general^
befides the perquifites of his office, which in war time are very
confiderable : the council confifts of ten members ; the houfe
of affembly of twenty-four reprefentatives, of whom fifteen
make a quorum. The qualification for a reprefcntative is a
freehold of forty acres of land, or a houfe worth forty pounds
per annum ; for an eleftor, a freehold of ten pounds per annum i
the governor is chancellor by office, and fits alone on the bench.
The jurifdiftion of the courts of king's bench and common pleas
centers in one fuperior court, wherein jullice is adminiftered.
by a chief juflice and four affiftant judges, the former appointed
by the king, the latter by the governor in the king's name ;
they all hold their offices during pleafure; The office of the
chief judge is worth about fix hundred pounds per annum ;
thofe of the affiftant judges trifling. The prefent number of
inhabitants are eftimated at four thoufand white inhabitants,
three hundred free blacks and mulattoes, and about twenty-fix
thoufand flaves.
. As in the other Britifli iflands in the neighbourhood, all the
white males from fixteen to fixty arc obliged to enhft in the
militia ; they.ferve without pay, and form two regiments of
about three hundred effeOiive men each : thefe, with a company
of free blacks, conftituted the whole force of the ifland before
the laft war» Since that period, a fmall addition of Britifl"..
troops have, we believe, in general been kept there*
( 251 )
ANTIGUA,
Ai
-NTIGUA is fituated about twenty leagues eaft of St„
Chriftopher's, in weft longitude 60** 5^, and north latitude i-p^
so'. It is about fifty miles in circumference, and is reckoned
the largeft of all the Britifh Leeward iflands.
This ifland has neither ftream nor fpring of frcfli water ; this
inconvenience, which rendered it uninhabitable to the Caribbees,
deterred for fome time Europeans from attempting a permanent
ellablifhment upon it ; but few, if any, are the obftacles of
Nature, which civilifed ma.i will not overcome, more efpecially
when intereft fpurs him on. Tlie foil of Antigua was found to
be fertile, and it foon prefented itfelf to the view of enter-
prifing genius, that by means of cifterns the neceffity of fprings
and ftreams might be fuperfeded. Hence, as early as 1632, a
fon of Sir Thomas Warner, and a number of other Englifhmen,
fettled here, and began the cultivation of tobacco. In 16-74,
Colonel Codrington, of Barbadoes, removed to this ifland, and
fucceeded fo well in the culture of fugar, that, animated by his
example, and aided by his experience, many others engaged in
the fame line of bufinefs. A few years after, Mr. Codrington
was declared captain-general and commander in chief of the
Leeward iflands, and carried his attention to their welfare far-
ther than perhaps any other governor either before or flnce has
done, and the good effefts of his wifdom and attention were
loon manifeft.
Antigua, in particular, had fo far increafed, that in i6go.,
when General Codrington headed an ejjpedition againft the
French fettlement at St. Chriftopher's, it furnifhed eight hun-
dred eflFeftive men. Mr. Codrington dying in 1698, was fuc-
ceeded by his fon Chriftopher, who, purfuing his father's fteps,
held the government till 1704, when he was fuperfeded by Sir
William Matthews, who died foon after his arrival. Queen
Anne then beftowed the government on Daniel Park, Efq. a
man who for debauchery, villainy and defpotifm, though he
may have been equalled, was certainly never excelled. Plis
government lafted till Dec. 1710, when his oppvefTions aroufeji
K k 2
252 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
. the inhabitants to refiftance : he was feized by the enraged ntul- ^^
titude and torn to pieces, and his reeking limbs fcattered about
the ftreet. An inqi^iry was inflituted with refpeft to the per-
petration of this.att; the people of England were divided, fome
looking upon his death as an aft of rebellion againft the crown^
others viewing it as a jufl facrifice to liberty. The governr
ment, however, after a full inquiry, were fo fully fatisfied of
Park's guilty and illegal condutl, that, much to their honour,
they ifiued a general pardon for all perfons concerned in his
death, and, iome time afterwards, fanftioned the promotion of
two of the principal perpetrators to feats irv the council.
The principal article raifed in this ifiand is fugar ; befidcs
which, cotton-wool and tobacco is raifed in confiderable quan-
tities, and likewife provifions to a confiderable amount in fa-
vourable years.
Crops here are very unequal, and it is exceeding difficult to
furnifli an average: in 1779, there was fliipped three thoufand
three hundred and eighty-two hogfheads and five hundred and
feventy-nine tierces of fugar: in 1782, the crop was fifteen
thoufand one hundred and two hogfheads and one thoufand fix
hundred and three tierces: in 1770, 1773, and 1778, there
were no crops of any kind, owing to long continued drought.
The ifland is progrelfively decreafing in produce and population.
The laft accurate returns to government were made in the year
1774, when the white inhabitants of all ages and fexes were
two thoufand five hundred and ninety, and the enflaved blacky
thirty-feven thoufand eight hundred and eight : feventeen thou-
fand hogfheads of fugar of fixteen hundred weight each, are
deemed, on the whole, a good faving crop ; as one-half of the
canes only are cut annually, this is about an hogfhead to the
acre.
Antigua is divided into fix parifhes and eleven diftrifts, and
contains fix towns and villages. St. John's, which is the capi-
tal, Parham, Falmouth, Willoughby bay, Old road, and James's
fort ; the two firft are the legal ports of entry. The ifland has
many excellent harbours, particularly Englifh harbour and St,
John's, at the former of which there is a dock-yard and arfenal
eilablifhed by the Englifn government.
The military cfl;ablifhment here is two regiments of infantry
and two of nulitia, befides which there is a fquadron of dra-
goons and a battalion of artillery raifed in the ifland. The
governor, or captain-general, of the Leeward iflands, though
directed by his inftruftions to vifit each ifland within his
0 E 4NTIGUA, 253
government, i§ generally ftationary at Antigua : in hearing the
caufes from the other iflands he fits alone, but in caufes arifing
within the ifland he is aflifted by a council ; and by an aft of
affetnbly, fanftioned by the crown, the prefident and a majority
of the council may hear and determine chancery caufes during
the abfence of the governor-general ; befides this court, there
is a court of King's Bench, a court of Common Pleas, and a
court of Exchequer.
The legiflature of Antigua confifts of the commander in
chief, a council of twelve members, and an aflembly of twenty-
five. The legiflature of Antigua fet the firft example of a
melioration of the criminal law refpefting negro flaves, by
allowing fchem a trial by jury, &c. And the inhabitants, ftill
more to their honour, have encouraged the propagation of the
gofpel among their flaves,
C «54 )
GRENADA,
AND THE
GRE NA D IN£;S.
G,
'RENADA lies in weft longitude 6i9 40/, north latitude
12*^ o'. It is the laft of the windward. Catibbees, and lies
thirty leagues north of New-Andaluiia, on the continent.
According to fome, it is twenty-four leagues in compafs ; ac-
cording to others, only twenty- two ; and it is faid to be thirty
miles in length, and in fome places fifteen in breadth. The
iiland abounds with wild game and fifh ) it produces alfo very
fine timber, but the cocoa tree is obferved not to thrive here
(o well as in the other iflands. A lake on a high mountainj,
about the middle of the ifland, fupplles it with frefh water
ilreams. Several bays and harbours lie round the ifland, fome
of which might be fortified to great advantage ; fo that it is.
very convenient for (hipping, not being fubjeft to hurricanes.
Tka foil is capable of producing tobacco, lugar, indigo, peafe
and millet.
Columbus found it inhabited by a fierce, warlike people,
who were left in quiet poffefTion of the ifland till 16505
though, according to others, in 1638, M. Poincy, a French-
man, attempted to make a fettlement in Grenada, but was
chiven oif by the Caribbeans, who reforted to this ifland in
greater numbers than to the neighbouring ones, probably on
account of the game with which it abounded. In 1650, how-
ever, Monf. Parquet, governor of Martinico, carried over from
that ifland two hundred men, furniflied v/ith prelents to re-
concile the favages to them ; but with arms to iubdue them, in
cafe they fhould prove untraftable. Tlie favages are faid to
have been friglitcned into lubmiflion by the number of French-
mcij, but, according to' fome French writers, the chief not
only welcome'd the new-comers, but, in confidcration of fome
knives, lintchets, fcilfar.*, and other toys, yielded to Parquet
the lovcrcignty of the ifland, relerving to themielves their own
habitations, 'J"he Abbe Raynal informs us, that thefe firft
French colonifl.5, imagining they had puichafcd the ifland by
OF GRENADA. ..^
VHt(c trifles, affumed the fovereignty, and foon a£led as tyrants.
The Caribs, unable to contend with them by force, toolc
their ufual method- of murdering all thofe whom they found
in a defencelefs ftate. This produced a war ; and the French,
fettlers, having received a reinforcement of three hundred men
from Martinico, forced the favagefs to retire to a mountain J
from whence, after exhaufting all their arrows, they rolled
down great logs of wood on their enemies. Here they were
joined by other favages from the neighbouring iflands, and again
attacked the French, but were defeated anev/ ; and were at laft
driven to fuch defperation, that forty of them, who had efcap-
ed from the flaughter, jumped from a precipice into the fea,
where they all periflied, rather than fall into the hands of their
implacable enemies. From thence the rock was called Ig morne
des /auteiirsj orj " the hill of the leapers," which name it ftill
retains. The FretVch then deftroyed the habitations and all the
provifions of the favages ; but frefla fupplies of the Caribbeans
arriving, the war was renewed with great vigour, and great
lumbers of the French were killed. Upon this they refolded
totally to exterminate the natives ; and having accordinp-ly
attacked the favages unawares, they inhumanly put to death
'the women and children, as well as the men ; burning all their
boats and canoes, to cut ofF all coitimunication between the
few furvivors and the neighbouring iflands.* Notwithftandin*
dll thefe barbarous precautions, however, the Garibbees proved
the irreconcileable enemies of the French ; and their frequent
infurreftions at lad obliged Parquet to fell all his property in
the ifland to the Count de Cerillac in i65'7.f The new pro-
prietor, who purchafed Parauet's property for thirty thoufand
crowns, fent thither a pcrfon of brutal manners to govern the
ifland. He behaved with futh inlupportable tyranny, that
moft of the co}onifl;s retired to Martinico ; and the few who'
temained condemned him to death after a formal trial, in ths
* Of the manner in which thefe perfons carried on the war againft the natives*
i. pretty correft eftimate may be formed from the following circumftance ; a
beautiful -^oung gill, of twelve or thif-teen years of age, who was taken alive,
became the objeiB: of difpute between two of the French officers ; each of thenx
claiming her as his prize, a third coming up, put an end to the CGnteff by (hoor-
ing the girl through the head.
f Mr. Edwards attributes this fa le to another caufe ; he fays, the Carlbbee?^'
were totally e.xtinft, and that it was the gi'eat e.vpenfe ' which Parquet had been
at in conquering the ifland which obliged him to fell it.
256 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
•whole court of juftice that tried this tnifcreant, there was only
one man (called Archangeli) who could write. A farrier was
the perlon who impeached; and he, inftead of the fignatures,
fealed with A horfe-fhoe ; and Archangeli, who performed the
office of clerk, wrote round it thefe words in French, " Mark
of Mr. de la Brie, counfel for the court."
Cerillac receiving, as fuppofed, but little profit from his
capital, conveyed all his rights, &c. to the French Weft-India
company; the charter of which being abolilhed in 1674, the
ifland became vefted in the crown of France. Undef the vari^
ous calamities to which this ifland was fubjefted, it will not be
fuppofed to have made much progrefs. By an account taken
in 1700, there were at Grenada no more than two hundred and
fifty-one white people, fifty-three free favages or mulattoes, and
five hundred and tv/enty-five (laves. The ufeful animals were
reduced to fixty-four horfes and five hundred and lixty-nine
head of horned cattle* The whole culture confi-fted of three
plantations of fugar, and fifty-two of indigo.
This unfortunate ftate of the affairs of Grenada was changed
in 1714. The change was owing to the fldurifliing condiiioni
of Martinico. The richfeft of the Ihips from that ifland were
fent to the Spanifh coafts, and in their way touched at Grenada
to take in refrefliments. The trading privateers, who under-
took this navigation, taught the people of that ifland the value
of their foil, which only required cultivation. Some traders
furniflied the inhabitants with flaves and utenfils to ereft fugar
plantations. An open account was eftablifhed between the
two colonies. Gfenada was clearing its debts gradually by its
rich produce, and the balance was on the point of being clofed, -
•\v!ien the war in 1744 interrupted the communication between
viie two iilands, and at the fame time fl.opped the progrels of
llie iug».r planlations. This lufs v/as fupplied by the culture
of coffee, which was purfued during the hoftilities with all
the adivity and eagernefs that indun;iy could inipire. The
peace of 1748 revived all the labouis, and opened all the
iormer fources of wealth. In 1753, the population of Gre-
nada confided of one thoufand two hundred and fixty-two
white peoplcj one hundred and feventy-five free negroes, and
eleven thouiand nine hundred and ninety-one flaves. The
catile amounted to two thoufand two hundred and ninety-eight
horfes or mules, two thouiand four hundred and fifty-fix head
of honicd cattle, three thoufand two hundred and ieveniy-
cight n:iecp, nine hundred and two goats, and three hundred
OF GRENADA. 557
ind tliirty-one hogs. The cultivation rofe to eighty-three fugar
plantations, two millions feven hundred and twenty-five ihou-
land fix hundred coffee trees, one hundred and fifty thoufand
three hundred cacoa trees, and eight hundred cotton plants^
The provifions confifted of five millions feven hundred forty
thoufand foUr hundred and fifty trenches of cafTada, nine hun-
dred and thirty-three thoufand five hundred and ninety-fix ba-
nana trees, and one hundred and forty-three fquares of potatoes
and yams. The colony made a rapid progrels, in proportion to
the excellence of its foil ; but in the courfe of the laft war but
»ne, the ifland was taken by the Britifh. At this time, one of
the mountains at the fide of Sti George's harbour was flrongly
fortified, and might have made a good defence, but iurrendered
without firing a gun; and by the treaty concluded in 1763, the
ifland was ceded to Britain. On this cefTion, and the jrtfmage-
ment of the colony after that event, the Abbe Raynal has the
following remarks : " This long train of evils [the ambition and
mifmanagement of his countrymen]) has thrown Grenada into
the hands of the Englifh, who are in poflrefhon of this conquefk
by the treaty of 1763. But how long will they keep this co-
lony ? Or, will it never again be reftored to France ? England
made not a fortunate beginning. In the ftrft enthufiafm raifcd
by an acquifition, of which the highefl opinion had been pre-
vioufly formed, every one was eager to purchafe eftates there ;
they fold for much more than their real value. This caprice, by-
expelling old colonifls who were inured to the climate, fenC
about one million five hundred and fifty-three thoufand pounds
Out of the mother country. This imprudence was followed by
another^ The new proprietors, mifled by national pride, fubfti-
tuted new methods to thofe of their predeceflors ; they attempted
to alter the mode of living among their flaves. The negroes^
who from their very ignorance -are more attached to their cuf-
toms than other men. revolted. It was found neceffary to fend
out troops, and to fhed blood : the whole colony was filled witlt
fufpicions : the maflers, who had laid themfelves under a ncccf-
fity of ufing violent methods, were afraid of being burnt or
mafTacred in their own plantations : the labours declined, or
■Cv'ere totally interrupted. Tranquility was at length reftored,
and the number of flaves increafed as far as forty thoufand, and
the produce raifed to the treble of what it was under the French
governments The plantations were farther improved by the
neighbourhood of a dozen of iflands, called the Grenadines or
G/enadilloes, which are dependent on the colony. They are
' Vol. IV, ' L I
±56 GEh'^ERAL DESCRIPTION
from three to eight leagues in circumference, but do not aftori
a fingle fpring of water, one fmall one excepted : the air is
wholefome ; the ground, covered only with thin bufhes, has not
been fcrcened from the fun ; it exhales none of thofe noxious
vapours which are fatal to the hufbandman. Cariacou, the only
one of the Grenadines which the French occupied, was at firffi
frequented by turtle fifhermen ; who, in the leifure afforded
them by fo eafy an occupation, employed themfclves in clearing
the ground. In procefs of time, their fmall number was in-
ereafed by the accefTion of {r>jne of the inhabitants of Guada-
loupc, who finding that their plantations were deftroyed by ac
particular fort of ants, removed to Cariacou. The ifland flou-
rifhed from the liberty that was enjoyed there. The inhabitants
collcftcd about one thouland two hundred flaves, by whofe la-
bours they made themfelves a revenue of near twenty thoufand
pounds a year in cotton. The other Grenadines do not afford a
profpeft of the fame advantages, though plantations are begun
there. Sugar has fiicceeded remarkably well at Becouya, tije
largeft and moft fertile of thefe iflands, which is no more than
nvo leagues difl'ant from St. Vincent."
In the year 1779, the conquefl; of this ilTand was accomplifhed
by D'Eftaing, the French admiral, who had been prevented
from attempting it before by his enterprife againft St. Vincent.
Immediately after the conqueft of St. Lucia, however, being re-
inforced by a fqiiadron under M. de la Motte, he fet fail for
Grenada with a fleet of twenty-fix fail of the line and twelve
frigates, having on board ten thoufand land forces. Here he ar-
rived on the fecond of July, and landed three thoufand troops,
chiefly Irifh, being part of the brigade compofed of natives of
Ireland in the ferviee of France. Thefe were conduced by
Gount Dillon, who difpofed them in fuch a manner as to lurround
the hill that overlooks and commands George's-town, together
with the fort and harbour. To oppofe thefe, Lord M'Cartney,
the governor, had only about one hundred and fifty regulars,
and three or four hundred armed inhabitants ; but though all
refiftance was evidcnlly vain, he determined ncvcrthelefs to
make an honourable and gallant defence. The preparations he
made were fuch as induced D'Eftaing himfelf to be prefent at
the attack : and even with this vaft fuperiority of force, the firft
attack on the entrenchments proved unfuccefsful. The fecond
continued two hours, when the garrifon was obliged to yield to
the immcnfe difparity of numbers who aflaulted them, after
Bavirtg killed or wounded three hundred of their antagonifl:s.
OF GRENADA, 45^
Having thus made themfelves mafters of the entrenchments on
the hill, the French turned the cannon of them towards the fort
which lay under it, on which the governor demanded a capitu-
lation. The terms, however, were fo extraordinary and unpre-
cedented, that both the governor and inhabitants agreed in re-
jefting them, and determined rather to iurrender without any
conditions at all, than upon thofe which appeared fo extravagant.
This they did, and it mud be acknowledged, that the proteftion
which was afforded to the helplefs inhabitants of the town and
their property, was fuch as reflefted the highelt honour and
luftre on the difcipline and humanity of the conquerors, pro-
teftions and fafeguards were granted on every application ; and
thus a town was (aved from plunder which, by th? ftrift rules
of war, might have been given up to an exalperated foldiery.
In the mean time Admiral Byron, who had been convoying
the homeward bound Weft-India fleet, haftened to St, Vincent,
in hopes of recovering it ; but being informed by the way, that
a defcent had been made at Grenada, he changed his courfe, hop-
ing that Lord M'Cartney would be able to hold out till his ar-
rival. On the lixth of July he came in light of the French fleet,
and without regarding D'Eftaing's fuperiority of fix (hips of the
line and as many frigates, determined, if polFible, to force him
to a clofe engagement. The French commander, however, was
not fo confident of his oWn prowels as to run the rifk of an en-
counter of this kind, and having already achieved his conqueft,
had no other view than to preferve it. His defigns were facili-
tated by the good condition of his fleet, which being more
lately come out of port than that of the BritiHi, failed faftcr, fo
that he was thus enabled to keep at what diftance he pleafed.
The engagement began at eight in the morning, when Admiral
Barrington with his own and two other fhips got up to the van
of the enemy, which they attacked with the greateil fpirit. As
the other fhips of his divifion, however, were not able to get
up to his afiiftance, thefe three fhips were neceffarily obliged to
encounter a vaft fuperiority, and of confcqucnce luffered ex-
ceedingly. The battle was carried on from beginning to end
in the lame unequal manner; nor were the Britifh commanders,
though they ufed their utmoft efforts for this purpoie, able to
bring the French to a clofe engagement. Thus Captains Col-
lingwood, Edwardsj and Cornwallis, ftood the fire of the whole
French fleet for lome time. Captain Fanfhaw of the Mon-
mouth, a fixty-four gun fhip, threw himlelf fingly in the way
of the enemy's van ; and Admiral Rov.ley and Captain Buchart
L 1 2
qGo general description
fought at tiie fame difadvantage : fo that finding it impoITible to
continue the engagement with any probability of fuccefs, » gene-
ral ceifation of firing took place about noon. It re-commenced
in the fame manner about two in the afternoon, and Lifted with
tlifrerent interruptions till the evening. During this aftion fome
of the Britifh fiiips had forced their way into St, George's har-
bour, not im:igining that the enemy were already in polTeirion of
the illand. They were loon undeceived, however, by perceiv-
ing the French colours flying afhore, and the guns and batteries
firing at them. This dilcoVery put an end to the dcHgn which
had brought on the engagement ; and as it was now high time to,
think of providing for the fafety of tlie Britifli tranfports,
xvhich were in danger from the number of the enemy's frigatesi
the engagement was finally difcontinued. During this aftion
fome of Admiral Bvron's fhips had fufFered extremely ; the
Lion of fixt\%.four guns, Captain Cornw'allis, was found inca-
pable of re-joining the fleet, which were plying to windward,
and was therefore obliged to bear away alone before the wind.
Two other fliips lay far aftern in a very diftred'ed fituation, but
no attempt was made to capture them, nor did the French admi-
ral fiiow the leaft inclination to renew the engagement.
Grenada was again reftored to Great-Britain at the peace of
Paris; it contains about eighty thoufand acres of land, of which
although nolcfs than feventy-two thoufand one hundred and forty-
one acres paid taxes in 1776, and may therefore be fuppo/ed fit
for cultivation, yet the quantity actually cultivated has never
exceeded fifty thoufand acres. The face of the country is
mountainous, but not inacceflTible in any part, and abounds with
fprings and rivulets. To the north and the eaft, the foil is a
brick mould, the fame, or nearly the fame, as that of which
mention has been made in the hiftory of Jamaica ; on the wcfl
fide, it is a rich black mould on a fubflratum of yellow clay ; to
the fouth, the land in general is poor, and of a reddifh hue, and
the fame extends over a confiderable part of the interior country.
On the whole, however, Grenada appears to be fertile in a high
degree, and by the variety, as well as the excellence of its le-
turnp, feeras adapted to every tropical produflion. The
exports of the year 1776, from Grenada and its depen-
dcncic?, were fourteen millions twelve thoufand one hun-
dred and fihy-fevcn pounds of mufcovado, and nine millions
two hundred and feventy-thrce thoufand fix hundred and
fevcn pounds of clayed fiigar, eight hundred and eighteen
thoufand levtn hundied gallons of rum, one million eight hujit
OF G R E /; A D A. sGi
idrccl and .twenty-feven thoufand one hundred and fixty-fix
pounds of cofFee, four hundred and fifcy-lcven thoufand icven
hundred and nineteen pounds of cacoa, ninety-one thoufand
nine hundred and forty-three pounds of cotton, twenty-feven
thoufand fix hundred and thirty-eight pounds of indigo, and
fome fmaller articles ; the whole of which, on a nioderate com-
putation, could not he worth lefs, at the ports of fhipping, than
fix hundred thoufand pounds fterling, excluding freight, duties,
infurance, and other charges. It defarves to be remembered
too, that the fugar was the produce of one hundred and fi>:
plantations only, and that they were v/orked by eighteen thou-
fand two hundred and ninety-three negroes, which was there-
fore rather moie than one hogfhead of fixteen hundred weight
fiom the labour of each negro, old and young, employed in the
cultivation of that commodity; a prodigious return, equalled,
we believe, by no Britifh ifland in the Weft-Indies, St. Chrif-
topher's excepted. The exports of 1787 will be given here-
after ; they will be found, except in one or two articles, to fall
greatly fhort of thofe of 1776.
This ifland is divided into fix pariflies ; St. George, St,
David, St. Andrew, St. Patrick, St. Mark, and St. John ;
and its chief dependency, Cariacou, forms a feventh parifli.
It is only fince the reftoration of Grenada to Great-Britain by
the peace of 1783, that an ifland law has been obtained for the
ellablifhment of a Proteftant clergy. This aft pafl'ed in 1784,
and provides ftipends of three hundred and thirty pounds
currency, and fixty pounds for houfe rent per annum, for five
clergymen^ viz. one for the town and parifh of St. Geoige,
three for the other five out pariflics of Grenada, and one for
Cariacou. Befides thefe ftipends, there are valuable glebe lands,
which had been appropriated to the fupport of the Roman
Catholic clergy, whllft that was the eftablilhed religion of
Grenada. Thefe lands, according to an opinion of the attorney
and follcitor-general of England, to whom a queftion on this
point was referred by the crown, became vefted in his Majefty
as public lands, on the reftoration of the ifland to the Britifli
government,* and we believe have fince been applied by the
* If the decifion of t'ne attorney-general and folicitor-genera< was founded
on juftice, and the government of Great-Britain had a right to fcize thefe lands
and apply them to a different purpofc than that which they were originally in-
tended, and beftowed for, the fame principle muft juftify the French govern-
ment in feizing the church lands as public property, and applying them to the
benefit of their country ; hence it appears that what has been termed the tnoft;
daring facrilege and ufurpation when done in France, is faiiflioned in Great-
Britain by legal authority as an aft of juftice.
263 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
colonial legiflature, with the confent of the crown, to the
farther fupport of the Proteftant church, with fome allowance
for the benefit of the tolerated Romifii clergy of the remaining
French inhabitants.
The capital of Grenada, by an order of gov'ernor Melville,
foon after the cefllon of the country to Great-Britain by the
peace of Paris, was called St. George. By this ordinance, the
Englifh names were given to the feveral towns and parifhes,
and their French names forbidden to be thereafter uled in any
public afts. The French name of the capital was Fort Royale ;
it is fituated in a fpacious bay, on the weft or lee fide of the
ifland, not far from the fouth end, and poffeffes one of the
fafcft and moft commodious harbours for fhipping in the Englifh
Weft-Indies, which has lately been fortified at a very great
expenfe.
The other towns in Grenada are, properly fpeaking, inconfi-
derable villages or hamlets, which are generally fituated at the
bays or (hipping places in the feveral out parifhes. The
parifh town of Cariacou is called Hillft)orough.
Grenada has two ports of entry, with feparate eftablifhments,
and diftinft revenue officers, independent of each other, viz.
one at St. George, the capital, and one at Grenville bay, a
town and harbour on the eaft or windward fide of the ifland.
The former, by the 2'7th George III. c. 27, is made a free
port.
It appears that the white population of Grenada and the
Grenadines has decreafed confiderably fince thefe iflands firft
came into the pofleffion of the Englifli. The number of white
inhabitants, in the year 1771, were known to be fome what
more than fixteen hundred ; in 1777, they had decreafed to
thirteen hundred ; and at this time they are fuppofed not to
exceed one thoufand, of which about two thirds are men able
to bear arms, and incorporated into five regiments of militia,
including a company of free blacks or mulattoes attached to
each. There are likewife about five hundred regular troops
from Great-Britain, which are fupported on the Britifh eftab-
lifhment. Befides the regular troops which arc fent from
Great-Britain for the proteftion of Grenada, there are in its
garrifon three companies- of king's negroes, which came from
America, where they ferved in three capacities, as pioneers,
artificers, and light dragoons. In Grenada they form a com-
pany of each, and are commanded by a lieutenant of the regu-
lars, having captain's rank.
OF GRENADA. 263
*the negro (laves have alfo decreafed. By the laft returns
preceding the capture of the ifland in 1779, they were ftated
at thirty-five thoufand, of which five thoufand were in Cari-
acou, and the fmaller iflands. In 1785 they amounted, to no
more than twenty-three thoufand nine hundred and twenty-lix
in the whole. The decreafe was owing partly to the want of
any regular fupply during the French government, and partly
to the numbers carried from the ifland by the French inhabi-
tants, both before and after the peace.
The free people of colour amounted in 1787, to one thoufand
one hundred and fifteen. To prevent the too great inereafe
of this mixed race, every manumiflion is, by an aft of this
ifland, charged with a fine of one hundred pounds currency,
payable into the public treafury. But this law has neither
operated as a produftive fund, nor as a prohibition ; for it is
ufually evaded by executing and recording afts of manumiffion
in, fome other ifland and government where there is no fuch
law. The evidence of all free coloured people, whether born
free or manumitted, is received in the courts of this ifland, oti
their producing fufficient proof of their freedom ; and fuch free
people are tried on criminal charges in the fame manner as
whites, without diflinftion of colour. They are alfo allowed to
pofTefs and enjoy lands and tenements to any amount, provided
ihey are native-born fubjefts or capitulants, and not aliens.
The governor, by virtue of his office, is chancellor, ordinary,
and vice-admiral, and prefides folely in the courts of chancery
and ordinary, as in Jamaica. His falary is three thoufarid two
hundred pounds currency per annum,* which is raifed bj'^ a
poll ta^c on all flaves ; and it is the praftice in Grenada to pafs
a falary bill on the arrival of every new governor, to continue
during his government. In all cafes of abfence beyond twelve
jnonths, the falary ceafes and determines.
The council of Grenada confifl:s of twelve melfebers and
the affembly of twenty- fix. The powers, privileges and func-
tions of both thefe branches of the legiflature are the fame,
and exercifed preciiely in the fame manner as thofe of the
council and affembly in Jamaica. A freehold or life ellate, of
fifty acres, is a qualification to fit as reprefentatives for the
pariflies, and: a freehold or life eflate in fifty pounds houfe rent
in St. George, qualifies a reprelentative for the town. An
* The currency of Grenada, or rate of exchange, is coniiiioaly fifty-five per
cent, worfe than flerling.
ibi GENERAL DZSCRIt'TlON
eftate of ten acres in fee, or for life, or a rent of ten pound?
in any of the out towns, gives a vote for the reprefentatives of
each parifh refpeftively; and a rent of twenty pounds per ann^
iflfuiug out of any freehold or life eftate in the tow^n of St.
George, gives a vote for the rcprcfentative for the town.
The law courts in Grenada, befides thofe of chancery and
ordinary, are the court of grand feffions of the peace, held
twice a year, viz. in March and September. In this court
the firft perfon named in the commifTion of the peace prefides^
who is ufually the prcfident or fenior in council. — The court
of common pleas : this court confifts of one chief and four
alTiftant juftiees, whole commifTions are during pleafure. The
- chief juftice is ufually appointed in England, a profefTional man,-
and receives a falary of fix hundred pounds per annum. The
four afTiftant juftices are ufually appointed by the governor from:
among the gentlemen of the ifland, and aft without a falary. —
The court of exchequer : the barons of this court are cotn-
milTioned in like manner as in the court of common pleas ; but
this court is lately grown into difufe. — The court of admiralty
for trial of all prize caules of capture from enemies in war, and
cf revenue ieizure in peace or war. There is one judge of
admiralty and one furrogate. — The governor and council com-
pote a court of error, as in Jamaica, for trying all appeals of
error from the court of common pleas.
We have already noticed that there are federal fmall iflnnds
fubjett to the laws enafted in Grenada ; they each eleft a;
' perfon to reprefent them in the general alTembly, which is
always held in St. George's. As none of the Grenadines have
a harbour fit for large veffcls, the produce of them is conveyed
in fmall vellels to St. George's, from whence it is exported to
the different places of Europe, Africa, America, &c. From
the number of vefTels that arrive there yearly from .different
places, and from its being the feat of the legillature, it has
becfime fo populous, that two newfpapers are publifhed in if.
On occafion of the late profpeft of a war with Spain, an aft
was paffed here in February 1790, obliging every gentleman to-
give in upon oath the value of his eftate, and the number of
blacks upon it, in order that the general afferably might afcer-^
Hain the number of ftaves each Ihould fend to work upon the
fortifications on Richmond hill, near St. Geoige's.
We fiiall clofe our account of this iftand with a view of its
exports in 1787, with an account of its value in the Britifh
market.
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( 266 )
DOMINICA.
T.
HIS ifland is liluated between 61^ and 62° wefl longitude^
and 15° and 16? north latitude, is about twenty-nine miles
long, and fixteen broad ; it was fo named by Columbus, on ac-
count of its being dilcovered on a Sunday. Prior to the year
J 759, its hiflory is a mere blank ; at the above period it was
taken by Great-Britain from France, and afterwards confirmed
to her at the peace in 1763.
When Great-Britain took poffeflion of this ifland, many
Frenchmen had eftabliflied plantations of coffee in various parts
thereof, and thele were fecured in their pollefhons by the Eri-
tifh government, on condition of taking the oaths of allegiance,
and paying a quit rent of two (hillings per acre per annum,
provided each plariation did not confift of more than three
hundred acres. The reft of t'he cultivable lands were fold by
auftion under the infpeflion of commiflioners appointed for
that purpofe : ninety-fix thoufand three hundred and forty-four
acres were thus difpoled of, which yielded to the Britifh go-
vernment three hunai"ed and twelve thoufand and ninety-two
pounds eleven fliillings and one penny fuelling. Thefe pur-
chafes made by Britifh fubjcfts do not appear to have anfwered
the expedition of the buyers, for the French inhabitants are
ftill the moft numerous, and poflefs the moft valuable coffee
plantations in the ifland, the produce of which has hitherto
been found its moft important ftaple.
At the commencement of the unjuft and deftruftive war
againft the American colonies by Great-Britain, the ifland of
Dominica was in a very flourlfhing ftate. Rofeau, its capital,
had been declared a fiee port by aft of pa;';ament, and was
reforted to by trading veflels from moft part of the foreign
Weft-Indies, as well as from America. The French and Spa-
niards pnrchafed great numbers of negroes there for the fupply
of their ftUtlemenis, together with large quantities of the nna-
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C 271 )
St. VINCENT.
His ifland contains about eighty-four tlioufand acres, and
is on the whole well watered ; it is however, in general moun-
tainous and rugged, but the intermediate vallies are exceeding
fertile. The country held and cultivated by the Britifh, at
prefent, does not exceed twenty-three thoufand fix hundred and
five acres, all the reft of the ifland being held by the Caribbees,
or incapable of cultivation.
The Spaniards, according to Dr. Campbell, beftowcd the
name of St. Vincent on this ifland, on account of its being
difcovered on a day devoted to that Saint in their calendar ;
but it does not appear that they ever got pofieflion of it ou
account of the number of Indians who inhabited it ; but
neither the natural ftrength of the ifland, nor their num-
bers, could ultimately exempt them from European hofti-
lities.
When the Englifh and French, who for fome years had beett
ravaging the Windward iflands, began to give fome confiftencc
to their fettlements, in the year 1660 they agreed that Domi-
nica and St. Vincent (hould be left to the Caribs as their
property. Some of thefe favages, who till then had been
difperfed, retired into the former, and the greater part into the
latter. There thefe mild and- moderate men, lovers of peace
and hlence, lived in woods, in icaitered families, under the
guidance of an old man, whom his age alone had advanced to
the dignity of ruler. The dominion paffed fucceflively into
every family, where the oldeft always became king, that is to
fay, the guide and father of the nation. Thefe ignorant favages
were ftill unacquainted with the fuhlimt art of fubduing and
governing men by force of arms ; of murdering the inhabi-
tants of a country to get poffeflion of their lands ; of granting
to the conquerors the property, and to the conquered the
labours of the conquered cojuntry ; and in procefs of time, of
depriving both of the Irighjts and the fruit of their toil by
arbitrary taxes.
2)2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The population of thefe children of nature was fuddenly
augmented by a race of Africans, whofe origin was never
pofitively afcertained. It is faid that a fhip carrying negroes
for fale, foundered on the coaft of St. Vincent, and the flaves
who elcaped the wieck, were received as brethren by the
favages. Others pretend that thcfe negroes were deferters, who
ran away from the plantations of the neighbouring colonies.
A third tradition fays, that this foreign race comes from the
blacks whom the Caribs took from the Spaniards in the firft wars
between thofe Europeans and the Indians. If we may credit
Du Tertre, the moft ancient hiftorian who has written an ac-
count of the Antilles, thefe terrible favages who were io inve-
terate againft their mafters, fpared the captive flaves, brought
them home, and reftored them to liberty that they might enjoy
life, that is, the common bleffings of nature, which no man
has a right to withhold from any of his fellow creatures.
Their kindnefs did not ftop here ; for by whatever chance
thefe (Irangers were brought into the ifland, the proprietors of
it gave them their daughters, in marriage, and the race that
fprang from this mixture were called black Caribs : they have
prelerved njore of the primitive colour of their fathers, than oi
the lighter hue of their mothers. The red Caribs are of a low
flature ; the black Caribs tall and flout, and this doubly-
favage race {peaks with a vehemence that feems to relemble
anger.
In procefs of time, however, fome differences arofe between
the two nations ; the people of Martinico perceiving this, re-
folved to take advantage of their divifions, and raife thcmfelves
on the ruins of both parties. Their pretence was, that the
black Cnribs gave flielter to the flaves who deferted from the
French iflands. Impoflure is always produftive of injuftice.
Thofe who were falfely accufed, were afterwards attacked
without reafon ; but the fmallneis of the numbers lent out
Bgainft them, the jealoulv of thole who were appointed to coni-
mand the expedition, the dcfeftion of the red Caribs, who
refuled to fupply fuch dangerous allies with any of the fuccours
iliey had piomiied them to aft againft their rivals, the difhcu'.ty
of procuring fubhflence, the impollibility of coming up with
^enemies who kept themfelves concealed in woods and moun-
tains ; all thelc circuiwRances confpired to dilconcert this rafh
and violent enterprife. It was obliged $ be given up after the
ids of many valuable lives; but the triumph the favages ob-
tained, did not prevent them from fuing for peace as fupplicants.
OF ST. VINCENT. ' s^q
They even invited the French to come and live with them,
IVearing fincere friendfhip and inviolable concord. This pro-
pofal was agreed to, and the next year, 1719, many of the in-
habitants of Martinico removed to St. Vincent.
The firfl; who came thither fettled peaceably, not only with
the confent, but by the afTiftance of the red Caribs. This fuc-
cefs induced others to follow their example ; but thefc, whe-
ther from jcaloufy, or fome other motive, taught the favages a
fatal fecret ; that people, who knew of no property but the
fruits of the earth, becaufe they are the reward of labour, learnt
tvith aftonillament that they could fell tlie earth itfelf, which
they had always looked upon as belonging to mankind in gene-
rah This knowledge induced them to Hieafure and fix boun-
daries, and from that inftant peace and happinefs were baniOied
from their ifland : the partition of lands occalioned dwitions
amongft them. The following were the caufes of the revolu-
tion produced by the fyftem of ufurpation.
When the French came to St, Vincent, they brought flaves
along with them to clear and till the ground. The black Ca-
ribs, fhocked at the thought of refembling men wlio were de-
graded by flavery, and fearing that fome time or other their co-
lour, which betrayed their origin, might be made a pretence for
enflaving them, took refuge in the thickeft part of the foreft.
In this fituation, in order to imprint an indelible mark of dif-
tinftijon upon their tribe, that might be a perpetual token of
their independence, they flattened the foreheads of all their
children as foon as they were born. The men and women
whofe heads could not bend to this llrange fhape, dared no
longer appear in public witho'.Jt this vifible fign of freedom.
The next generation appeared as a new race ; the flat-headed
Caribs, who were nearly of the fame age, tall proper men,
hardy and fierce, came and erefted huts by the fea fide.
They rio fooner knew the price which the Europeans fet
upon the lands they inhabited, than they claimed a fliare with
the other iflanders. This t-ifing fpirit of covetoufnefs was at
firft appeafed by fome prefents of brandy and a few fabres; but
not content with thefe, they foon demanded fire arms, as the
red Caribs had ; and at lafi; they were defirous of having their
fharC in all future fales of land, and likewife in the produce of
paft fales. Provoked at being denied a part in this brotherly
repartition, they formed into a feparate tribe, fworc never more
to afl'ociate with the red Caribs, chofe a chief of their own,
and declared v.'ar,
N n
274 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The number of the combatants might be equal, but their
ilrcngth was not fo. The black Caribs had every advantage
over the red, that induflry, valour, and boldnefs, muft foon
acquire over a weak habit and a timorous dilpofition But the
foirit of equity, which is feldom deficient in favages, made thd
conqueror confent to fhare with the vanquiflied all the territory
lying to the leeward. It was the only one which both parties
were defirous of poITciTmg, becaufe there they wcie lare of re-
ceiving prefents from the French.
The black Caribs gained nothing by the agreement which
they themfclves had drawn up. The new planters who came
to the ifland, always landed and fettled near the red Caribs,
v^hcre the coaft was mofl accefiible. This preference roufed
that enmity which wa« but ill extinguifhed ; the war broke out
again ; the red Caribs, who were always beaten, retired to
windward of the ifland ; many took to their canoes and went
over to the continent, or to Tobago, and the few that remained
lived feparafe from the blacks.
The black Caribs, conquerors and maflers of all the leeward
coaftj required of the Europeans that they fhould again bay
the lands they had alreadv purchafed. A Frenchman attempted
to fhew the deed of his purchafe of feme land which he had
bought of a red Carib ; " I know not," fays a black Carib,
*•' what thy p^per fays, but read \4hat is written on my arrow ;
there you may feCj in charafters which do not lie, that if you
do not give me what 1 demand, I will go and burn your houfe
to night." In this manner did a people who had not learnt to
read, argue with thofc wT*o derived fuch confequence from
knowing how to write. They made ufe of the right of force,
with as much affurance and as little remorfe as if they had been
acquainted with divine, political and civil right.
Time, which brings on a change of ineafures with a change
of interefts, put an end to thefe difturbancts. The French
became in their turn the flrongefl ; they no longer fpent their
time in breeding poultry, and cultivating vegetables, callava,
maize, and tobacco, in order to fell them at Martinico. In lefs
than twenty years more important cultures employed eight hun-
dred white men and three thoufand blacks. Such \yas thefitu-
ation of St. Vincent when it fell into the hands of the Englifh,
and was fecured to them by the treaty of 1763.
It was in the weflern part of the illand that the French had
begun the culture of cacoa and of cotton, and had made confi-
derable advances in that of coffee. The conquerors formed
ther£ feme fugar plantations ; the impolTibility of multiplying
OF ST. VINCENT. 275
^liem upon an uneven foil, which is full of ravines, made them
jdefirous of occupying the plains towards the eaft. The favages
who had taken refuge there, refufed to quit them, and recourfe
■was had to arms to compel them to it. The refiflance which
they oppofed to the thunders of European tyranny, was not>
and could not pofTibly be maintained w-ithout grent dilFiculty,
An officer was meafuring out the ground which liad juft been
taken poffeflion of, when the detachment that accompanied him
was unexpeftedly attacked, and almofl totally deftroyed on the
25th of March, 1775. It was generally believed that the un-
fortunate perfons who had juft been deprived of their poflef-
fions, were the authors of this violence, and the troops put
themfelves in motion, and it was determined totally to eradicate
and deftroy them.
Fortunately it \vas determined in time that the Caribs were
innocent, that they had taken or malTacred feveral fugitive flaves
who had been guilty of fuch cruelties, and that they had iworn
not to ftop till they had purged the iiland of thofe vagabonds,
whofe enormities were often imputed to them. In order to
confirm the favages in this refolution, by allurement of rewards,
the legiflative bod)'^ palled a bill to inhere a gratuity of five
moides, or one hundred and twenty livres, to any one who
fhould bring the head of a negro, who fhould have deferted
within three months.
On the i()th of June, 1779? St. Vincents fliared the fate
of many other Britilh- pofl'efiions in the Well-Indies, being
taken by a frnall body of French troops from Martinico, com-
manded by a lieutenant in the navy. The black CaribbeeSj,
however, joined the foe, and the ifland furrendered without a
ilruggle. The terms of capitulation were eafy, and it was again
reftored in 1783 to Gicat-Britain ; at that time it contained
fixty-one fugar eftates, five hundred acres in coffee, two hun-
dred in cacoa, four hundred in cotton, fifty in indigo, and five
hundred in tobacco, befides tlie land appropriated to the raifing
plantains, yams, maize, &c. AU the reft, except the fmall Ipots
cultivated by the native Caribbees, retained its native woods, as
it does at this time.
The Britifh territory in this ifland is divided into five pa-
rifhes, of which only one was ever furnifljed with a church,
which was blown down in 1780. Kingflon is the capital of
the ifland, and the feat of government. 1'here are befides
J.hree other inconfiderable villages, called towns, but which
confift each only of a few houfes. The government of St.
Vincent is the lame as that of Grenada; the council confifts of
N n 2
^jG GENERAL DESCRIPTION
twelve, and the afTembly of feventeen. The governor ha&
two thoufand pounds flerling per ann. half of which is paid
by the exchequer of Great-Britain, and the other half raifed
within the ifland.
The military force is a regiment of infantry, and a company
of artillery, fent from England, and a black corps raifed in the
country, but placed on the Britifh eftablifhment, and provided
for accordingly : there are befides two regiments of militia,
which ferve without pay of any kind.
The number of inhabitants, according to the lafl: return
made to government, was one thoufand four hundred and fifty
whites, and eleven thoufand eight hundred and fifty-three
blacks, flaves.*
We {hall clofe this account as of the other iflands, with a
table of exports, &c. but it muft be remarked, that in this
table is comprehended the produce of feveral fmall iflands de-
pendent on the St. Vincent government. Thefe iflands are
Bequia, Union, Canouane, Muflique, Petit Martinique, Petit
St. Vincent, Maillerau, and Balleicau ; the whole containing
near ten thoufand acres, but the four lafl only produce a little
cotton,
* Of thefe negroes there are on the dependent ifiands about fixteen hundred.
OF ST. VINCENT.
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( 278 )
NEVIS.
N>
EVIS lies about feven leagues north of Montferrat, and
is feparated from St. Chriftopher's by a narrow channel : it
makes a beautiful appearance from the fea, being a large conical
mountain covered with fine trees, of an eafy afcent on every
fide, and entirely cultivated. The circumference is about
twenty-one miles, with a confiderable traft of level ground all
around. The climate in the lower part is reckoned to be
warmer than Barbadoes, but it is more temperate towards the
fummit. The foil is very fine in the lower part, but grows
coarfer as we afcend. The produftions are nearly the fame
with thofe of St. Chriftopher's, and the iverage quantity of
fugar is four thoufand hogfheads of fixteen hundred weight
each. The ifland is divided into five parifhes, and it has three
pretty good roads or bays, with fmall towns in their vicinity :
Charlefton, the feat of government, Moreton bay, and New-
caftle. This pleafant ifland was fettled under the aufpices of
Sir Thomas Warner from St. Chriftopher's, in the year 1628.
His fucceffor. Governor Lake, was ponfidered as the Solon of
this little country, in which he difpofed of every thing with
fuch prudence, wifdom and juftice, as procured him high re-
putation with the French as well as Englifh. In the Dutch
war they met with fome diftuvbance from the French, but by
being covered by an Englifh fquadron, the enemy were obliged
to defift from their intended invafion, after a fmart engagement
in fight of the ifland. Sir William Stapleton fometimes re-
ficled here, and Sir Nathaniel Jolmfon conftnntly, at which
time the inhabitants of Nevis were computed at thirty thoufand.
In the war immediately after the revolution they exerted them-
felves gallantly, and had two regiments of three hundred men
each. In that of Queen Anne they behaved equally well,
though they were lefs fortunate ; for the French landing with
a fuperior force, and having inveigled moft of their flaves, they
were forced to capitulate. About four thoul'and of th'cfe flaves
the French carried away and fold to the Spaniards, to work in
their mines. The parliament, after making due inquiry irjto
0 F N E V I S, 2fg
i\it ioites they had fuftained, voted them about a third part of
the fum in which they had fufFered. Thefe lofles by war,
an epidemic difeafe, and repeated hurricanes, exceedingly di-
minifhed the number of the people. They now, according to
Mr. Edwards, do not exceed fixteen hundred whites and ten
thoufand blacks. All the white men, not exempt by age and
other infirmities, are formed into a militia for its defence, from
which there is a troop of fifty horfe well mounted ; but they
have no troops on the Britifli eftablifhment. The principal
fortification is at Charlefton, and is called Charles fort, the
governor of which is appointed by the crown, and paid by
the inhabitants. There is here a lieutenant-governor, with
a council of members, and an affembly compofed of three
members from each of the five parifties into which the ifland
is divided. The adminiftering of juftice is under a chief
juftice and two afliftant judges. The commodities are chiefly
cotton and fugar ; and about twenty fail of fhips are annually
employed in this trade*
( aSo )
MONTSERRAT.
M(
.ONTSERRAT Is a very frnall but pleafant ifland, fo'
called by Columbus from its refemblance to the famous moun-
tain near Barcelona in Catalonia. It lies in weft longitude
6i<* o/, north latitude 16"* 15^, having Antigua to the north-
eaft, St. Chriftopher's and Nevis to the north-weft^ and Gua-
daloupe lying fouth fouth-eaft at the diftance or about nine
leagues. In its figure it is nearly round, about nine miles in
extent every way, twenty-feven in circumference, and is
fuppofed to contain about forty or fifty thoufand acres. The
cliinate is warm, but lefs fo than in Antigua, and is eftecmed
very healthy. The foil is mountainous, but with pleafant
valleys, rich and fertile, between them ; the hills are covered
with cedars and other fine trees. Here are all the animals as well
as vegetables and fruits, that are to be found in the other iflands,
and not at all inferior to them in quality. The inhabitants
raifed formerly a confiderable quantity of indigo, which was
none of the beft, but which they cut four times a year. The
prefent produft is cotton, rum and fugar. There is no good
harbour, but three tolerable roads, at Plymouth, Old harbour,
nnd Ker's bay, where they fliip the produce of the illand.
Public aff'airs are adminifteted here as in the other ifles, by a
lieutenant-governor, a council of fix, and an affembly ccmpofed
of no more than eight members, two from each of the four
diftrifts into which it is divided. Its civil hiftory contains
nothing particular except its inVafion by the French in 1712^
and its capture by them again in the late war, at the conclufion
of which it was reftored to Great-Britain. The wonderful
effefts of induftry and experience, in meliorating the gifts
of Nature, have been no where more confpicuous than in
thcfe iflands, and particularly in this, by gradually improving
their produce, more efpecially of late years, fincc the art of
nlanting has been reduced to a regular lyftcm, and almoft all
the defefts of foil (o thoroughly removed by proper manage-
ment and manure, that except from the failure of leafons,
or the want of hands, there is feldom any fear of a crop.
OF MONTSERRAT. 281
As far tack as I770, there were exported from this ifland to
Great-Britain one hundred fixty-feven bags of cotton, feven
hundred and forty hogflieads of rum ; to Ireland one hundred
and thirty-three ditto, four thoufand three hundred and thirty-
eight hogfheads, two hundred and thirt)'-two tierces, two hun-
dred and two barrels of fugar ; the whole valued at eighty-nine
thoufand nine hundred and feven pounds : and exports to North-
America valued at twelve thoufand fix hundred and thirty-three
povmdSi There are a few fhips employed in trading to this ifland
from London and from Briftol, and the average of its trade 'vvill
be feen in the tables annexed. As to the number of inhabitants,
according to the moft probable accounts, they confift of between
twelve and fourteen hundred whites, and about ten thoufand
negroes, though fome fay not fo many.
O o
( 282 )
BARBUDA AND ANGUILLA,
B
ARBUDA, which belongs entirely to the Codrington fa-*
mily, und the circumference of which is fix or feven leagues,
hath dangerous coafts. It is, perhaps, the mofi; even of all the
American illands. The trfecs which cover it are weak, and not
very high, becaufe there are never more than fix or (even inches
of earth upon a layer of lime-Ilone. Nature hath placed great
plenty of turtles here ; and caprice hath occationed the fending
thither of deer and feveral kinds of game ; chance hatli filled the
woods with pintados and other fowls, efcaped from the velfels
after fome fliipwreirk. Upon this foil are fed oxen, horfes and
mule?, for the labours of the neighbouring fettlements. No
other culture is known there, except tliat of the kind of corn
which is necefi'ary for the feeding of the numerous herds in
thole feafons when the pafture fails. Its population is reduced
to three hundred and fifty flaVes, and to the fmall number of free
men who are appointed to overlook them. This private pro-
porty pays no tribute to the nation, though it be fubjeft to the
tribunals of Antigua. The air here is very pure and very whole-
lome. Formeilv, the fickly people of the other Englifli iflands
went to breathe it, in order to flop the progrefs of their difeafes,
or to recover their flrengfh. This cuflom hath ceafcd, fincc
iome of them indulged themfelves in parties of deftruftive
chnce.
Muft men then be fufFcred to pcrifh, in order that animals
fliould be prelerved ? How is it, poffible, that fo atrocfous a
cullom, wliich draws down the imprecation of almoft all Europe
upon the fovereigns and upon the lords of its coiantries, Ihould
be fuffered, and ihould even be eflabliHied beyond the leas ? We
have aflced tiiis queftion, and we have been anlwered, that the
idand belonged to the Codringtons, and that they had a right to
dilpole of their property at their pleaiure. We now afl;., whe-
tlier this right of property, which is undoubtedly facred, hath
not its limits ? Whether this right, in a variety of circumftanccs,
be not lacrificed to public good ? Whether the man who is in
poffellion of a fountain can reful'e water to him who is dying
0 F BARBUDA AND ANGUILLA. 285
with thirfl: ? "Whether any of the Codrington family would par-
take of one of thofe precious pintados, that had coft his coun-
tryman or his fellow-creature his life ? Whether the man who
fiiould be convifted of having fuffered a fick perfon to die at
his door, would be fufficiently puniflied by the general execra-
tion ? And whether he would not deferve to be dragged before
the tribunals of juflice as an aflaffin ?
Anguilla is feven or eight leagues in length, and is very un-
equal in its breadth, which never exceeds two leagues. Neither
mountains, nor woods, nor rivers, are found upon it, and its foil
is nothing more than chalk.
Some wandering Englifhmen fettled upon this porous and
friable rock towards the year 1650. After an obfhinate labour,
they at length fucceeded in obtaining from this kind of tuif a
little cotton, a fmall quantity of millet feed, and fome potatoes.
Six veins of vegetating earth, which were in procels of time
difcovered, leceived fugar-canes, which, in the beft hraveft,
yield no more than fifty thouland weight of fugar, and fometimes
only five or fix thoufand. Whatever elfe comes out of the
colony hath been introduced into it clandeftinely from Santa
Cruz, where the inhabitants of Anguilla have formed feveral
plantations.
In feafons of drought, which are but too frequent, the ifland
hath no other refource but in a lake, the fait of which is fold to
the people of New-England; and in the fale of flieep and goats,
which thrive better in this dry climate, and upon thefe arid
plains, than in the reft, of America.
Anguilla reckons no more than two hundred free inhabitants,
and five hundred flaves : nevertheleis it hath an affembly of its
own, and even a chief, who is always chofen by the inhabitants,
and confirmed by the governor of Antigua. A foreigner, who
Ihould be fent to govern this feeble fettlement, would infallibly
be driven away, by men who have preferved fomething of the
independent manners, and of the rather fuvage charafter of their
anceftors.
The coaft of this ifland affords but two harbours, and even in
thefe very Imall veffels only can anchor : they are both defended
by four pieces of cannon, which, for half a century paft, have
been entirely unfit for fervice.
O o 3
( 284 )
BERMUDAS, or SOMMER's
ISLANDS.
JL HIS duller of iflands lies almofr. in the form of a fliepherd's
crook, in weft longitude 65°, north latitvide 32*^ 30', between
two and three hundred leagues diftant from the neareft place of
the continent of America, or of any of the other Weft-India
iflands. The whole number of the Bermudas iflands is faid to
be about four hundred, but very few of them are habitable.
The principal is St. George's, which is not above flxteen miles
long, and three at moft in breadth. It is univerfally agreed, that
the nature of this and the other Bermudas iflands has undergone
a furpvifing alteration for the worfe, fince they were firft difco-
vered ; the air being much more inclement, and the ibil much
more barren than formerly : this is afcribed to the cutting down
thole fine fpreading cedar trees for which the iflands were far
'incus, and which fheltered them from the blafts of the north
wind, at the fame time that it protefted the under-growlh of the
delicatt- plants and herbs. In fliort, the Somrner iflands are now
far from being deflrable fpots j and their natural produ£lions are
but juft fufficient for the fupport of the inhabitants, who chiefly,
for that realon perhaps, are temperate and lively even to a pro-
verb. At firft tobacco was raifed upon thefe iflands, but being
of a worfe quality than that growing on the continent, the trade
is now almoit at an end. Large quantities of ambergris were
alfo originally found upon the coafts, and afForded a valuable
commerce ; but that trade is alio reduced, as likewife their
whale trade, thoug,h the perquifites upon the latter foim part of
the governor's revenue, he having ten pounds for every whale
that is caught. The Bermudas iflunds, however, might ftiU
produce fome valuable commodities, were they properly
cultivated. Tliere is here found, about three or four feet
below the furface, a white cljalk ftone which is eafily chi-
felled, and is exported for building gentlemen's houles in
the Wsil-Indics. Their palmelto leave?, if properly manufag-
OF THE BERMUDAS, 285
tured, might turn to excellent account in making women's hats ;
and their oranges are ftill valuable. Their Toil is alio laid to be
excellent for the cultivation of vines, and it has been thought
that filk and cochineal might be produced ; but none of thefe
things have yet been attempted. The chief refource of the
inhabitants for fubfiflence is in the remains of their cedar-wood,
of which they fabricate fmall floops, with the afTiftance of the
New-England pine, and fell many of them to the American
colonies, where they are much admired. Their turtle-catching
trade is alio of fervice ; and they are ftill able to rear great
variety of tame-fowl, and have wild ones abounding in vaft
plenty. All the attempts to eftablilh a regular whale .fifhery
on thefe iflands have hitherto proved unfuccefsful ; they have
no cattle, and even the black hog breed, which was probably
left by the Spaniards, is greatly decreafed. The water on the
iflands, except that which falls from the clouds, is brackifh ;
arid at prefent the fame difeafes reigrl there as in the Caribbee
iflands. They have feldom any fnow, or even much rain : but
when it does fall, it is generally with great violence, and the
north or north-eaft: wind renders the air very cold. The ftorms
generally come with the new moon ; and if there is a halo
or circle about it, it is a fure fign of a tempefl:, which is
generally attended with dreadful thunder and lightning. The
inhabited parts of the Bermudas iflands are divided into nine
diflrifts, called tribes, 1. St. George. 2. Hamilton. 3. Ire-
land. 4. Devonfhire. 5. Pembroke. 6. Pagets. 7. Warwick.
8. Southaiftpton. g. Sandys, There are but two places on
the large ifland where a fliip can fafely come near the fliore,
and thefe are fo well covered with high rocks, that few will
chufe to enter in without a pilot : and they are fo well defended
by forts, that they have no occafion to dread an enemy. St.
George's town is at the bottom of the principal haven, and
is defended by nine forts, on which are mounted fevcnty
pieces of cannon that command the entrance. The town has
a handfome church, a fine library, and a noble town-houle,
where the governor, council, &c. alTemble. The tribes of
Southampton and Devonfliire have each a parifh church and
library, and the former has a harbour of the fame name ; there
'are alio fcattered houfes and hamlets over many of the iflands,
where particular plantations requiie them. The inhabitants
are clothed chiefly with Britifh manufaftures, and all their
implements for tilling the grour+d and building are made in
3ritain,
2S6 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
It is uncertain who were the firft difcoverers of the Bermu-
das iflands. Jo^i" Bermudas, a Spaniard, is commonly iaid
to have difcovered tliem in 1527 ; but this is dilputed, and
the difcovery attributed to Henry May, an Engliftiman. As
the iflands were without the reach of the Indian navigation,
the Bermudas were abfolutely uninhabited when firft difcovered
by the Europeans. May above-mentioned was fl^ipwrecked
upon St. George's, and with the cedar which they felled there,
aflTifted by the wreck of their own ihip, he and his companions
built another which carried them to Europe, where they pub-
lUhed their accounts of the iflands. When Lord Delawar
was governor of Virginia, Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George
Sommers, and Captain Newport, were appointed to be his
deputy-governors ; but their fliip being feparated by a florm
from the reft of the fquadron, was in the year 1609 wrecked
on the Bermudas, and the governors difagreeing among them-
felves, built each of them a new fhip of the cedar they found
there, in which they fevcrally failed to Virginia. On their
arrival there, the colony was in fuch diflrefs, that Lord Dela-
war, upon the report which his deputy-governors made him
of the plenty they found at the Bermudas, dilpatchcd Sir
George Sommers to bring provifions from thence to Virginia,
in the fame fhip which brought him from Bermudas, and
which had not an ounce of iron about it except one bolt in
the keel. Sir George, after a tedious voyage, at laft reached
the plaee of his deflination, where, foon after his arrival, he
died, leaving his name to the iflands, and his orders to the crew
to return with black hogs to the colony of Virginia. This
part of his will, howevei, the failors did not chule to execute,
but fetting fail in their cedar fiiip for England, landed fafely at
Whitchurch in Dorfetfhire.
NotwithRanding this derelitlion of the illand, however, it
was not without Englifh inhabitants. Two failors. Carter and
Waters, being apprehenfive of punifliment for their crimes,
had fecreted themfelves from their fellows when Sir George
was wrecked upon the iflund, and had ever fince lived upon
the natural productions of the fotl. Upon the fecond arrival
of Sir George, they enticed one Chard to remain with tliem ;
but differing about the fovereignty of the ifland. Chard and
Waters were on the point of cutting one another's throats,
when they were prevented by the prudence of Caiter. Soon
after, they had the good fortune to find a great piece of amber-
gris weighing about eighty pounds, befides other pieces, which
in thofc days were fuiiicicr.i, if propeily dilpoiVc! of, to have
OF THE BERMUDAS. 287
ttiade each of them mafter of a large eflate. Where they were,
this ambergris was ufelefs, and therefore they came to the del-
peratc refoKition of carrying themfelves and it in an open
boat to Virffinia or to Newfoundland, where they hoped to
difpofe of their treafure to advantage. In the mean time, how-
ever the Virginia company claimed the property of the
Bermudas iflands, and accordingly fold it to one h indred and
twenty perfons of their own lociety, who obtained a charter
from King James for poiTefTing it. This new Bermudas com-
pany, as it was called, fitted out a fhip with fixty planters on
board to fettle on the Bermudas, under the command of one
Mr. Richard Moor, by profefTion a carpenter. The new
colony arrived upon the ifland jult at the time the three failors
were about to depart with their ambergris ; which Moor hav-
ing difcovered, he immediately feized and difpofed of it for
the benefit of the company. So valuable a booty gave vaft
fpirit to the new company; and the adventurers fettled them-
felves upon St. George's ifland, where t?iey raifed cabins. As
to Mr. Moor, he was indefatigable in his duty, and carried
on the fortifying and planting the ifland with incredible dili-
gence ; for we are told, that he not only built eight or nine
forts, or rather blockhoufes, but inured the fcttlers to martial
difcipline. Before the firft year of his government was ex-
pired, Mr. Moor received a fupply of provifions and planters
from England, and he planned out the town of St. George as
it now tlands. The fame of this fettlcment foon aM'akened
the iealoufy of the Spaniards, who appeared off St. George's
with fome veffels ; but being fii'ed upon by the forts, they
fheered off though the Englifii at that time were fo ill provided
for a defence, that they had Icarce a fingle barrel of gunpowder
on the idmd. During Moor's government, the Bermudas were
plagued with rats, which had been imported into them by
the Englifii fliips. Thefe vermin multiplied fo faft in St,
George's ifland, that they even covered the ground, and had
ncfts in the treej. They deilroyed all the fruits and corn
within doors ; nay, they increafed to fuch a degree, that St.
George's ifland was at lafl unable to maintain tjiem, and they
fwam over to the neighbouring iflands, where they made as
great havoc. This calamity lafled five years, though pro-
bably not in tlie fame degree, and at lafl it ceafed all of a
fudden.
On the expiration of Mooi's government, he was fucceeded
by Captain Daniel Tucker, who improved all his predeceffbr'^s
fchemes for the benefit of the ifland, and particularly encou-
9.88 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
raged the culture of tobacco. Being a fevere difciplinarian, ih«
held all under him fo rigidly to duty, that five of his fubjefts
planned as bold an enterprife for liberty as was perhaps ever
put in execution. Their names were Barker, who is faid to
have been a gentleman ; another Barker, a joiner ; Goodwin, a
fhip-carpenter ; Pact, a failor j and Saunders, who planned the
enterprife. ■ Their management was as artful as their defign
was bold. Underftanding that the governor was deterred from
taking the pleafure of fiftiing in an open boat, on account of
the dangers attending it, they propofed to build him one of a
particular conftruftion, which accordingly they did in a fecret
part of the ifland ; but when the governor came to view his
boat, he underflood that the builders had put to fea in it. The
intelligence was true ; for the adventurers having provided
themfelves with the few neceffaries they wantedj failed for
England ; and notwithftanding the ftorms they encountered^
their being plundered by a French privateer, and the incredible
miferies they underwent, they landed in forty-two days time
at Corke in Ireland, where they were generoufly relieved and
entertained by the Earl of Thomond.
In 1619, Captain Tucker refigned his government to Cap-»
tain Butler. By this time the high charafter which the Sommer
iQands bore in England, rendered it fafhionable for men of the
higheft rank to encourage their fettlement ; and feveral of
the firft nobility of England had purchafed plantations among
them. Captain Butler brought over with him five hundred
paflengers, who became planters on the iflands, and railed a
moniUBrient to the memory of Sir George Sommers. The ifland
was now fo populous, for it contained about a thoufand whites,
that Captain Butler applied himfelf to give it a new conftitution
of government, by introducing an aflembly, the government
till this time being adminiflered only in the name of the
governor and council. A body of laws was likewife drawn
up, as agreeable to the laws of England as the fituation of the
ifland would admit of. One Mr. Barnard fucceeded Captain
Butler as governor, but died in fix weeks after his arrival on
the ifland ; upon which the council made choice of Mr. Harri-
fon to be governor till a new one fhould be appointed. No
fewer than three thoufand Enfflifh were now fettled in the
o
Bermudas, and feveral perfons of difl:in£l:ion had curiofity
enough to vifit it from England. Among thefe was Mr, Waller
the poet, a man of fortune, who being embroiled with the
parliament and commonwealth of England, fpent fome months
in the Sommer iflands. which he has celebrated in one of his
OF THE BERMUDAS, aS^
poems as the mod delightful place in the world. The dangers
attending the navigation, and the untowardly fituation of thefe
iflands, through their diftance from the American continent,
feem to be the reaion why the Bermudas did not now become
the beil peopled iflands belonging to England ; as we are told
that at one period they were inhabited by no fewer than ten
thoufand whites. The inhabitants, however, never fhowed
any great fpirit for commerce, and thus they never could
become rich. This, together with the gradual alteration
of the foil and climate, already taken notice of, foon caufed
them to dwindle in their population ; and it is computed that
they do not now contain above half the number of inhabitants
they once did, and even thefe feem much more inclined to
remove to fome other place than to flay where they are : fo
that unlefs fome beneficial branch of commerce be found out,
or fome ufeful manufafture eftabliflied, the flate of the Bermu-
das muft daily grow worfe and worfe.
The following account we have extrafted from Mr. Morfe,
as he profeffes to have given it on the authority of a gentleman
who refided many years on the ipot :
*' The parifh of St. George's is an iflund to the eafliward
of the main land, on which flands the town of St. George's,
containing about five hundred houfes. Contiguous to this is
the ifland of St. David's, which fupplies the town with butter,
milk, vegetables, poultry, and frefh meat. In the bofom of
the crook lie a vail number of fmall iflands, uninhabited. The
ifland is rocky, and the ground hilly. In the main road a ful-
ky may pafs ; and even there, in many places, with difficulty ;
but turn to the right or left, and it is pafl'able only on horfe-
back. The air is healthy ; a continual fpring prevails: cedars,
mantled in green, always adorn the hills : the pafture ground
is ever verdant ; the gardens ever in bloom. Mod of the pro-
ductions of the Well-Indies might be here cultivated. The
houfes are built of a foft ftone, which is fawn like timber ; when
expofed to the whether, and wafhed with lime, it becomes hard.
The houfes are white as fnow, which, beheld from an eminence,
contrafled with the greennefs of the cedars and psfhure ground,
and the multitude of iflands, full in view, realize what the
poets have feigned concerning the Elyfian fields. The inha-
bitants are numerous ; the whole ifland is a continued village ;
no lefs, perhaps, than fifteen or twenty thoufand are col-
Ie£lcd on this, fmall fpot, of whom the blacks confliiutc two
thirds. Happy for the country, were the colour unknown
among them! The Bermudians are chiefly fcafaring people ;
Pp
S9» GENERAL DESCRIFTIOJ^
f«w of the men are ever at home ; three or four hundred go ati-:
nually to Turk's ifland to rake fait, which is carried to Americaf
for provifionSj or fold to fuch as may call at Turk's idand for
cafli. However induflrious the men are abroad, at home they
are indolent •, much given, perticularly^of late, to gambling and
luxury. The women are generally handfome and comely; they
love th«ir hufliands, thefr children, and their drefs. Dancing
h their favourite amufement.^^ The men muft be equipped iit
tafte when they appear in company, fhould they not have a dol-
lar in the pound to pay their creditors ; the women muft array
thcmfelvcs like thebeMesof Paris, fhould they not haveamorlel
of bread to preferve their blooming completion. They are tho-
roughly acquainted with one another's families, and from their
tea table, as from their atmofphere, arifes conftant guf^s of fcan-
dal and detraftion. To ftrangers they are kind, but among
themfelves arc quarrelfome : their friendly intercourfe is too
much confined within a narrow circle, bounded by coufins
or fecond coufins.
•' The conrrmon food of the Bermudians is cofFee, fifh of dlffe-
rtnt kinds, a fweet potatoe, Indian corn, arrd American flour.
Their water is rain prefervcd in cifterns; the general drink
is grog. Fiuiing ii the favourite amufement of the men.
The government is conduced under a governor named by the
crown of England, a council and general alTembly. The
cflablifhed religion is epifcopacy. There are nine churches;
three clergymen have the charge of thefe nine : there is one
?refbyterian church. A regard for religion is not the charac-
teriftic of the Bermudians ; they feldom go to church, ex-
cept it be to attend a funeral, or to get their children baptized,
6r to hear a ftranger."
We fhall clofe this account of the Bermudas with the fol-
lowing extraft from the report of the privy council on the
ilave trade ;
*' Nothing can better fliew the ftate of flavery in Bermudas
than the behaviour of the blacks in the late war. There were
at one time between fifteen and twenty privateers fitted out
from hence, which were partly manned by negro flaves, who
behaved both as failors and marines irreproachably; and when-
ever they were captured, always returned if it was in their
power. There w6re feveral inftances wherein they had been
condemned with the vedlel and fold, and afterwards found
means to efcape ; and through many difHculties and hardfhips
returned to their maflers fervice. In the fhip Regulator, a
OF THE BERMUDAS. 291
•pvivatecrj there were feventy flave«. She was taken and car-
ded into Boflon; fixty of them returned in a flag of truce di-
re£lly to Bermudas ; nine others returned by the way of New-
York ; one only was mifiing, who died in the cruize, or iu
captivity.'*
LUC AY'S, OR BAHAMA ISLANDS.
The Bahamas are fituated between 22* and 27^ degree*
north latitude, and ^3*^ and 81/ degrees weft longitude. They
extend along the coaft of Florida quite down to Cuba, and
are faid to be five hundred in number,, fome of them only rocks,
but twelve of them are large and fertile ; ail are, however, un-
inhabited, except Providence, which is tWQ hundred miles eafl
of the Floridas ; though fome others are larger and nior^ fertile*
and on which the Englifh have plantations,
Thefe iflands were the firft fruits of Columbus's difcov/tries ;
but they were not known to the Englifh till 1667. The
ille of Providence became an harbour for the buccaneers, or
pirates, who for a long time infefted the American navigation.
This obliged the government, in 171^, to fend out Captain
Woodes Rogers with a fleet to diflodge the pirates, and for
making a fettlement. This the captain effefied ; a fort was
erefted, and an independent company was flationed in the
ifland. Ever fince this lafi; fettlement^ thefe iflands have been
improving, though they advance but fiowly. In time of war
the inhabitanrts, as well as others, gain by the prizes condemned
there, and at all times by the wrecks which are frequent
in this labyrinth of rocks and fhelves. The Spaniards and
Americans captured thefe iflands during the laft war, but they
^were retaken on the 7th of April, 1783.
..<..«.,<..<..<^»..y,.>..>">--iS
BESIDES the above enumerated, Great-Britain poffeffes part
.of a clufter of iflands called the Virgin iflands, of which there
is but little authentic intelligence extant. Mr. E'dwards obferves
fefpefting them, that if his enquiries ^yere not negle£led,
fci§ cxpeftations were not anfwered. They were difcovered
292 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
and named by Cclumbus, but the Spaniards of thofc da}^*
deemed them un'vorthy of their attention. They are about
forty in number, whereof the EngliRi hold Tortoh, Virgin
.Gorda, or Penifton, Jofvan Dykes, Guana iflc, Beef and Thatch
iflands, Anegada, Nechar, Prickly Pear, Camana's, Ginger,
Cooper's, Salt, and Peter's ifland, with feme other of no value,
Tortola is the principal, it was originally peopled by Dutch
buccaneers, who were afterwards driven from thence by a
party of Englifbrr.en of the fame defcription. The chief merit
of its improvement refts with a party of Englifh fettlers from
Anguilla, who about the year 1690, embarked from thence
and took up their refidence in thele iflands ; here they formed
themfelves into a fociety, their wants were few and their go-
vernment fimple and unexpenfive ; a council chofen from
among themfelves, v/ith a prefident, exercifed both a legif-
lative and judicial authority, determining all queflions and
appeals, without expenle' to either party. Taxes there were
none, when money was wanting it was raifed by voluntary
contribution. Lured by the profpefts of European intercourfe,
they, however, purchafed in 1773, the privilege of being
the SUBJECTS cf the king of Great-Britain, at the price of
four and a half per cent, on all their produce, and four
hundred pounds currency per annum toward the falary of
the governor-general of the Leeward iflands. Thus does
man, unacquainted with his native rights and privileges, under
the power of prejudice, purchafe of his fellow creature the
right to enjoy what God and Nature had made his own. Pof-
tcrity, however, better acquainted with the rights of man,
will perhaps not only difpute the validity of a£ls of this kind,
but cancel contrajEis which their forefathers had no right to make.
The number of inhabitants on thefe iflands at the period
above referred to, was about fifteen hundred whites, and
feven thouland blacks, Jt is fuppofed the white inhabitants
do not exceed one ihoufand, while the blacks are at leafl ten
thoufand. In 1787, there Vv'as exported from thefe iflands,
in forty fnips of fix thoufand five hundred and fixteen tons,
Icventy-nine thoufand two hundred and tliree, hundred weight
of fugar ; twenty-ore thoufand four hundred and fevcn-
teen gallons of rum ; two thoufand and eleven gallons of mo-
lalTcs •, two hundred and eighty-nine thouland and feventy-four
pounds of cotton ; t'ying goods to the value of fix thoufand
fix hundred and fifty-onc pounds two fhillings and fix-pence,
and other mifcellaneous articles to the value of two thoufari4
OF THE BERMUDAS. 293
three hundred and forty pounds eighteen {hillings and five-
pence. But thefe, like moft of the other iflands, are on the
decline.
With the following tables, which we conceive will aitorcj
a comprehenfive view of the Weft-India trade, wc ihajl clofe
Pur account of the Britifh iflands,
294
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
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SPANISH WEST- INDIES.
— ^ ^••<"<«»4^ ^ »^4»>"V.>..^-i
CUBA.
c
'UBA is a large and very valuable ifland, and by far the
moft important of all the Spanifh Weft-Indies. On the eaft
fide it begins at 20* 2.1^ north latitude, touches the tropic
of Cancer on the north, and extends from 74*? to 85^ 15'
weft longitude* It lies fixty miles to the weft of Hifpaniola,
twenty-five leagues north of Jamaica, one hundred miles to
the eaft of Jucatan, and as many to the fouth of cape Florida,
and commands the entrance of the gulphs both of Mexico
and Florida, as alfo the windward palTagei. By this fituation
it may be called the key of the Weft-Indies. It was difcover-
ed by Columbus in 1492, who gave it the name of Ferdinando,
in honour of king Ferdinand of Spain, but it quickly after
recovered its ancient name of Cuba. The natives did not
regard Columbus with a very favourable eye at his landing,
and the weather proving very tempeftuous, he foon left this
ifland, and failed to Kayta, now called Hifpaniola, where he
was better received. The Spaniards, however, fbon became
mafters of it. By the year 1511, it was totally conquered,
and in that time they had deftroyed, according to their own-
accounts, feveral millions of people. But the poiTefriorl of
Cuba was far from anfwering the expeftationS of the Spanifh
adventurers, whofe avarice could be fatiated with nothing
but gold. Thefe monfters finding that there was gold upon
the ifland, concluded that it muft come from mines, and there-
fore tortured the few inhabitants they had left, in or-
der to extort from them a diicovery of the places where
thcle mines lay. The miCeries endured by thefc poor crea-
OF CUBA. 297
iiireS Were fuch, that they almofl unanimoufly rcfolved to put an
end to their own lives, but were prevented by one of the Spa-
nifh tyrants called Vafco Porcelloj, This wretch threatened to
hang himfelf along with them, that he might have the plealure,
as he (aid, of tormenting them in the next world worfe than he
had done iri this ; and lo much were they afraid of the Spa-
niards, that this threat diverted thcle poor iavages from their
defperate rclolution. In 1511, the town of Havannah was bu}lt,
now the principal place on the ifland. The houfes were at firft
built only of wood, and the town itfelf was for a long time fo
Jnconfiderable, that in 1536 it was ^taken by a French pirate,
who obliged the inhabitants 't.o pay feven hundred ducats to faVe
it from being burnt. The veiy day after the pirate's departure,
three Spanifh fliips arrived from Mexico, and having unloaded
their cargoes, failed in purluit of the pirate fl:iip. But fuch was
the cowardice of the officers, that the pirate took all the three
fhips, and returningto the Havannah, obliged the inhabitants
to pay feven hundred ducats more. To prevent misfortunes of
this kind, the inhabitants built their houfes of Hone, and the
place has fince been llrongly fortified.
According to Abbe Raynal, the Spanifh fettlement at Cuba is
very important, on three accounts : 1. The produce of the
country, which is confiderable. 2. As being the flaple of a
great trade ; and, 3. As being the key to the Weft-Indies. Thd
principal produce of this ifland is cotton; the commodity, how-
ever, through negleft, is now become fo fcarce, that lomctimes
I'everal years pafs without any of it being brought into Europe.
In the place of cotton, coffee has been cultivated, but by a fimi-
lar negligence, that is produced in no great quantity ; the whole
produced not exceeding thirty or . thirty-five thoufand weight,
one-third of which is exported to Vera Cruz, and the refl to
Madrid. The cultivation of coliee naturally leads to that of fu-
gar ; and this, which is the moft valuable produftion of Amc-
lica, would of itfelf be iufficient to give Cuba that (late of
profpeiicy for which it feems defigned by nature. Although the
lurfaee of the ifland is in general uneven and mountainous, yet
it has plains fufficiently extenfive, and well enough watered, to
fupply the confumption of the greateft part of Europe v/ith
fugar. The incredible fertility of its new lands, if properly
managed, would enable it to furpals every other nation, however
they may have now got the fhart of it ■, yet fuch is the indolence
of the Spaniards, that to tliis day tliey have but few planta-
tions, where with the finefl: canes, they make but a innU.
29^ GENERAL DESCRIPTION'
quantity of coaiTe fugar at a great expenfe. This ferves partly*
for the Mexican market, and partly for the mother country^
while the indolent inhabitants are content to import fugar for
themfelves at the expenfe of near two hundred and twenty thou-
fand pounds annually. It has been expefted, with probability,
tliat the tobacco imposed from Cuba would compenfate this lols,
for after furnifhing Mexico and Peru, there was fufRcient, with
the little brought from Caracca and Buenos Ayres, to fupply all
Spain. But this trade, too, has declined through the negligence
of the court of Madrid, in not gratifying the general tafte for
tobacco from tlie Havannah. The Spanifli colonies have an uni-
verfal trade in fliins, and Cuba fupplies annually about ten or
twelve thoufand. The number rriight eafily be increafed in a
country abounding with wild cattle,' where fome gentlerhen pof-
fefs large trails of ground, that for want of population can fcarce
be applied to any other purpofe than that of breeding cattle.
The hundredth part of this ifland is not yet cleared ; the true
plantations are all confined to the beautiful plains of the Ha-
vannah, and even thofe are not what they might be ; all thefe
plantations together may employ about twenty-five thoufand malfc
and female flaves. The number of whites, meftees, mulattoes,
and free negroes upon the whole ifland, amounts to about thirty
thoufand. The food of thefe different fpecies confifts of excels
lent pork, very bad beef, and cafTava bread,- The colony would
be more flouriihing if its produttions had not been made the
property of a Company, whofe exclufive privilege operates as 2
Gonftant and invariable principle of difcouragement. If any
thing could fupply the want of an open trade, and atone for the
grievances occafioned by this monopoly at Cuba, it would be the
advantage which this ifland has for fuch a long time enjoyed, in
Jaeing the rendezvous of almofl all the Spanifli veffels that fail
to the new world 5 this praftice commenced almoft with the co-
lony itfelf. Ponce dc Leon having made an attempt upon Flo-
rida, in iri2. became acquainted with the new canal of Bahama ;
it was immediately dilcovered that this was the befl route the
fhips bound from Mexico to Europe could pofTibly take, and to
this the wealth of the ifland is principally, if not altogether,-
owing.
HISPANIOLA, OR S-r. DOMINGO.
Hifpaniola, called alfo St. Domingo, is the largcfl of the Ca«
ribbce iflands, extending about four hundred and twenty miles
frotTi eafl to weft, nnd one hundred and twenty in breadth from
OF HISPANIOLA, OR ST, DVAflNGO, 29^
JBorth to fouth, lying between 17° 37' and 20° of north latitude,
and between 6'j'^ 35' and 74'* 15^ weft longitude. The climate
is hot, but not reckoned unwholefome, and lome of the inha-
bitants are laid to arrive at the age of one hundred and twenty^
It is fometimes refrcfhed by breezes and rains, and its falubrity
is likewife in a great meafure owing to the beautiful variety of
hills and valleys, woods and rivers, which every where prefent
themfelves. It is indeed reckoned by far the fineft and moft
pleafant iQand of the Antilles, as being the beft accommodated
to all the purpofes of life when duly cultivated.
This ifland, famous for being the carlieft fettlement of the
Spaniards in the new world, was at firfl jn high eftinntion for
the quantity of gold it fupplied ; this wealth diminifhed with
the inhabitants of the country, whom they obliged to dig it out
of the bowels of the earth ; and the lourcc of it was entirely
dried up, when they were exterminated, which was quickly
done, by a feries of the moft fhocking barbarities that ever dif-
graced the hiftory of any nation. Benzoni relates, that of two
millions of inhabitants Contained in the ifland when difcovered
by Columbus in 149?:, fcarce one hundred and fifty-three were
alive in 1545. A vehement defire of opening again this Iburce
of wealth, infpired the thought of getting flaves from Africa ;
but, befides that thefe were found unfit for the labours they
were deftined to, the multitude of mines which then began to
be wrought on the continent, made thofe of Hiipaniola no longer
of any importance. An idea now fugpjefted itfelf, that their
negroes, which were healthy, ftrong, and patient, might be
ufefully employed in husbandry ; and they adopted, through
neceffity, a wile refolutlon, which, had they known their own
intereft, they would have embraced by choice.
The produce of their induftry ivas at firft extremely fmall,
becaufe the labourers were few, Charles V. who, like moft
fovereigns, preferred his favourites to every thing, had granted
an exclufive right of the flave trade to a Flemifli nobleman, who
made over his privilege to the Genoefe, who conduced this in^
famous commerce as all monopolies are condufted ; they refolved
to fell dear, and they fold but few. When time and competitioa
had fixed the natural and neceflary price of flaves, the number
of them increafed. It may eafily be imagined that the Spaniards,
who had been accuftomed to treat the Indians as beafts, did not
entertain a higher opinion of thefe negro Africans, whom they
fubftituted in their place. Degraded ftill farther in their eyes
by the price they had paid for them, they aggravated the weight
^ q ^
300 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
of their fervitude, it became intolerable, and thefe wretched
flaves made an effort to recover the unalienable rights of man-
kind ; their attempt proved unfuccefsful, but they reaped this
benefit from their delpair, that they were afterwards treated with
lefs inhumanity.
This moderation, if tyranny cramped b}'- the apprehenfion of
revolt can deferve that name, was attended with fome good con-
fequences. Cultivation was purfued with fome degree of fuc-
cels. Soon after the middle of the i6th century, Spain drew
annually from this colony ten millions weight of fugar, a large
quantity of wood for dying, tobacco, cacoa, caffia, ginger, cot-
ton, and peltry in abundance. One miglit imagine that fuch fa-
vourable beginnings would give both the delire and the means
of carrying them farther : but a train of evcnls more fatal each
than the other, ruined thefe hopes.
The firfl misfortune arofe from the depopulation of the ifiand ;
the Spanifh conquefts on the continent Ihould naturally have
contributed to promote the fuccefs of an ifland, which nature
feemed to have formed to be the center of that vafl; dominion
arifing around it, to be flie ftaple of the different colonies.
But it fell out quite otherwife ; on a view of the immenfe for-
tunes raifing in Mexico, and other parts, the richefl inhabitants
of Hiipaniula began to defpiCe their lettlemcnts, and quitted the
true Iburce of riches, which is on the furface of the earth, to go
and ranlack the bowels of it for veins of gold, which are quickly
exhauflcd. The government endeavoured in vain to put a flop
to this emigration ; the laws were always either artfully eluded,
or openly violated.
The weakncfs, wich was a nccefiary confequence of fuch a
conduft, leaving the coafls without defence, encouraged the
enemies of Spain to ravage them. Even the capital of this
iJl.ind was taken and pillaged by that celebrated Englifli failor.
Sir Francis Drake, The cruifers of lefs confequence contented
themftlvcs with intercepting veffels in their pallage through
ihols latitudes, the beft known at that time of any in the new
woild. To complete thefe misfortunes, the Caftilians themfelves
commenced pirates ; they attacked no Ihips but th<'fe of their
own nation, which were more rich, w(>rle provided, and worfe
defended than any others. The cuftom they had of fitting out
(h'ps clandeftinely, in order to procure flaves, prevented
ihe}n from being kr.own, and the iiLlbnce they purchaled frgni'
OF HISPANIOLJ, OR ST. DOMINGO. 30 r
the fliips of war, commilFioned to proteft the trade, infured to
them irrvpunity.
The foreign trade of the colony was its only refouvce in this
diftrefs, and that was illicit ; but as it continued to be o*rried
on, notwithftanding the vigilance of the governors, or, per-
haps, by their connivance, the policy of an exafpcrated and
fhort-fighted court exerted itfelf in demolifhing mod of the
lea ports, and driving the miferable inhabitants into the inland
country. This aft of violence threw thein iuto a flate of
dejeftion, which the incurfions and letllement of the French on
the iiland afterwards carried to the uimoft pitch. The latter,
after having made fome unfuccefsful attempts to fctlle on the
iiland, had part of it yielded to them, in 1697, '^"'^ "°^ ^"j^y
by far the bed fhare.
Spain, totally taken up with that vaft empire which flie had
formed on the continent, ufed no pains to diffipate this lethargy -
{he even refufed to liften to the folicitations of her Flemifh
fubjefts, who earneftly prefTed that they might have permiflion
to clear thofe fertile lands. Rather than run the rilk of feeing
them carry on a contraband trade on the coafts, flie chofe to
bury in oblivion a fetllement which had been of coniequence,
and was likely to become lo again.
This colony, which had no longer any intercourfe with Spain
but by a fuigle fhip, of no great burden, that arrived from
thence every third year, conhlled, in 1717, of eighteen thou-
sand four hundred and ten inhabitants, including Spaniards,
jncflces, negroes or mulattoes. The complexion and charafter
of thele people differed according to the different proportions
of American, European and African blood they had received
from that natural and tranfient union which reftores all races
and conditions to the fame level. Thefe demi-favagcs, plunged
in the extreme of floth, lived upon fruits and roots, dwelt in
cottatres without furniture, and mod of them without clothes.
The few arriong them, in whom indolence had not totally fup-
preffed the fenle of decency and tafle for the conveniencies
of lite, purchaled clothes of their neighbours the French in
return for their cattle, and the money lent to them for the
maintenance of two hundred foldiers, the prieds and the govern-
ment. It doth not appear that the company, formed at Barce-
lona in 1757, with cxclufive privileges for the re-edablifhment
of St, Domingo, hath as yet made any confiderable progrefs.
Tiit^y lend out only two fmall' veffels annually, which are
freighted back with fix thoufand hides, and forne other com-=>
jnqdities of litde value.
3C2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Domingfj, the capital of the ifland, is feated in that part
belonging to the Spaniards on the louth fide of the illand, and
has a commodious harbour. The town is built in the Spaniih
manner, with a great fquare in the rrjddle of it, about which
are the cathedral and other public buildings. From this fquare
run the principal flreets in a direft line, they being croffed by
ethers at right angles, fo that the form of the town is almoft
fquare. The country on the north and e^ fide is pleafant and
fruitful ; and iherc is a large navigable river on the weft with
the ocean on the fouth. It is the fee of an acrchbifhop, an
ancient royal audience, and the feat of the governor. It has
feveral fine churches and monafteries, and is fo well fortified,
that a fleet and army fent by Oliver Cromwell, in 1654, could
rot take it. The inhabitants are Spaniards, negroes, mulattoes,
meflees, and Albatraces, of whom about a fixth part may be
Spaniards. It had formerly about two thoufand houfes, but
it is much declined of late years. The river on which it is
feated is called Ozama. Wefl longitude 69'' 30', north latitude
P O xR. T O RICO.
This ifland is fituated between 64"^ and 67° weft longitude,
jSnd 18'' north latitude, lying between Hifpaniola and St.
Chriftopher's, It is one hundred miles in length and forty
in breadth.
Although this' ifland had been difcovercd and vifited by
Columbus in 1493, the Spaniards negletled it till 1509, when
the tiiirft of gold brought them thither from St. Domingo,
under the command of Ponce de Leon, to make a conquefb,
which afterwards coft them dear,
Porto Rico hath thirty-fix leagues in length, eighteen in
breadth, and one hundred in circumference. We may venture to
affirm, that it is one of the befl;, if not entirely the beft, of
the iflands of the new world, in proportion to its extent. The
air is wholefome, and tolerably temperate, and it is watered
by the pure ftreams of a confiderable number of fnlall rivulets.
Its mountains are covered with either uleful or valuable trees,
and its vallies have a degree of fertility feldom to be*hiet with
clfewhei'c. All the produftions peculiar to America thrive
upon this deep foil. A lafc port, commodious harbours,
and coafts of ealy accefs, are added to thefe feveral advanr
tages.
On this territory, deprived of its favage Inhabitants by fero-
cious deeds, the memory of which more than three centuries
OFPORTORICO. 303
mVe not been able to obliterate, was fuccefllvely formed a po-
pulation of forty-four thoufand eight hundred and eighty-i
three men, either white or of a mixed race : moft of thera
were naked : their habitations were nothing more than
huts. Nature, with little or no affiftance, fupplied them with
fubfiftance. The linens, and fome other things of little value,
which they clandeftinely obtained from the neighbouring ot
from foreign iflands, were paid for by the colony with tobacco^
cattle, and with the money which was fent by gjovernment for
the fupport of the civil, religious and miliary eflablifhment*
They received from Spain annually only one fmali veffel, tho
targo of which did not amount to more than ten thoufand
crowns, and which returned to Europe laden with hides.
Such was Porto Rico, when in 1765, the court of Madrid
carried their attention to St. John, an excellent harbour, even
for the royal navy, and which only wants a little more
extent. The town which commands it v/as furrounded
with fortifications. The works were made particularly flrong
towards a narrow and marfhy neck of land, the only place
by which the toWn can be attacked on the land fide. Two
battalions and one company of artillery croffcd the fea for its
defence.
At this period, a pofleflion which had annually received from
the treafury no more than three hundred and feventy-eight
thoufand livres, coft them two millions fix hundred and thirty-
four thoufand four hundred and thirty-three livres, which fum
was regularly brought from Mexico, This increafe of fpecie
Simulated the colonifts to undertake fome labours ; at the fame
time the ifland, v/hich till then had been under the yoke of
monopolj'j was allowed to receive all Spanilh navigators. Thefs
two circumftances united, imparted fome degree of animation
to a fettlement, the languifhing flate of which aftonifhed all
nations. Its tithes, which before 1765 did not yield more than
eighty-one thoufand livres, have increafed to two hundred and
thirty thoufand four hundred and eighteen livres.
On the firft of January, 1778, the population of Porto Rico
amounted to fourfcore thoufand fix hundred and fixty inhabi-
tants, of which number only fix thoufand five hutidred and
thirty were flaves. The inhabitants reckoned feventy-feven
thoufand three hundred and eighty-four head of horned cattle,
twenty-three thoufand one Hundred and ninety-five horfes,
fifteen hundred and fifteen mules, arid forty-nine thoufand fifty-
eight head of fmall cattle.
304 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The plantations, the number of which were five thoufand
fix hundred and eighty-one, produced two thoufand fevea
hundred and thirty-feven quintals of fugar ; eleven hundred and
fourteen quintals of cotton ; eleven thoufand one hundred and
fixty-three quintals of coffee ; nineteen thoufand five hundred
and fifty-fix quintals of rice ; fifteen thoufand two hundred and
fixteen quintals of maize ; fcven thoufand four hundred and
fifty-eight quintals of tobacco ; and nine thoufand eight hundred
and fixly quintals of molafi'es.
The cattle in the feveral pafture grounds, -which were'two
hundred and thirty-four in number, produced annually eleven
thoufand three hundred and fixty-four oxen ; four thoufand
three hundred and thirty-four horfes ; nine hundred and fifty-
two mules ; thirty-one thoufand two hundred and fifty-four
head of fmall cattle.
Till the year 1778, no one citizen of Porto Rico was in
reality mailer of liis pofTeflTions. The commanders who had
fucceedcd each other had only granted the inc>ome of them.
This inconceivable dcfcft hath at length been remedied , the
proprietors have been confirmed in their poireflTions by a law^
upon condition of paying annually one real and a quarter, or
fixteen fols fix deniers, for ever-y portion of ground of twenty-
five thoufand feven hundred and eight toifes, which they em-
ployed in cultures; and three quarters of a real, or ten fols one
denier and a half, for that part of the foil that is referved for
pafture ground. This eafy tribute is to ferve for the cloathing
of the militia, compofed of one thoufand nine hundred infantry,
and two hundred and fifty cavalry. The remainder of the
ifland is diftributed on the fame conditions to thole who have
little or no property^ Thefe laft, who are diftinguifhed by the
name of Agreges, are feven thoufand eight hundred and thirty-
five in number.
TRINIDAD AND MARGARETTA.
Trinidad is fituated between 59° and 62° weft longitude, and
.*6'° north latitude; it was difcovered by Columbus, who landed
on it in I49S, but it was not till 1535 that the court of Madrid
tocik pofTeffion of it.
It is faid to comprehend three hundred and eighteen fquare
leagues. It hath never experienced any hurricane, and its
climate is wholelome. The rains are very abundant there from
the middle of May to the end of Oftober ; and the dryncfs that
prevails throughout the reft of the year is not attended with any
OF TRINIDAD AND MARQARETTA. 30,5
inconvenience, becaufe the country, though deftitute of na-
vigable riveps, is very well v/atered. The earthquakes are
Inore frequent tlian dangerous. In the interior part of the
ifland there are four groups of mountains, which, together
with .fome others formed by Nature upon the fhorfts of the
ocean) occupy a third part of the territory : the reft is in ge-
neral fufceptible of the. richefl cultures.
The form of the ifland is a long fouar?. To the north is
a coafl of twenty-two leagues in extent, too much elevated
and two much divided ever to be of any ufe. The eafbern
coafl; is only nineteen leagues in extent, but in all parts as
convenient as one could wifn it to be. The fouthern coafl
hath five-and-twenty leagues, is a little exalted, and adapted,
for the fucccfsful cultivation of coffee and cacao. The land
on the weflern fide is feparated from tlie reft of the colony,
to the fouth by the Soldier's canal, and to the north by the
Dragon's mouth, and forms, by means of a recefs, a harbour
of twenty leagues in brCadlh, and thirty in depth. It offers,
in all fcafons, a fecure afylum to the navigators, who, during
the greatefl part of the year, would find it difficult to anchor
any where elfe, except at the place called the Galiote.
In this part are the Soanifh fettlcmcnts : they confift only
of the port of Spain, upon which there are feventy-cight
thatched hvits, and of St. Jofeph, fituatcd three leagues farther
up the country, where eighty-eight lamllieSj fliU more wretch-
ed than the former, are computed.
The cacao was formerly cultivated near thefe two villages ;
its excellence made it be preferred even to that of Caraccas.
In order to fecure it, the merchants ufed to pay for it before-
hand. The trees that produced it pcrifhed all in 1727, and
have not been re-planted fincc. The monks attributed this
difofter to the colonifts having refufcd to pay the tithes.
Thofe who were not blinded by interefl; or fuperflltion, afcrib-
ed it to tlie north winds, which have too frequently occa-
fioned the fame kind of calamity in other parts. Since this
period, Trinidad hath not been much more frequented than
Cubagua ; flill, however, it produces fugar, fine tobacco, in-
digo, ginger, and a variety of fruits, with fome cotton trees
and Indian corn, which render it of fome importance.
Cubagua is a little ifland, at the diftance of four leagues on-
ly from the continent, was difcovcied, and neglcfted by Co-
lumbus,- in J. -1.98. The Spaniards, being afterwards informed
that its fnores-contained great trcafures, repaired to it in multi-
tudes in 1509, and gave it the name of Pearl Ifland.
R r
,3c6 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The pearl bank was foon e.xhaufhed, and the colony \V2,1
transferred, in 1524, to Margaretta, where the regretted rich-
es were found, and from whence they dii'appeared almofl; as
loon.
Yet this laft fettlement, which is fifteen leagues in length
and five in breadth, was not abandoned. It is almoft continu-
ally covered with thick fogs, although nature liath not bef*
towed upon it any current waters. There is no village in it
except Mon Padre, which is defended by a fmall fort : its foil
would be fruitful if it were euhlvated.
It was almofl generally fuppofed, (hat the court of Madrid,
in' preferving pvlargaretta and Trinid.id, meant rather to keep
off rival nations from this continent tlian to derive any advan-,
tage from them : at prefent we are induced to think other-
wife : convinced that the Archipelago of America was full
of inhabitants loaded with debts, or who poffefTed but a fmall
quantity of indifferent land, the council of Charles III. of-
fered great concclTions, in thefe two iilands, to thofe who
fliould embrace their faith. The freedom of commerce with
all the Spanifli tnidcrs was infured to them. They were only
obliged to deliver their cacao to the coiBpany of Caraccas,
but at twenty-feven fols per pound, and under the condition
that this company fhould advance them feme capital. Thefe
overtures have only met with a favourable reception at Gra-
nada, from whence fome Frenchmen have made their efcapc
with a few flavcs, either to fkrcen themlelves from the pur-
fuits of their creditors, or from averfion to the fway of the
Englifh. In every other part they have had no efle61:, whe-
ther from averfion for zn opprefhve government, or whether
it be that the expeilations of all are at prefent turned towards
the north of the new world.
Trinidsd and Margaretta are at prefent inhabited only by
a few Spaniards, who, with fome Indian woman, have foimcd
a race of men, wha, uniting the indolence of the favage tC'
(he vices of civililed nations, are fiusfards, cheats and zeah)ts.
They live upon maize, upon what fifh they catch, and upon
bananas, which Nature, out of indulgv^ncc, as it were, to their
flothfulnefs, produces there of a larger fizc, and better qua-
lity, than in any other part of the Archipehigo. They have
a breed of lean and taftelefs cattle, with which they carry
on a fraudulent traffic to the French colonies, exchanging them
for camlets, black veils, linens, filk flockings, white hats, and
hardware. The number cf their veflcls does not exceed thirty
floops, without decks.
OF TRINIDAD AND MARGARETTA 307
The tame animals of thcfe two iilands have filled the wood';
with a breed of horned cattle, which are become wtM : the
inhabitants flioot them, and cut their flefh into flips of three
inches in breadth and one in thickncis, which they dry, after
having melted the fat out of them, fo that they will keep
three or four months. This provifion, which is called taflajoj
is fold in the French fettlements for twenty livers a hundred
weight. 1
All the money which the government fends to thefc two
iflands, falls into the hands of the commandants, the officers
civil and military, and the monks. The remainder of the
people, who do not amount to more than fixteen hundred,
live in a ftate of the moft deplorable poverty. In time of
war they furnifh about two hundred men, who, for the fake
of plunder, ofFer themfelves, without diftinftion, to any of
the colonies that happen to be fitting out cruizers for fea.
Befides thefe, there are fome other fmall iflands claimed by the
Spaniards, but to which they have paid little or no attention^
K r 2
( 3o8 }
FRENCH WEST-INDIES,
..<..<..<..<..<..<..<..< Jt »^<.4« ^ >..>.>..>.>.
M A R T I N I C
-ART'INlCd is the chief of the French Caribbce iflands,
the middle of which is fituatcd. in weft longitude 61® o',
north latitude 14'' 30'.
This ifland was hift fettled by M. Dernan:ibuc a French-
man, in the ytar 1635, with only one hundred men from
St. Chriftopher's. He chole rather to have it peopled from
thence than from Europe, as he forefaw that men tired with
the fatigue of luch a long voyage, would moftly perifli foon
after their arrival, either from the climate, or from the hard-
fni^s incident to moft emigrations. They completed their firft
feulement without any difficulty ; the natives, intimidated by
their fire arms, or feduced by piomilcs, gave up the weftern
and foulhern parts of the illand to the new comers. In a
fhort time, however, perceiving the number of thefe enter-
prifing ftrangers daily increafir.g, they refolved to extirpate
them, and therefore called in the favages of the neighbour-
ing iflands to affifl them ; they fell jointly upon a little fort
that had been haflily erefted, but were repulfed with the
lofs of feven or eight hundred of their beft warriors, who
were left dead upon the fpot.
After this check, the favages for a long time difappeared
entirely, but at lafl they returned, bringing with them prefents
to the French, and making cxcufes for what had happened ;
they were received in a friendly manner, and the reconcilia-
tion iealed with pots of brandy. This peaceable Hate of affairs,
however, v/as of no long continuance, the French took fuch
undue advantages of their fuperioiily over the favages, that they
foon rekindled in the others that hatred which had never
been entirely fubdued. The favages fcparatcd into fraall bands,
OF M ART IN ICO. go?
and waylaid the French as they cartia fiiigly out into the wood*
to hunt, and waiting till the fportfman had difchargcd his piece,
rufhed.upon and killed him before he could charge it again,-
Twenty men had been thus alTaflinated before any reafeft could
be given for their fudden difappCarance ; but as foon as the
matter was known the Fiench took a fevere and fatal revengt;
tha favagGS were purfued and mafTacred, with their wives and
children, and tho few that eleaped were driven out of Marti*
nico, to which they never returned.
The Frencli being thus left fole mafters of the ifland, lived
quietly on thofe fpots which bed luited their inclinations. Ai
this time they were divided info two clafTcs ; the firft confifted
of thofe who had paid their paffage to the ifland, and thefe were
called inhabitants, and to theie the government diftributed
lands, which became their own, upon paying a yearly tribute.
Thefe inhabitants had undef their command a multitude of dlf-
orderly people brought over from Europe at their e>:pent'e,
whom they called engagis, or bondfmen, Thi.i engagement was,
a kind of flavery for the term of three years, on the expiration
of which they were at liberty, and became the equals of thofe
whom they had ferved. They all confined themfelves at firfi:
to the culture of tobacco and cotton, to which was foon added
that of arnotto arid indigo. The culture of fugsr alfo was
begun about the year 1650. Ten years after, one Benjamin
D'Acofta, a Jew, planted fom6 cacao trees, but his example
was not followed till 1684, when chocofate was more comrrionly
ufed in France, Cacao then b^cartie the principal fupport of
the colonifts, who had not a fufficient fund to undertake fugar
plantations; but by the inclemency of the feafon in 1718, all
the cacao trees were deflroyed at once. Coffee was then pro-
pcfed as a proper obje£l of culture ; the French miniftry had
received as a prefent from the Dutch, two of thefe trees which
Were carefully preferved in the king's botanical garden. Two
young fhoots were taken from thefe, put on board a fliip for
Martinico, arid entrufted to the care of one M. Defclieux ;
this fhip happened to be flraitened for want of frelli water, and
the trees would have periihed, had not the gentleman fliared
with them that qucnt'ty pf water which was allowed for his
own drinking. The culture of coffee was then begun, and
attended with the greatefl and mod rapid fuccefs; about the end
of the laft century, however, the colony had made but fmall
advances. In i-joo it had only fix thoufund live hundred and
ninety-feven white inhabitants ; the favagcs, mtilattocs, and free
jiegroes, men^ women, ..nd children, amouiited to no more than
310 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
five hundred and feven ; the number of fiaves was but four-
teen thoufand five hundred and fixty-fix; all thcfe together
made a population of twenty-one thoufand fix hundred and
forty-five perfons.
After the peace of Utrecht, Martinico began to emerge from
that feeble ftatc in which it had fo long continued. The ifland
then became the mart for all the windward French fettlements ;
in its ports the neighbouring iflands fold their produce, and
brought the commodities of the mother country; and, in fhort,
Jvlartinico became famous all over Europe : their labour im-
proved the plantations as far as was confident with the confump-
tion then made in Europe of American produftions, and the
annual exports from the ifland am.ountcd to about feven hundred
thoufand pounds.
The conneftions of Martinico with the other iflands entitled
her to the profits of commifTion, and the charges of tranfport,
as fhe alone was in the pofl"e{rion of carriages. This profit
might be rated at the tenth of the produce ; and the fum total
mufl: have amounted to near feven hundred and fixty-five thou-
fand pounds : this fl:anding debt was feldom called in, and left
for the improvement of their plantations ; it was increafed by
advances in money, flaves, and other neceflary articles, fo that
lyianinico became daily n;ore and moie a creditor to the other
iflands, and thus kept them in confl:ant dependence.
The connexions of this ifland with cape Breton, Canada,
and Louifiana, procured a market for the ordinary fugars, the
inferior coffee, the molafl'es, and rum, which would not fell
in France, In exchange the inhabitants received fait fifh, dried
vegetables, deals, and fome flour. In the clandefl-ine trade on
the coafls of Spanifli America, conflfl;ing wholly of goods ma-
nufafturcd by the French nation, flie commonly made a profit
of ninety per cent, on the value of about one hundred and
feventy-five thoufand pounds, fcTit yearly to the Caraccas, or
neighbouring colonies.
Upwards of feven hundred and eijhty-feven thoufand pounds
v/ere conft;antly circulated in this ifland with great rapidity ;
and this is perhaps the only country in the world wJiere the
fpecie has been fo confiderable as to mike it a matter of indif-
ference to them whether they dealt in gold, filver, or commo-
dities. This extenfjve trade brought into the ports of Marti-
nico annually two hundred fiiips from France ; fourteen or
fifteen fitted out by the mother country for the coafl; of Guinea,
fixty from Canada, ten or twelve from the iflands of Marga-
jrelta and Ti'w/uhA^ hcfld'^s the Fnglifb and Dutch fhips that
OF MART IN ICO, 311
came to carry on a fmuggling trade. The private navigatloa
from the ifland to the northern colonies, to the Spanifh conti-»
nent, and to the windward iflands, employed one hundred and
twenty veffels, from twenty to thirty tons burden.
The war of 1744 put a ftop to this proiperity : not that tlie
fault was in Martinico itfelf; its navy^ conftantly exercifedj
and accuflomed to frequent engagements, which the carrying on
a contraband trade required, was prepared for aftion. In lefs
than fix months, forty privateers, fitted out at St. Peter's, fpread
themfelves about the latitude of the Caribbee iflands; yet an
entire ftop Was put to the navigation of the colony, both to the
Spanifh coafl and to Canada, and they were conftantly difturbed
even on their oxvn coafts. The few fhips that came from France
in order to compen(ate the hazards they were cxpofed to by the
lofs of their commodities, fold them at a very advanced price,
and bought them at a very low one.
When every thing thus feemed tendi^rg to decay, tiie peace
at laft reftored the freedom of trade, and with it the hopes of
recovering the ancient profperity of the ifland; the event,
however, did not anfwer the pains that were taken to attain it^
Two years had not elaplcd after the cefl"ation of hoftilities, when
the colony loft the contraband trade fhe carried on with the
American Spaniards. This lofs was not fo fenfibly felt by the
colony as the hardfliips brought upon them by the mother
country ; an unflcilful adminiftration clogged the reciprocal
and neceftary conneftion between the iflands and North-America
■ with fo many formalities, that in 1755 Martinico fent but
four ven"cls to Canada. The direftion of its colonies, now com-
mitted to the care of ignorant e.nd avaricious clerks, it foon
loft its impoitance, funk into contempt, and was proftltuted
to venality. The war broke out afrefh, and after a fcries of
misfortunes and defeats, the ifland fell into the hands of the
Britifh ; it was reftored in July 1763, fixteen months a f.'er it
had been conquered, but deprived of all the neccllary means of
profperity that had made it of fo much importance. The con*
traband trade carried on to tli; Spanifh coafts was almoft entirely
loft, the ceftion of Canada to Great-Britain precluded all hopes-
of opening again a coinmimication, v/hich had only been inter-
rupted by temporary miftakcs. The produftions of the Gre-
nades, St. Vincent, and Dominica, which were now become
Britiih dominions, could no longer be brought into their hai-
hours, and a new regulation of the mother country, wliich
forbad her having any intercourfe with Guadaloupc, left her
no hopes from tiiat quarter.
Si2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The celony, thus deprived of every thing as it were, and
deftitute, neverthelefs contained, at the lafl: furvey, which was
taken on the firft of January, 1770, in the compafs of twenty-
eight parifhcs, twelve thoufand four hundred and fifty white
people of all ages ^nd of both fexes ; one thoufand eight hun-
dred and fourteen free blacks or mulattoes ; feventy thoufand
£ve hundred and fifty-three flaves ; and four hundred and fortyr
three fugitive negroes. The number of births in 1766, was in
proportion of one in thirty among the white people, and of ori«
in twenty-five among the blacks.
The ifiand is fixtecn leagues in length, and forty-five in cir-
eumference, leaving out the capes, fotne of which extend two
«r three leagues into the fea ; it is very uneven, and interfered
in all parts by a number of hillocks, which are moftly of a
«onical form. Three mountains rife above thefc fmaller emi-
nences ; the highefl bears the indelible marks of a volcano ; the
woods with which it is •ovcred, continually attraft the clouds,
which occafion noxious damps, and contribute to make it horrid
snd inacceffible, while the two others are in moft parts culti-
vated. Fram thefe mountains iffue the many fprings that water
the ifiand ; thefe waters, which flow in gentle flreams, are
changed into torrents on the flightcft ftorm ; their qualities are
derived from the foil over which they flow ; in fome places they
are excellent, in others fo bad, that the inhabitants are
obliged to drink the water they have coUefted during the rainy
icafon.
Of all the French fettlements in the Wefl:-Indies, Martinico
is the mofh happily fituated with regard to the winds which
prevail in thofe feas. Its harbours poffefs the moll ineftimable
advantage of affording a certain flicker from the hurricanes
which annoy thefe latitudes. The harbour of Fort Royal is one
of the beft in all the windward iflands, and fo celebrated for
its ia.'cly, tliat when it was open to the Dutch, their fliip-
mailers had orders from the republic to take flicker there in
June, July, and AugufV, the three months in which the hurri-
canes are moft frequent. The lands of the Lament in, which
3ie but a le^f^ue dalant, are the richefl; and moft fertile -.u
the wiiole ifiand. The numerous ftreams which water this
frunfil country, convey loaded canoes to a confiderable diftance
from tlic lea ; the protcftion of the fortifications fecure the
peaceable- enjcyrr.ent of fo many advantages, which, however,
are balanced by a fwampy and unwholefome loil. This capital
cf Martinico is alfo the rendezvous of the men of war, which
OF GUADALCUPE, 313
branch of the navy has always opprefTed the merchantonen.
On this account Fort Royal was an improper place to become
the center of trade, and was therefore removed to St. Peter's*
This little town, notwithflanding the fires that have four
times reduced it to aflies, flill contains one thoufand fevea
hundred houfes. It is fituated on the weflern coafl of the iflaad,
on a bay or inlet, which is almoft circular ; one part of it is bliilt
on the ftrand along the fea fide, which is called the anchorage,
and is the place deftined for fh.ips and warehoufes ; the other
part of the town Hands upon a low hill ; it is called the Fort,
from a fmall fortification that was built there in 1665, to check
the feditions of the inhabitants againft the tyranny of monopoly,
but it now ferves to piote£l the road from foreign enemies ; thefs
two parts of the town are feparated by a rivulet.
The anchorage is at the back of a pretty high and fleep hill,
Shut up as it were by this hill, which intercepts the eaflerly
winds, the moft confiantand moft falubrious in thefe parts ; ex-
pofed, without any refrefliing breezes, to the fcorching beams
of the fun, refiefted from the hill, from the fea, and the black
fand on the beach ; this place is extremely hot, and always un-
wholefome ; befides, there is no harbour, and the fhips which
cannot winter fafely upon this coaft, are obliged to ta-ke ihelter
at Fort Royal. But thefe difadvantages are compenfated by the
Conveniency of the road of St. Peter's for loading and unloading
bf goods, and by its fituation, which is fuch that fhips can freely
go in and out at all times, and Vv-ith all winds.
GUADALOUPE.
The middle of this iflaud is feated in about north latitude 16^
30', weft longitude 61^ 20'; it is of an irregular figure, may be
about eighty leagues in circumference, and is divided into two
parts by a fmall arm of the fea, vi^hich is not above two leagues
longj and from fifteen to forty fathoms broad. This canal, known
by the name of the Salt river, is navigable, but will only carry
veffels of fifty tons burden.
That part of the ifland which gives its name to the whole co-
loEiy, is, towards the center, full of craggy rocks, where the cold
is fo intenfe, that nothing will grow upon them but fern, and
fome ufelefs fbrubs covered with mofs. On the top of tliefe
rocks, a mountain called la Souphriere, or the Brimftone moun-
tain, rifcs to an immenfe height ; it exhales, through various
S f
314 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
openings, a thick black fmoke, intermixed with fparks that arC
vifible by night. From all t-hefe hills flou' numberlefs fpringSj
which fertilize the plain below, and moderate the burning heat
of the climate by a refrefliing dream, fo celebrated, that the
galleons which formerly ufed to touch at tlie Windward iflands,
had orders to renew their provifion with this pure and falubri-
ous water: fuch is that part of the iflind properly called Gua-
daloupe. That which is commonly called Grand Terre, has not
been fo much favoured by nature ; it is indeed Icfs rugged, but
it wants fprings and rivers ; the foil is not fo fertile, or the
climate fo wholefome, or pleafant.
No European nation had yet taken polTeilion of this ifland,
when five hundred and fifty Frenchmen, led on by two gentle-
men named Loline and DupleflTis, arrived there from Dieppe ont
th€ 28th of June, 1635. They had been very imprudent in
their preparations ; their provifions were fo ill chofen, that
they were fpoiled in the patfage, and they had fhipped fo few,
that they were exhauiled in two months: they were fupplied
with more from the mother country. St. Chriilopher's, whe-
ther from fcarcity or defign, refufed to fpare them any, and the
firfl attempts in hufbandry they iilade in the country, could not
as yet afford any thing. No refource was left for the colony
but from the favages, but the fuperfluities of a people who cul-
tivate but little, and therefore had never laid up any flores,
eould not be very confiderable. The new comers, not content
with what the favages might freely and voluntarily bring, came
to a relolution to plunder them, and hoftilities commenced on
the fixteenth of January, 1636.
A dreadful famine was the confcquence of this kind of war ;
the colonifts were reduced to graze in the fields, to eat their
own excrements, and to dig up dead bodies for their fubfiftence.
Many who had been flaves at Algiers, held in abhorrence the
hands that had broken their fetters, and all of them cutTed
tlicir exiflence. It was in this manner that they atoned for the
crime of their invafion, till the government of Aubert brought
a peace with the favages at the end of the year 1640.
The few inhabitants who had efcaped the calamities they had
drawn upon themfelves, were foon joined by fome difcontcnlcd
colonifts from St. Chriflopher's, by Europeans fond of novelty,
by failors tired of navigation, and by fome fea captains, who
prudently chofe to conrjrnit to the care of a grateful foil
OFGUADALOUPE. 315
the treafures they had faved. from the dangers of the fea.
But flill the profperity of Guadaloupe was flopped or impeded
by obflacles arifing from its fituation.
The facility with which the pirates from the neighbouring
iflands could carry off their cattle, their flaves, their very
crops, frequently brought them into a defperate fituation. In-
teftine broils, ariftng from jealoufies of authority, often dif-
turbed the quiet of the planters. The adventurers who went
over to the Windward iflands, difdaining a land that was fitter
for agriculture than for naval expedition, were eafily drawn to
Martinico by the convenient roads it abounds with. The
proteftion of thofe intrepid pirates brought to that ifland, all
the traders who flattered th-emfelves that they might buy up the
fpoils of the enemy at a low price, and all the planters who
thought they might fafely give themfelves up to peaceful lajaours.
This quick population could not fail of introducing the civil
and military government of the Caribbee iflands into Marti-
nico. From that time the French miniflry attended more feri-
oufly to this than to the other colonies, which were not fo
immediately under their direction, and hearing chiefly of this
ifland, they turned all their encouragement that way.
It was in corifequence of this preference, that in 1 -joo, the
number of inhabitants in Guadaloupe amounted only to three
thoufand eight hundred and twenty-five white people > three
hundred and twenty-five favages, free negroes, mulattoes ; and
fix thoufand feven hundred and twenty-five flaves, many of
whom were Caribs„
At the end of the year 1755, the colony was peopled with
nine thoufand fix hundred and forty-three whites, forty-one
thoufand one hundred and forty flaves of all ages and both fexes.
Her faleable commodities were the produce of three hundred
and thirty-four fugar plantations ; fifteen plo-ts of indigo; forty-
fix thoufand eight hundred and forty ft:ems of cacao ; eleven
thoufand fevcn hundred of tobacco; two million two hundred
and fifty- feven thoufand feven hundred and twenty-five of
cofl^ee ; twelve million feven hundred and forty-eight thoufand
four hundred and forty-feven of cotton. For her provlfions
fhe had twenty-nine fquares of rice or maize, and one thoufand
two hundred and nineteen of potatoes or yams ; two million
and twenty eight thoufand five hundred and tv/enty banana
trees, and thirty-two million five hundred and feventy^feven
thoufand nine hundred and fifty trenches of caflava. The
cattle of Guadaloupe confifl:ed of four thoufand nine hundred
Sf 2
3t6 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
and fojfy-fix horfes ; two thoufand nine hundred and twenty-
four mules ; one hundred and twenty-five afles ; thirteen thou-
fand Icven hundred and fixteen head of horned cattle ; eleven
thouiand one hundred and fixty-two flieep or goats, and tv/o
thoufand four hundred and forty-four hogs. Such was tlie ftate
of Guadaloqpe when it was conquered by the Eritifh in the
month of April, 1759.
The colony, with its dependencies, was reftored to France
by the treaty of peace in July, 1763.
By a furvey taken in 1767, this ifland, including the
fmaller iflands, Defeada, St. Bartholomew, Marigalante, and
the Saints, dependent upon it, contained eleven thoufand eiglit
hundred and ftxty-three white people of all ages and both fejies ;
feven hundred and fifty-two free blacks and mulattoes ; feventy-
two thoufand feven hundred and fixty-one flaves ; which makes
in all a population of eighty-nve thoufand three hundred and
feventy-fix fouls. The cattle confifted of five thoufand and
fixty horfes ; four thoufand eight hundred and fifty-four mules ;
one hundred and eleven affes ; feventeen thoufand three hun-
dred and feventy-eight head of horned cattle ; fourteen thou-
fand eight hundred and ninety-five fheep or goats, and two
thoufand fix hundred and fixty-nine hogs. The provifion
was thirty million four hundred and fcventy-fix thoufand two
hundred and eighteen trenches of callava ; two million eight;
hundred and nineteen thoufand two hundred and fixty-two
banana trees ; two thouiand one hundred and eighteen fquares
of land planted with yams and potatoes. The plantations
contained feventy-two arnotto trees ; three hundred and twenty-
feven of caflTia ; thirteen thoufand two hundred and ninety-
two of cacao ; five million eight hundred and eighty-one thou-
fand one hundred arrd feventy-fix of coffee ; twelve million one
hundred and fifty-fix thoufand fev»en hundred and fixty-ninc
of cotton ; twenty-one thoufand four hundred and feventy-four
fquares of land planted with fugar-canes. The woods occupied
twenty-two thouiand and ninety-feven fquares of land ; there
were twenty thoufand two hundred and forty-feven in meadows,
and fix thoufand four hundred and five uncultivated or foriaken.
Only one thoufand five hundred and eighty-two plantations
grew cotton, cofcee and provifions. Sugar was made but in
four hundred and one. Thefe fugar works employed one hun-
dred and forty water-mills, two hundred and fixty-three turned
hy oxen, and eleven wind-inills.
OF SAINT LUCIA. 517
The produce of Guadaloupe, including v.'hat is poured in
from the Imall iflands under her dominion, ought to be very
Confiderable ; but tn 1768, it yielded to the mother country
no more than one hundicd and forty thoufand four hundred and
eighteen quintals of fine fugar ; twenty-three thoufand fix
hundred and three quintals of raw fugar ; thirty-four thoufand
two hundred and five quintals of coffee ; eleven thoufand nine
hundred and fifty-five quintals of cotton ; four hundred and
fifty-fix quintals of cacao ; one thoufand eight hundred and
eighty-four quintals of ginger; two thoufand five hundred and
twenty-nine quintals of logwood; twenty-four chefls of Iweetr
meats : one hundred and fixty-five chefls of liquors ; thirty-
four cafks of rum, and twelve hundred and two undreffed fkins.
All thefe commodities were fold in the colony only for three
hundred and ten thoufand feven hundred and ninety-tw^
pounds eighteen fiiillings and three pence; and the merchandifc
it received from France has cofl but one hundred and ninety-
feven thoufand nine hundred and nineteen pounds, eighteen
fiiillings and fix-pence : but from that period it confidersbl)"
increafed till the late troubles.
SAINT LUCIA.
Saint Lucia is about tv/enty-two miles long and eleven
broad, the middle of it lying in north latitude qq** 14'', wed
longitude 27? o'. It was firft fettled by the French in 1650,
but was reduced by the Englifli in 1664, who evacuated it in
^666. 'the French immediateiy re-fettled the ifl:ind, but were
again driven av/ay by the Caribs, As foon as the fav-ages were
gone the former inhabitants returned, but only for a Ihort time;
for being afraid of falliag a prey to the firft privateer that fhould
vifit their coails, they removed either to other French fettle-
ments that were ftronger, or which they might expeft to be
better defended. There was then no regular culture or colony
at St. Lucia, it was only frequented by the inhabitants of
Martinico, who came thither to cut wood and to build canoes,
and who had confiderable docks on the ifiand. In 1718 it was
again fettled by the French ; but four years after, it was given
by the court of London to the duke of Montague, who was
fent to take poffelTion of it. This occafioned fome diflurbance
between the two courts ; which was fettled, however by an
agreement made in 1731, that till the refpe£live claims fliould.
be finally adjufled, the ifiand fhould be evacuated by both
nations, but that both fhould wood and water there. This
3i8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
precarious agreement furnifhed an opportunity for private
intereft to exert itfelf. The Englifh no longer molefted the
French in their habitations, but employed them as their afTiU
tants in carrying on with richer colonies a fmuggling trade,
which the fubjefts of both governments, thought equally
advantageous to them. This trade was more or lefs confi-
derable till the treaty of 1763, when the property of St. Lucia
was fecured to the crown of France. After that time the
colony flourifhed confiderably. In the beginning of the year
1772, the number of white people amounted to two thoufand
and eighteen men, women and children ; that of the blacks
to fix hundred and fixty-three freemen, and twelve thoufand
feven hundred and ninety-five flavcs. There were feven
hundred and fix dwelling places. The annual revenue at
that time was about one hundred and feventy-five thoufand
pounds, which, according to the Abbe Raynd, muft have
increafed one-eighth yeaily for fome time. It was taken
by the Britifh fleet under admirals Byron and Barrington
in the year 177B, but was reflored to France at the peace of
The foil of St. Lucia is tolerably good, even at the fea fide ;
and is much better the farther one advances into the country.
The whole of it is capable of cultivation, except fome high
and craggy mountains, which bear evident marks of old volca-
noes. In one deep valley there are eight or ten ponds, the
water of which boils up in a dreadful manner, and retains
fome of its heat at the diilance of fix thoufand toifes from its
refervoirs. Tlie air in the inland parts, like that of all other;
uninhabited countries, is foul and unw-holefome, but grows lefs
noxious as the woods are cleared and the ground laid open. On
fome parts of the fea coafl the air is ftill more unhealthy, on
account of fome fmall rivers which fpring from the foot of the
niountains, and have not fufficient flope to wafh down the "fands
with which the influx of the ocean flops up their mouths, by
which means they fpread themfelves into unwholefome marlhes
en the neighbouring grounds.
TOBAGO.
Tobago is fituated in 11? odd minutes north latitude, one
hundred and twenty miles fouth of Barbadoes, and about the
fame diftance from the Spanifli main. It is about thirty-two
miles in length and nine in breadth. The climate here is not
fo hot as might be expetled fo near the equator; and it is faid,
that it lies out of the courfe of thofe hurricanes that have
OF HISP AN 10 LA, 319
fometimes proved fo fatal to the other Weft-India iflands. It
has a fruitful foil, capable of producing fugar, and indeed every-
thing elfe that is raifed in the Weft-Indies, with the addition,
if we may believe the Dutch, of the cinnamon, nutmeg and
gum copal. It is well watered with numerous fprings ; and its
bays and rivers are fo difpofed as to be very commodious for all
kind of fhipping. The value and importance of this ifland ap-
pears from the expenfive and formidable armaments fent thither
by European powers in fupport of their difFerent claims. It
feems to have been chiefly poflfefled by the Dutch, who de-
fended their pretenfions againft both Englanxl and France with
the moft obftinate perfeverance. By the treaty of Aix la
Chapellc, in 1748, it was declared neutral, though by the
treaty of peace in 1763, it was yielded up to Great-Britain;
but, in June, 1781, it was taken by the French, and ceded to
them by the treaty of 1783.
St. Bartholomew, Deseada and Marigalante,
Are three fmall iflands lying in the neighbourhood of Antigua
and St. Chriftopher's, and are of no great confequence to the
French, except in time of war, when they give fhelter to an
incredible number of privateers, which greatly annoy the
Britifh Weft-India trade. St. Bartholomew is now to be
confldered as belonging to the crown of Sweden, being ceded
to it by France in 1785.
HISPANIOLA.
In noticing the Spanifii fettlements in this part of the globe,
we have already taken a general view of this ifland ; it only
therefore remains to notice the French fettlements thereon.
The French towns are, Cape Francois, the capital, contain-
ing feveral years ago, about eight thoufand whites and blacks.
Leogane, though inferior in point of fize, is a good port, a
place of confiderable trade, and the feat of the French govern-
ment in that ifland. They have two other towns, confiderable
for their trade. Petit Guaves and port Louis.
The following is faid to be an exaft ftatement of the popula-
tion, produft and commerce of the French colony of Hifpa-
niola in the year 1788, and may ferv« to fhew the immenfc
lon"es fuftained by the late infurreftions of the negroes.
Whites, twcnty-feven thoufand feven hundred and feven-
teen ; free people of colour, twenty-one thoufand eight hun-
dred and eight ; flaves, four hundred and five thoufand nvf.
32(5 GENERAL ti ESC RI P T 1 0 17
hundred and twenty-eight. The plantations were, of fiigar,
feven hundred and ninety-two ; of indigo, three thoufand and
ninety-feven ; of cotton, feven hundred and five ; of coffee,
two thoufand eight hundred and ten; The manufaftories wcrcj
diftilleries, one hundred and feventy-three ; of brick and pot-
ter's ware, ftxty-three ; of cacao, fixty-nine, and three tanners.
Its produ6lions exported to France v/ere, feventy millions
♦wo hundred and twenty-feven thoufand feven hundred and
nine pounds cf white fugar : ninety-thrde millions one hundred
and feventV-feven thoufand five hundred and eighteen ditto of
brut ditto ; fixty-eight millions one hundred and fifty-one thou-
fand one hundred and eighty-one ditto of coffee ; nine hundred
arid thirty thoufand and fixteen pounds of indigo ; fix millions
two hundred and eighty-fix thoufand one hundred and twenty-
fix ditto of Cotton ; and twelve thoufand nine hundred and
ninetv-five dreffed fkins.
Sold to American, Englifh and Butch fmugglers ; twenty-
five millions of pounds of brut fug^rs ; twelve milllonG ditto cf
coffee ; and three millions ditto of Cotton,
The molaflfes exported in American bottoms, valued at one
million of dollars ; valuable wood, exported ifi French fhipS,
two hundred thoufand dollars.
Its trade employed five hundred and eighty large fhips, carry^
ing one hundred and eignty-nine thoufand fix hundred and
fcventy-nine tons, in which the imports amounted to twelve
millions of dollars, of v/hich more than eight millions of
dollars were in manufaflured' goods of France, arrd the other
four millions in French produce.
The Spanifh fliips exported in French goods, or money, one
million four hundred thoufand dollars, for mules imported by
them into the colony.
Ninety-eight French fliips, carrying forty thoufand one hun-
dred and thirty tons, im.ported twenty-nine thoufand ft\'e hun-
dred and fix negroes, v.-hich fold for eight millions of dollars.
The negroes in the French divifion of this ifland have, for
feveral years pafl, been in a flate of infurreftion. In the pro-
fjrel's of there diflurbances, which have not yet fubfided, the
planters and others have fuflained imnienfe lolfes. As this
unhappy affair has engaged much of the attention of the public,
we are h^ppy in being able to give a fummary flatement of the
cau'es of this infurreftion.*
* From a pamphlet puhlinied in 1792, entitled, '• An Inquiry into the Caufr*
of thr Infuvreftion of the Negroes, ia the Iflind of St. Domingo,"
OF HIS PAN 10 L J, 321
The fituation of the French colonies early attraftcd the atten-
tion of the conflitucnt Affembly. At this time all was as tran-
quil as fiidi a Jlate &f opprejjion would permit. Political health
can only be attributed to a country with a free conflitution.
The fituation of the ifland is that of a paralytic ; one part is
torpid, whilfh the other is aflFefted with the frantic m ;u
St. Vitus's dance.
The firft interference of the National AflTenlbly in .--^
of the colonies, was by a decree of the 8th of Marcii, i/QO^
which declared. That all free perfons, who were proprietory
and refidents of two years ftandingj arid who contribuie'd to
the exigencies of the (late, fhould exercife the riglus ' •
•which conftitute the quality of French citizens.
This decree, though in faft it gave no new riwhts to ihc
people of colour, was regarded with a jealous eye by the white
planters, who evidently faw that the generality of the qualifi-
cation included all defcriptions of proprietors ; they affefted
howeverj to impofe a different conftruftion on it. The ueopJe
of colour appealed to common juftice and common lenfe • it
was to no purpofe, the whites repelled them from their alTem-
hlies ; fome commotions enfued, in which they mutually fell a
facrlfice to their pride and refentment.
Thefe difturbances again excited the vigilance of the National
Affembly ; a decree was paffed on the lath of Oftjber 1-700
by which the Affembly d«;Iared, as a conflitutional article
*' That they would eftablifh no regulations refpeftino^ the inter-
nal government of the colonies, without the precife and formal
rcquefl of the colonial affemblies."
Peace, however, was not the confequence of this decree.
The proprietors, it is true, had obtained a legal right of tyran-
nizing, but the unfortunate quellion flill recurred, Who fhould
be permitted to exercife that right ? On this head the decree
was filent. New diffentions arofe ; each of the parties covered
under a faftious patriotifm, the mofl attrocious defigns. Affaf-
fination and revolt became frequent, Mauduit, a French officer
of rank, loft his life by the hands of his own countrymen.
At length the unfortunate Oge, a planter of colour, who had
exerted himfelf in France in the caufe of his brethren, le-
folved to fupport by force their jufl. pretenfions. He landed in.
the Spanifii territory of St. Domingo, where he affembled about
fix hundred mulattoes. Before he proceeded to hoftilities he wrote
to the French general, that his defire was for peace, provided thq
laws were enforced. His letter was abfurdly confidered as a decla-
ration of war. Being attacked ^nd vanquilhed, he took refuse
Vol. IV. Tt
3?.2 GEX£IiAL DESCRIPTION
amongft, the Spaniards, whp delivered him up to his adverfaries.
The honors of his death were the harbingers of future crimes.
Thcf'c diftuibances Hill increafing, the National AfTembly found
it nccetrary at length to decide between the contending parties.
On the 15th of May, 1791, a decree waS made, confifling of
two articles, by the firft of which the Affembly confirmed that
of the 1 2th of Oftober, fo far as refpcftei the flaves in their
iflands. It is true, that the word flave was cautioufly omitted in
this document, and they are only charafterifed by the negative
de'ciiption of " men not free," as if right and wrong depended
on a play of words, or a mode of expreflion.
This part of the decree met with but little oppofition, though
it paiied not without fcvere reprehenfion from a few enlightened
members. The i'econd article, refpefting the people of colour,
was flrongly contefted : thofe who were before known by the
appellation of patriots, divided upon it. It was, however, de-
termined in the refult, that the people of colour, born of free
parents, fhould be conlidered as aftive citizens, and be eligible
to the olHces of government in the iflands.
This fecond article, which decided upon a right that the people
of colour had b;;cn entitled to for upwards of a century, inftead
of reftoring peace, has been the pretext for all the fubfequent
evils that the colony of St. Domingo has fuftained. They arofc
not indeed from its execution, but from its counteraftion by the
while colonifts. Had they, after the awful warnings they had
already experienced, obeyed the ordinances of an Affembly they
pretended to revere ; had they imbibed one drop of the truft
Ipirit of that conflitution to which they had avowed an inviola-
ble attachment ; had they even fuppreffed the diftates of pride
in the fuggcftions of prudence, the ftorm that threatened them
had been averted, and in theif obedience to the parent flate they
had dlfplayed an aft of patriolifm, and prefeived themfelves
from all poITibility of danger.
But the equalization of the people of colour flung the irrita-
ble nerves of the white colonifls. The defcendants of Jlavcs may
loft the refentments of their fiithers ; but the hatred of a dejpot is
hireditary. The European maxim allows, " That they never
pardon who have done the wrong ;" but in the colonies this
perverfuy attains a more monftrous growth, and the averfion to-
African blood dcfccnds from generation to generation. No
looner had the decree paffed, than the deputies from the iflands
OF HIS PAN 10 LA. 323
io the National Aflembly withdrew their attenaance : tlie colo-
nial committee, always under the influence of the planters,
fufpended their labours. Its arrival in the ifland ftruck the
whites with confternation : they vowed to facrifice their lives
rather than fufFer the execution of the decree. Their rage ori-
ginating in defpotifm and phrenzy, carried them fo far that they
propofed to imprifon the French merchants then in the ifland,
to tear down the national flag, and hoift the Britijli f^andard in
its place, whilfl the joy of the mulattoes was mingled with ap-
prehenfions and with fears, St. Domingo re-echoed with the
cries of the whites, with their menaces and blafphemies againft
the conftitution. A motion was made in the ftreets to fire upon
the people of colour, who fled from the city, and took refuge
in the plantations of their friends and in the woods : they were
at length recalled by proclamation ; but it was only to fvvear fu-
bordination to the whites, and to be witneffes of frefli enormi-
ties. Amidft thefe agitations the flaves had remained in their
accuflomed fubordination ; nor was it till the month of Aug,ufl:j
J 791, that the fymptoms of the infurreftion appeared amongfl
them.
A confiderable number, both of whites and people of colour^
had loft their lives in thefe commotions before the flaves had
given indications of difafFeftion ; they were not, however, in-
ienfible of the opportunities of revolt afi^orded by tlic difl^entions
of their mafliers ; they had learnt that no alleviation of their
miferies was ever to be expelled from Europe ; that in the ftrug-
gle for colonial dominion, their humble interefts had been equally
facrificed or forgotten by all parties. They felt their curb re-
laxed by the difarming and difperfion of their mulatto mafl:ers,
who had been accufl;omed to keep them under rigorous difci-
pline. Hopelefs of relief from anj' quarter, they role in dif-
ferent parts, and fpread defolation over the ifland. If the cold
cruelties of defpotifm have no bounds, what fiiall be expetted
from the paroxyfms of defpair?
On the 11th of September, 1791, a convention took place,
which produced the agreement called the Concordat, by
which the white planters ftipulated, that they would no lon-
ger oppofe the law of the 15th of May, which gave political
rights to the people of colour. The colonial Aflembly even
promifed to meliorate the fituation of the people of coloui:,
born of parents not free, and to whom the decree of the 15th of
May did not extend. An union was formed between the plan-
ters, which, if it had fooner taken place, had prevented the infur-
T t 2
324 GEN'ERAL DESCRIPTION
reftion. The inrurgenis were every where difpirited, rdpulfed,
and difperlcd ; and the colony itfelf prelerved from total del-
truftion.
By a decree of the National Affembly, the 24th of September,
the people of colour were virtually excluded from all right of
colonial Icgiflation, and esprcfsly placed in the power of the
white colonifts.
If the decree of tlie 15th of May could rnftigate the whit6
colonifls to the frantic afts of violence before defcribed, what
fhall we iuppofe were the feelings of the people of colour on
that of the 24th of September, which again blafted thofe hopes
they had juftly founded on the conftitutional law of the parent
ftate, and the iolemn ratification of the white colonifts? No
fooner was it known in the iljands, than thofe diffentions which
the revolt of the negroes had for a while appeafed, broke out
with frefh violence. The apprehenfions entertained from the
flaves had been allayed by the cffefts of the Concordat ; but the
whites no fooner found themfelves relieved from the terrors
of immediate dcftru£lion, than they availed themfelves of the
decree of the 24th of September ; they formally revoked the
Concordat, arvd treacheroufly refuled to comply with an en-,
gagement to which they owed their very exiftence. The peo-
ple of colour were in arms ; they attacked the whites in the
iouthern provinces ; they poffefiTcd themlelves of Fort St, Louis,
iud defeated their opponents in feveral engagements. A pow-
erful body furrounded Port au prince, the capital of the ifland,
and claimed the execution of the Concordat. At (hree different
times did the whites affcnt to the requifuion, and as often broke
their cng;igement. Gratified with the predileftion for monarchy
and ariftocracy, which the Conflituent AfTcmblyJiad in its dotage
avowed, they affefted the appellation of patriots, and had the
addrefs to transfer the popular odium to the people of colour,
who were contending for their ikbisputable rights, and to
the few white colonifts who had virtue enough to efpoufe their
caufe. Under this pretext, the municipality of Port au PrincG
required M, Grimoard, the captain of the Boreas, a French line
of battle fliip, to bring his guns to bear upon, and to cannonade
the people of colour ifit-mbled near the town : he at firft refuf-
ed, but the prew, deluded by the cry of patriotifm, enforced
h:s compliance. No fooner M'as this niealurc adopted, than the
people of colour gave a loole to their indignation : they fpread
over the country, and let fire indifcriminatcly to all the plan-
tations •, the greateft part of the tov/n of Port au Prince fooi%
OF HIS ? AN 10 L A, 325
after fhared the fame fate. Nothing feemed to remain for the
white inhabitants but to feek their fafety in quitting the colony.
In the northern parts the people of colour adopted a more
magnanimous and perhaps a more prudent conduft. " They be-
gun," fays Mr, Verniaud, " by offering their blood to the
whites." '* We fhall wait," fjfid ihfey, •' till we have faved
you, before we affert our own claims." They accordingly op^
poled themfelves to the revolted negroes with unexampled cou-r
rage, and endeavoured to foothe them by attending to their rea-
fonable requifitions.
After this recital of authentic and indifputable fafts, it is not
difficult to trace the caufes of the infurreftion. The effects we
leave to be dcfcribed by the profeffcd hillorian ; but the prudent
meafures of the French government wc flatter ourfelves will ulti-
jnately fucceed in extending peace and liberty to every inhabi-p
tant of this, Af\d all the other iflands under their dominion ; and
may the godlike plan for the liberation and happincfs of the
African, be fpeedily imitated by thofe governments in E^urope
who have not had fufficient virtue to fct the example.*
* In this account of the French Wefl-India iflands it will no doubt be
remarked, that we have taken no notice of the conqueft of fome of them by
Great Britain during the prefent war. The very great probability that they
will foon acknowledge their former dependency on France, and perhaps join
in extending her viftories over fome of the Britifh iflands, muft be our excufe;
but if this is not deemed fufbcient, we have only to remark, that the common
practice of furrendering, as the price of peace, wliat has been purchafed dur-
ing a war by a torrent of human blood, render it impofliblc lo lay what will,
ffi a few mcolhs, belong to England or France.
C 326 )
DUTCH WEST-INDIES,
,^ — «..<,.«..<..< ,jt »^>«^^ .>..>.•>. >..
St. EUSTATIUS,
OlTUATED in 17" 29' nortli latitude, and 63° 10' we fl lon-
gitude, and three leagues north-weft of St, Chriftopher's, is
only a mountain, about twenty-nine miles in compafs, rifuig out
of the fea like a pyramid, and almoft round. But though ft>
fmall and inconveniently laid out by nature, the induftry of
the Dutch have made it to turn to very good account ; and it
is faid to contain five thoufand whites, and fifteen thoufand
negroes. The fides of the mountains are laid out in very pretty
fettlements, but they have neither fprings nor rivers. They
raife here fugar and tobacco ; and this ifland, as well as Curaffou,
is engaged in theSpanifh contraband trade, for which, however,
it is not fo well fituated ; and it has drawn the fame advantage
from its conftant neutrality. But when hoftilities were com-
menced by Great-Britain againft Holland, Admiral Rodney was
fent with a connderable land and fea force againft St, Eufta-
tius, which being incapable of any defence, furrendercd at
difcretion, on 3d of February, 1781. The private property of
the inhabitants was confifcated, with a degree of rigour very
uncommon among civilized nations, and very inconfillent with
Phe humanity and generofity by which the Englifh nation uled
to be charafterifed. The reafon afiigned was, that the inhabi-
tants of St. Euftatius had alTifted the United States with naval
and other flores. But on the 27th of November, the fame
year, St. Euflatius was retaken by the French, under the com-
mand of the Marquis de BouJlle, though their force confifted of
only three frigateSj feme fmall craft, and about three hundred
men.
OF CURASSOU. 327
CURASSOU,
This ifland is fituated in twelve degi-ees north latitude, nine
or ten leagues from the continent of Terra Firma, is thirty miles
long, and ten broad. It feems as if it were fated, that the
ingenuity and patience of the Hollanders fhould every where,
both in Europe and America, be employed in fighting againft
an unfriendly nature ; for the ifland is not only barren, and
dependent on the rains for its water, but the harbour is natu-
rally one of the worft in America ; yet the Dutch have entirely
remedied that defeft ; they have upon this harbour one of the
largeft and by far the moft elegant and cleanly towns in the
Weft-Indies. The public buildings are numerous and hand-
fome ; the private houfes commodious ; and the magazines
large, convenient, and well filled. All kind of labour is here
performed by engines ; fomc of them fo well contrived that
fhips are at once lifted into the dock.
Though this ifland is naturally barren, the induflry of the
Dutch has brought it to produce a confiderable quantity both of
tobacco and fugar ; it has, befides, good fait works, for the
produce of which there is a brifk demand from the Englifli
iflands, and the colonies on the continent. But what renders
this ifland of moft advantage to the Dutch, is the contraband
trade which is carried on between the inhabitants and the Spa-
niards, and their harbour being the rendezvous to all nations in
time of war.
The Dutch fhips from Europe touch at this ifland for intelli-
gence, or pilots, and then proceed to the Spanifh coafts for
trade, which they force with a ftrong hand, it being very diffi-
cult for the Spanifh guarda coftas to take thefe vefl"els ; for they
are not only ftout fhips, with a number of guns, but are manned
■with large crews of chofen feamen, deeply interefted in the
fafcty of the veffel and the fuccefs of the voyage. They have
each a fhare in the cargo, of a value proportioned to the ftation
of the owner, fupplied by the merchants upon credit, and at
prime coft. This animates them with an uncommon courage,
and they fight bravely, bacaufe every man fights in defence of
his own property. Befides this, there is a conftant intercourfe
between this ifland and the Spanifh continent.
CurafTou has numerous warehoufes, always full of the com-
modities of Europe and the Eaft-Indies. Here are all forts of
woollen and linen cloth, laces, filks, ribands, iron utenfils,
naval and military ftoreSj brandy, the fpices of the Moluccas,
328 GENERAL DESCRIPTION^ ^d
and the calicoes of India, white and painted. Hither the
Dutch Wefh-India, which is alfo their African company, annu-
ally bring three or four cargoes of flaves ; and to this mart the
Spaniards themfelves come in fmall veffels, and carry off not
only tlie beft of the negroes, at a very high price, but great
quantities of all the above forts of goods ; and the feller has this
advantage, that the rcfufe of Warehoufes and mercers' fhops,
and every thing that is grown unfafhionable and unfaleable in
Europe, go off here extremely well : every thing being fuffici-^
ently recommended by its being European. The Spaniards pay
in gold and filver, roined or in bars, cacoa, vanilla, jefuits barky
cochineal, and other valuable commodities.
The trade of CurafTou, even in times of peace, is faid to be
annually worth to the Dutch no lefs than five hundred thoufand
pounds • but in time of war the profit is flill greater, for then
it becomes the common emporium of the Weft-Indies ; it af-
fords a retreat to fhips of all nations, and at the fame time re-
fufes none of them arms and ammunition to deftroy one another.
The intercourfe with Spain being then interrupted, the Spanifh
colonies have fcarce any other market from whence they can
be well fupplied either with flaves or goods. The French
come hither to buy the beef, pork, corn, flour, and lumber,
which are brought from the continent of North America, or
exported from Ireland ; fo that whether in peace or in war, th«
trade of this ifland flourifhes extremely.
The trade of all the Dutch American fettlements was origt-
tially carried on by the Weft-India company alone ; at prefent,
fuch fhips as go upon that trade, pay two and a half per cent,
for their licenfes ; the company, however, referve to themfelves
the whole of what is carried on between Africa and the Ame-
rican iflands.
The other iflands, Bonaire and Aruba, are inconfiderable in
themfelves, and fhould be regarded as appendages to Curaflbu,
for which they are chiefly employed in raifing cattle and other
provifions.
The ifland of Saba, fituated at no great diftance from St. Eu-
flatius, is fmall, and hardly deferves to be mentioned.
( 3^9 )
DANISH WEST-INDIES,
-^...<..<..<..<..«>J>>..>ty..»,.>
St. THOMAS.
A,
-N inconfiderable member of the Caribbees, Tituated in fix-
ty-four degrees weft longitude, and eighteen degrees north lati-
tude, about fifteen miles in circumference, and has a fafe and
commodious harbour.
St. CROIX, OR SANTA CRUZ.
Another fmall and unhealthy ifland, lying about five leagues
caft of St. Thomas, ten or twelve leagues in length, and three
or four where it is broadeft. Thefe iflands, fo long as they re-
mained in the hands of the Danifh Wefh-India Company, were
ill managed, and of little confequence to the Danes ; but that
wife and benevolent prince, the late king of Denmark, bought
up the company's ftock, and laid the trade open ; and fince that
time the ifland of St. Thomas, as well as this, has been fo greatly
improved, that it is faid to produce upwards of three thoufand
hoglheads of fugar, of one thoufand weight each, and other of
the Weft-India commodities in tolerable plenty. In time of
war, privateers bring in their 'prizes here for fr.Ie ; and a great
many veffels trade from hence along the Spaniih main, and re-
turn with money in fpecie or bars, and valuable merchandife.
A.S for Santa Cruz, from a perfeft dcfert a few years fince, it is
beginning to fettle faft ; feveral perfons from the Englifh iflands,
fome of them of great wealth, have gone to fettle there, and
have received very great encouragement to do fo,
U u
530 GENERAL I>ESCRTPriOh\ ict.
The Dutch and the I>ancs hardly deferve to be mentioned
amon<' the proprietors of America ; their poffeflions there are
comparatively nothing. But notwithftanding they appear ex-
tremely worthy of the attention of thefe powers, as the fharc
of the Dutch only is worth to them at leaft fix hundred thoUi-
f^nd pounds a year.
. -( ,33' )
HISTORY OF
AMERICAN QUADRyPEDS,
!
N a former part of this work * we have had occafion to offer
fpm/ obfej-vations on the animals of America ; by that account,
for which we are indebted to the Abbe Clavigcro, M. Buffon,
and the ingenious Mr. JefFerfon, it appears, that the continent
of America contains nearly one-half of the Unown fpecies of
quadrupeds, fome of them common to North-America, and to
the European and Afiatic parts of the caftern continent, and
others peculiar to America : of thefe the greater part have not
been accurately examined : it howtfVer appears, that thofe com-
mon to both continents are fuch as may be fuppcWed to have mi-
grated from one to the other. Comparing individuals of the
iame fpecies inhabiting the difFefent continents, fome are found
perfeftly fimilar ; between others there is often found fome tri-
vial difference in fize, colour, or other circumflances ; in foms
inftances the European animal is larger than the American, in
others the reverfe is true. A fimilar variety is often found
among the fame fpecies in different parts of the fame continent ;
this evidently arifes from the temperature of the climate, quan-
tity of food furniflied in the parts they inhabit, and the degree
of fafety and quiet pollefled ; the latter efFc£l is evident on
thofe animals hunted for their flefli or fur, fucii as the moofc
deer, beaver, &c. which have gradually diminifhcd in their fize
wherever they have thus been difturbed ; but as we have nei-
ther a complete deCcription nor complete catalogue c: liittkc their {k'ns, w})'ch darlvcs the herd to
jB !ITJF'Ji'"^'^Xi O
MDF ir_AXi O T3LA]P ..
.AMIiEIUCt-X^ IJiDiK.,
Si'i'//X,Ji'i
OF AMERICAN QUADRUPEDS. 335
ttie oppofite fide, where the others do the fame ; fo that at lad
they arrive at the pound, and fall in headlong one upon ano-
ther, fomc breaking their necks, backs, &c. And now the
confufion becomes fo great within, that though the height of the
building {hall not exceed five feet, none will make their efcape.
To elucidate this deicription of the buffalo pound, we have an-
nexed a reprefentation.
Mujk. — The mufk bull inhabits the interior parts of North-
America, on the weft fide of Hudfon's baV, between Churchill
and Seal rivers. They are very numerous in thofe parts, and
live in herds of twenty or thirty. The Indians eat their flefh,
and make coverings of their fkins. They are brought down in
fledges to fupply the forts during the winter. Notwithftand-
ing the flefh is faid to have a ftrong flavour of muflc, it is reck-
dned v iG o Els ERA L D£6C RI PTION
icu inches beljiml : the circumference of the tliickeft. part of
the body is two feet three inches.
Black. Couguar, — This animal differs from the fiifl we have de-
Iciibci-I, cJiiefly in the colour, which is duiky, fometimcs fpoc-
led with bl.ick, but generally plain. The throat, belly, and
iju'idcs of the legs, are of a pale afli colour, the upper lip
wliite, covered with long wh i fice rs ; above each eye it has veiy
long hairs, and at the corner of the mouth a black ipot ; its paws
ore wliile, and its ears iharp pointed.
It grows to the ii^e of a heifer of a year old, and has great
hrength in its fimbs.
it inhabits Bralil and Guiana, is a cruel and fierce animal,
n>uoh dreaded by the Indians ; but fortunately the Ipecies is not
numerous.
Ocdoii — The fkin of the male ocelot is cKtremely beautiful,
and mod cleginily variegated. Its general colour is that of ii
bright tawny ; a black flripe extends along the top of the bark
Jroni head to tail ; iti forehead is Ipoited with black, as are alio
Us legs ; Its uiuulders, fides, and rump, aie beautifuHy marbled
with long {iiipcs o\ black, forming oval figures, filled in the
nnddle witli im ill bl tck Ipots ; its tail is irregularly marked with
large Ipots, and black jt the end. The colours of the female
are not lo vivid as thole of tiie m.ile, neither is it lo beautifully
marked.
The ocelot very much refembles the common cat in the
form of us body, although it is a great deal larger. BufiFon
makes its iici^lu two feet and a half, and about four feet in
length.
It 13 a native of South- America, inhabits Mexico and Brafii,
i.s very voracious, but timid, ancf feldom attacks men ; it is afraid
of dogs, and when purlued, {lies to the woods.
It livc-s chieily in the mountains, and conceals itfelf amongd
the leaves of trees, from whence it darts upon luch animals as
come within its reach. It lomctimes extend* itlelf along the
boughs, as if it were dead, till the monkies, tempted by their
natural curiohty, ajj^roach within its reach. It is laid to prefer
llie blood of annuals to their ilclh,
Murray. — This is another beautiful animal of the fpotted
tribe, and known in many places by the name of the Tiger Cat,
The ground ccjlour of the body is tawny; the face is llriped
with black; the body is marked with.ilripes and large fpota
of black ; tii£. bread and in fide of the legs are white, fpotted
with black ; the tail is long, miuked with alternate fpots of
blm.k, tuWiiV, 'ind ^rey.
OF AMERICAN OlIADRUPEDS. 347
The margay is fmaller (lian the ocelot, and about the fiz«
of tlie wild cat, which it tefembles in dilpohtion and habit,
living on fmall animals, birds, &c. — It is very wild, and cannot
eafily be brought under lubjeftion.
Its colours vary, though they are generally fuch as have been
delcribed.
It is common in Guiana, Brafil, and various parts of South
and North-America.
It is called the Cayninc Cat, and is not fo frequent in tempe-
rate as in warm climates.
Lynx. — This animal differs greatly from every animal of the
cat kind we have hitherto defcribed. Its cars are long and ere^t-,
tufted at the end with long black, hairs, by which this fpecies
of animals is peculiarly diftinguifhed : tlie hair of the body is
long and foft, of a red-afli colour, marked with dulky Ipots,
which differ according to the age of the creature ; lometime»
they are fcarcely vifible ; its legs and feet are very thick and
flrong ; its tail fhort, and black at the extremity ; its eyes are of
a pale-yellow colour ; and its alpeft lofter and Icis ferocious than
that of the panther or the ounce. The Ikin of the mals is more
fpotted than that of the female.
The fur is valuable for its foftnefs and warmth, and is im-
ported in great quantities from America and the north of
Europe. In the United States there are three kinds of the
lynx, each probably forming a .diftinft fpecies. The^-^.y'? f Lupus
Cervarhis, Linn. 3d edit.) i? called by the French and Engiifti
Americans, Loup Cervier* He is from two and a lialf to three
feet in length ; his tail is about five inches. His hair is long,
of a light grey colour, forming, in fome places, ImaU, irregulai,
dark fhades ; the end of his tail is black; his fur is fine ana
thick. He is the lynx of Siberia and lome of the northern
parts of Europe. A few may be found in the north-eafteru
parts of the diftrift of Maine ; but in the higher latitudes they
are more numerous.
The focond^ fCatus Cirvarlvs, Linn.) is called by the French
Americans, Chat Cervier i and in New Enghind the wildcat.
He is confiderably lels than the former, or the Loup Cervier^
He is from two to two feet and a half long ; his tail is prupor-
tionably fhorter, about three inches long, and wants the tu*t
of black hair on the end of it. His hair is fhorter, particularly
on his legs and feet ; is of a darker colour, brown, dark lallovv
* Pronounced Loocervpc.
Yy 2
548 GENERAL DESCRI PTION
and grey, varioufly intermixed. His fur is faid to be of a
'Very different quality ; }>is ears are fhorter, and he has very
little of the pencil of black hairs on the tips of them, which
is fo remarkable in the former kind. This animal deftroyed
manv of the cattle of the firfl. fettlers of New-Enrland.
The third fpecies is about the fize of a comrnon cat. The
colour of the male is a bright brown or bay,* with black fpots
on his legs. His tail is about four inches long, and encircled
by eight white rings : the female is of a reddifn "rey. •
Found in the middle and fouthern States,
To ilie above lift of animals of the cat kind we muftadd the
Kincajou. — This animal, Mr. Morfe obfervc;, belongs to the
fainily of cats ; at leaft, he very much refemiiies them. He
is about as large as a common cat, and is better formed for
agility and. Ipccd than for fi.rength. His tail gradually tapers
to the end, and is as long as his whole body. His colour is
yellow. Between him and the fox there is perpetual war.
He hunts in the fame manner as do other animals of that clals ;
but being able to fufpend himfelf by twining the end of his
tail round the limb of a tree, or the like, he can purfue his
prey where other cats cannot "} and when he attacks a large
animal, his tail enables him to fccure his hold till he can open
the blood veffcls of the neck. In fome parts of Canada thefe
animals arc very numerous, and make great havoc among the
deer, and do not Ipare even the neat cattle ; but we have heard
of none in the United States, except a few in the northern
parts of New-Hampfhire.
Beaver.- — The leaver is the mod induftrious of all animals^
Its labours Iccm the relult of ?. focial compaft, formed for mu-
tu-il convenience, prciervation and lupport ; and as, in all well-
regulated focictie.s, a due lubordination is necefTary for the well-
ordering and ccndu£ting each individual efiort to the advan-
tage of the whole ; lo, amongft theie curious animals, we End
that, in iornuug their habitations, all have their proper part
of the woik aihgned to them, that, by dividing their labours,
fafcty, ftability and expedition, may be the general effect. To
this purpole, a community of two or three hundred affemble
together : an ovei leer is chofcn, whole orders aie punftunlly
obeyed ; aiid, by ftriking the water fmaidy with his tail,
gives tlie hgnal where the united force of numbers is ne-
ceil^ry to be applied, in order to flrenglhen or lupport the
fabric ; or, at the approach of an enemy, to apprize the iociety
of their danger. As loon as a convenient place is choien for
the ereftiou of their building, which is generally a level piecs
CF AMERICAN QUADRUPEDS, 349
of gi'ound with a fmall rivulet running through it, they divide
into companies : feme are employed in cutting down trees of
great fize, which is done by gnawing them with their teeth ;
thele they lay acrofs the dam with furprifing labour and per-
feverance, or form into piles, which others roll down to the
water, where they make holes at the bottem for receiving the
ends, and placing them upright, fecure them in that pofition ;
whilft another party is engaged in coUefting twigs, interweav-
ing and twiftihg them with the piles, and thereby ftrengthening
the work : fome collefl large quantities of earth, ftones, clay
and other folid materials, which they diipole of on the upper
fide of the piles next the flream, forming a mound ten or
twelve feet thick at the bottom, tapering gradually upwards,
and capable of fuftaining a confiderable weight of water. The
length of the dam, occahoned by this means, is fometimes not
lefs than one hundred feet. Having completed the mole, their
next care is to eieft their apartments, which are built on piles ;
they are of a circular form, and generally confift of two ftories,
about eight feet high above the water ; the firft lies below the
level of the dam, and is generally full of water ; the other
above it. The walls are two feet in thicknefs, neatly plaiilered
with clay on the infide, which is arched like an oven, and at
the top refembles a dome. In each houfe there are two open-
ings, one towards the water, to which the animal has always
accefs, in cafe of furprife ; the other towards the land, by
which it goes out in queft of food. The number of houfes in
one of thefe dams is from ten to twenty-five, fome of them
large enough to contain a family of twenty or thirty beavers.
Each beaver forms its bed of mofs ; and each family lays in its
magazine of winter provifion, which confifts of bark and
boughs of trees : they pile up the latter with great ingenuity
and regularity, and draw it out to their apartments as their
wants require. They are faid to be fondeft of the lalfafras, afli,
and fweet gum. During fummer, they feed on leaves, fruits
and fometimes crabs or cray-filh ; but fifh is not their favourite
food. Their time of building is early in the fummer. In
winter, they never go farther than to their provifion flores, and,
during that feafon, are very fat.
They breed once a year, and bring forth two or three at a
birth.
Beavers are found chiefly in the northern parts of Europe,
Afia and America ; particularly the latter, from whence many
35© GENERAL DESCRIPTION
thoufancls of their fkins are annually brought into Euro-ne,
They vary in colour ; the moft valuable are black with a deep
fur; but the general colour is a chefnut brown, more or lei's
dark. Some have been found entirely white, others fnotted ;
but both thefe kinds are very rare.
The beaver is remarkable for the fize and flrength of its
cutting t^eth, which enable it to gnaw down trees of great
magnitude with cafe. Its ears are fhort, arid almofl hid in the
fur ; its nofe blunt, tail broad and flat, nearly of an oval form,
and covered with fcales ; it lerves not only as a rudder to direft
its motions in the water, but as a moft ufeful inftrument for
laying on the clay, prefling it into the crevices, and fmoothing
the outward covering ; its fore feet are Imall, and not unlike
thofe of a rat; the hind feet are large and flrong, with mem-
branes between each toe; its length, from nofe *'"> tail, is
about three feet ; the tail is eleven inches long, and three
broad.
The caftor produced from thefe animals is found in a liquid
ftate, in bags near the anus, about the fize of an egg. When
taken off, the matter dries, and is reducible to a powder, which
is oily, of a (harp bitter tafte, and a ftrong difagreeable fmell,
Thefe bags are found indifferently in males and females, and
were formerly fuppofed to be the animal's tefticles ; which, when
purfued, it was laid to bite off, and by that means efcape with
its life.
The Otter. — Although the otter is not confidered by natural,
iffs as wholly amphibious, it is neverthelefs caplable of remainin*;
a confiderable time under water, and can purfue and take its
prey in that element with great facilitv.
Its legs are very fhort, but remarkably flrong, broad and
mufcular ; on each foot are five toes, connected by ftrong mem-
branes, like ihofe of water fowlj its head is broad, of an oval
form, and flat on the upper part ; the bod)' is long and round,
and the tail tapers to a point : the eyes are brilliant, and placed
in fuch a manner, that the animal can fee every objeft that
is above it, which gives it a fingular afpeft, very much rc-
fembling an eel or an afp : the ears are fliort and their orifice
narrow.
The colour of the otter is of a deep brown, with two fmall
light fpots on each fide of the nofe, and another under the
chin.
This animal makes its ncft in fome retired fpot by the fide
oF a like or river, under a bank, where it has an ealy and
fccure accefs to the water, to which it immediatf-ly flies upon
OF AMERICAN Q^UADRUPEDS. 351
the leaft alarm ; and, as it Iwims with great rapidity, gene-
rally elcapes from its puriuers.
It deflroys great quantities of fifli, and, in purfuit of its
prey, has been obferved. commonly to fvvim again ft the ftream.
As loon as the otter has caught a fifli, It immediately drags
it to the Ihore, devours a part as far as the vent, and, unlels
preffed by extreme hunger, always leaves the remainder, and
takes to the water in quell of more.
Otters arp generally taken in traps placed near their landing
places, where they are carefully concealed in the fand. Whea
hunting with dogs, the old ones defend themfelves with great
obftinacy ; they bite feverely, and do not readily quit their
hold where they have once faftened. An old otter will never
give up while it has life, nor make the leaft complaint though
wounded ever fo much by the dogs, nor even when transfixed
with a Ipear.
Otters are found in moft parts of the world, \vith no great
variation. They are numerous in North- America, and are
common in Guiana, frequenting the rivers and marfhes of
that country. They are fometimes feen in great numbers
together, and are fo fierce, that it is dangerous to come near
them. They live in holes, which they make in the banks of
the rivers.
The otters of Cayenne are very lirge, weighing from
ninety to one hundred pounds. They frequent the large
rivers of that country ; their cry is loud, and may be heard
at a great diftance : they are of a dark brown colour^ their
iur is lliorter than that of the beaver, and very foft.
Befrde thefe there is an animal called The Sea Otter. — Vaft
numbers of thefe animals inhabit the coaft of Kamtlchatka, and
the numerous iflands contiguous to it, as well as the oppofite
coafts of America ; they are alfo found in fome of the larger
rivers of South-America.
Their Ikins are of great value, and have long formed a con-
fiderable article of expoic from Ruftia. They difpofe of them
to the Chinele at the rate of feventy or a hundred rubles
each, and receive in return fome of their moft valuable com-
modities.
The fur of the fea otter is thick and long, of a beautiful
fliiuing black colour, but fometirnes of a filvery hue ; the legs
are thick and Ihort ; the toes joined by a web ; the hind feet
like thofe of a feal ; length, from nofe, to tail, four feet
two inches ; tail thirteen, flat and pointed at the end ; the
iargeft of them weigh from feventy to eighty pounds.
j5a GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The fea otter is remarkably harmlcfs, and moft affeftionate-
ly fond oF its young ; it will pine to death for its lofs, and
die on the very fpot where it has been taken away. Before
its young can fwim, it will carry it in its paws, and fuppbrt it
in the water, laying upon its back. It fwims in various po-
litions, on its back, fides, and even in a perpendicular pofture,
and in the water is very fportive. Two of them are fome-
times feen embracing each other. It frequents fhallow places
abounding with fea weed, and feeds on lobfters, crabs, and
other fhell fivh.
It breeds but once a yaar, and produces one young at a time,
which it fuckles and carefully attends almoft a year.
The flefh of a young otter is reckoned delicate eating, and
not eafily diftingulfhed from that of a lamb.
The Wcafel is about nine inches in lengtii ; his body is re-
markably round and flender ; his tail long and well futnilhcd
with hair ; his legs very fliort and his toes armed \vith fliarp
claws. His hair is fhort and thick, and of a pale yellowifn
colour, except about the breaft, where it is white. This is a
very fprightly animal ; notwithflanding the fhortnefs of its
?egs, it feems to dart rather than to run. He kills and eats rats,
ftriped fquirrils, and other fmall quadrupeds : he likewife kills
fowls, fucks their blood, and efteems their eggs a delicacy.
He is found at Hudfon's bay, Newfoundland, and as far as
South Carolina.
Stoatj or Eri!iine.——\t does not differ materially from the
aveafel in fize, form or habits ; even his colour is the fame in
fummer, except that the end of his tail is black, and the edges
of his ears and toes are white. In winter Jie is entirely white,
except the tip of the tail. He is generally confidered as form-
ing a fpccics didinft from the weafel ; but Linnaeus makes
them the fame. They are faid to be found in the fame places as
the farmer, and Mr. Belknap mentions, that a few have been
ften in New-Hampfliire.
In addition to the preceding, America has anotlier variety
of this family, which appears to differ from the weaicl in no
refpeft except in its colour, which is perfeftly white both in
fummer and winter.
Martin. — This animal is called the martin fMarteJ by M. de
Buffdn ; in England the pine martin, fir martin, yellow-breaft-
cd martin, piae weafel, and yellow-breafled weafel; in New-
Kngland the lable ; and by the Indians Wauppanaugh. He
xs> fojmed like the weaicl ; is generally about fixteeri inches long,
OF AMERICAN QUADRUPEDS. 353
and is of a fallow colour ; but his fize, and the flindes of his
colour, vary in different parts of the country. Some have
fpots of yellow on the breaft, others of white, and others
have none. He keeps in forefls chiefly on trees, and lives
by hunting. He is found in the northern parts of North-
America quite to the South lea ; his fkin is exceeding valua-
ble.
Mink. — The mink is about as large as a martin, and of the
fame form. The hair on its tail is fhorter ; its colour is gene-
rally black, and its fur coarfer ; fome have a white fpot under
their throats, others have none. They burrow in the ground,
and purfue their prey both in frefh and fait water. Thofe
which frequent the fait water are of a larger fize, lighter colour,
and have inferior fur. They are found in confiderable numbers
both in the fouthern and northern States, and in general
wherever the martin is found.
Fipier. — In Canada he is called pekan, and in the American
States frequently the black cat, but improperly, as he does not
belong to the clais of cats. He has a general refemblance to
the martin, but is confiderably larger, being from twenty to
twenty-four inches in length, and twelve in circumference.
His tail is a little more than half its length ; its hair long
and bufhy : his fore legs about four inches and a half long,
his hinder legs fix inches ; his ears fhort and round. His
colour is black, except the head, neck and flioulders, which
are a dark grey. He lives by hunting, and occafionally pur-
lues his prey in the water. Found in the northern States,
Canada, and Hudfon's bay. Of each of the animals we
have mentioned under this divifion, there are feveral vari-
eties which have obtained different names, as the pekan,
vifon, &c.
Skunk. — This animal is about a foot and a half long, of a
moderate height and fize. His tail is long and bufhy : his hair
long and chiefly black ; but on his head, neck and back, is
found more or lefs of white, without any regularity or uni-
formity. He appears to fee but indifferently when the fun
fliines, and therefore in the day time keeps clofe to his burrow.
As foon as the twilight commences he goes in queft of his food,
which is principally beetles and other infefts ; he is alio very
fond of eggs and young chickens. His flefh is faid to be t )le-
rably good, and his fat is fometimes uied as an emollient. But
what renders this animal remarkable is, his being furnifhed
with organs for fecreting and retaining a liquor, volatile and
f«e:id beyond any thing known, and which he has the power
Z z
354 C £ A' E RA L D ESC RI PTIO N
of eT.ittin^ to the diiltiice of a rod or more, when necefTcfiV
for his tlcfencr. ^^'he^ this ammunition is expended he is
quite hd head.
Inhabits the mountains of Mexico, lives in trees, where i%
brings forth its young ; when in any fright they embrace
their parent clolely ; the tail is prehenfilc, and lerves inftead of
a hand.
Cayenne Oppojfum. — It has a long flender face ; ears ereft,
pointed and fhort ; the coat woolly, mixed with very coarfe
hairs, three inches long, of a dirty white from the roots to the
middle, from thence to the ends of a deep brown ; fides and
belly of a pale yellow ; legs of a dufky brown ; thumb on
each foot diftinft ; on the toes of the fore feet and thumb of
the hind are nails, on the toes of the h nd feet crocked claws ;
tail very long, taper, naked and Icaly. Length, feventeen French
inches ^ of the tail fifteen and a half : the iubjetl mcafured was
young.
Inhabits Cayenne, very aftive in climbing frees, on which it
lives the whole day : in maifhy places feeds on crabs, which,
when it cannot draw out of their holes with its feet, hooks
them by means of its long tail ; if the crab pinches its tail, the
animal lets up a loud cry, which may be heard afar ; its com-
mon voice is a grunt like a young pig : it is well furnifhcd with
teetii, and will defend itlelf floutly againft dogs ; brings forth
four or five young, which it fecures in iomc hollow tree. Tlie
natives eat thefe animals, and lay their flcflr relcmblcs a hare.
They are eafily tamed, and will then refuie no kind of food.
PECCARY OR. MEXICAN HOG.
This animal, called the Mexican hog, inhabits the hotefl
parts of South-America, where the fpecies is very numerous ;
herds confiding of two or three hundred, are fometimes to be
OF AMERICAN O^UADRUPEDS. 35^
feen together. It is verv fierce, and will fight (loutly with
beafts of prey when attacked by them. The jaguar is its mor-
tal enemy, and frequently lofcs its life in engaging a number
of thel'e animals, for they affill each other whenever attack-
ed.
They live chiefly in mountainous places, and are not fond
of wallowing in the mire like the common hog. They feed on
fruits, roots and feeds ; they likewife eat ferpents, toads and
lizards, and are very dexterous in fii H: taking off the fkia with
their fore feet and teeth.
It is fomewhat fmaller than the common hog ; its- body is
covered with long bridles, which, when the creature is irri-
tated, life up like the prickles of a hedgehog, and are nearly
as ftrong, they are of a duiky colour, with alternate rincrs of
white ; acrofs the (boulders to the breaft there is a band of
white ; its head is fhort and thick ; it has two tufks in each
jaw ; its ears are fmall and ereft ; and inllead of 3 tail, it has a
Imall flefhy protuberance, which does not cover its pofteriors.
It differs moll eifentially from the hog, in having a fmall orifice
on the lower part of the back, from whence a thin watry hu-
mour, of 3 mofk difagreeable fmcli, flows very copioufly.
Like the common hog, the peccary is very piolific. The
young ones, if taken at firft, are eafily tamed, and loon lole all
their natural ferocity, but can never be brought to difcover
any figns of attachment to thofe that feed them.
Their flefh is drier and leaner than that of our hog, but is
by no means difagreeable, and may be greatly improved by
caftration.
Altho'igh the European hog is common in America, and in
many parts has become wild, the peccary has never been known
to breed with it. They frequently go together, and feed in
the fame woods ; but hitherto no intermediate breed has been
known to arilc from their intercourle.
A.VIMALS OF THE CAVY KIND.
Guinea-Pig, or Rcjilcfs Cavy. — This little animal is a native
of Brafil, but lives and propagates in temperate and even in
cold climates, when protc6led from the inclemency of the
fealons. Great numbers are kept in a domefl:ic flate, and
therefore we conceive any further obfervations are unnecelfary.
Cabiai. — This is a native of South-America, and lives on the
banks of great rivers, fuch as the Oronoque, Amazons, and
360 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Rio de la PI ita ; fwims and dives remarkably well, and is very-
dexterous in catching fidi, upon which it chiefly fubfifts : it
likevvife eats grain, fruits and fugar-canes ; feeds moftly in the
night, and commits great ravages in the gardens. They gene-
rally keep in large herds, and make a noife not much unlike the
braying of an afs.
Its flefh is fat and tender, but like that of the otter, has an
oily and fifhy tafte. It is about the fize of a fmall hog, and, by
fome naturalifts, has been claffed with that animal.
Its fore hoofs are divided in four, the hind ones into three ;
its head is large and thick, and on the nofe there are lonor
whiflcers ; its ears are fmall and rounded, and its eyes large
and black ; there are two large cutting-teeth and eight grinders
in each jaw, and each of thefe grinders forms on its furface
what appears to be three teeth, flat at their ends ; the legs
are {hort, the toes long, and connected at the bottom with a
fmall web ; the end of each toe is guarded by a fmall hoof ; it
has no tail ; the hair on the body is fhort, rough, and of a brown
colour.
It is a gentle animal, eafily tamed, and will follow thofe who
feed it and treat it kindly.
As it runs badly, on account of the peculiar conftruftion of
its feet, its fafety confifts not in flight ; nature has pro-
vided it with other means of prefervation ; when in dan-
ger it plunges into the water and dives to a great dif-
tance.
Paca, or Spotted Cavy. — ^This animal is about the fize of a hare,
but its body is much thicker, plumper and fatter. The colour
of the hair on the back is-' dark brown or liver-coloured ; it
is lighter on the fides, which are beautifully marked with,
lines of white fpots, running in parallel diredlions from its
throat to its rump; thole on the upper part of the body are
perfeftly diftinft ; the belly is white. Its head is large ; its
ears fhort and naked ; its eyes full and placed high in its head
near the ears ; in the lower part of each jaw, immediately under
the eye, it has a remarkable deep flit or furrow, which feems
"like the termination of the jaw, and has the appearance of an
opening of the mouth ; its upper jaw proj efts beyond the under ;
it has two ftrong yellow cutting-teeth in each jaw ; its mouth
is fmall, and its upper lip is divided ; it has long whifkers on
its lips, and on each fide of its head under the ears ; its legs
are fhort ; it has four toes on the fore feet, and three on the
hind ; it has no tail. It is a native of South-America, and
lives on the banks of rivers in warm and moid places. It digs
r jlj^i^^tt
s >-.
:0
fe.^
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GF AMERICAN QUADRUPEDS. 361
holes in the ground, fecrets itfelf during the day, and goes
out at night in queft of food.
It is a cleanly animal, and will not bear the fmallcft degree
of dirtinefs in its apartment. When puvfued it takes to the water,
and efcapes by diving. If attacked by dogs it makes a vigorous de-
fence. Its flefh is efteemed a great delicacy by the natives of Brahl,
We think this animal might be eafily naturalifed in this coun-
try, and added to our flock of ufeful animals. It is not much
afraid, of cold, and being accufhomed to burrow, it would by
that means defend itfelf againfl the rigours of our winter.
There are feveral varieties of them, fome of which weigh
from fourteen to twenty, and even thirty pounds,
Agouti, or Long-nofed Cavy. — This animal is about the fize of
a. hare ; its nofe is long, upper lip divided, fkin fleek and fhin-
ing, of a brown colour mixed with red, tail fliort, legs flender
and almoft naked ; has four toes on the fore feet and three on
the hind ; grunts like a pig, fits on its hind legs, and feeds itfelf
with its paws ; and when fatiated with food it conceals the
remainder. It eats fruits, roots, nuts, and almoft every kind of
vegetable ; is hunted with dogs, runs faft, and its rnotions are
like thofe of a hare. Its flelh, which relembles that of a rabbit,
is eaten by the inhabitants of South-America.
Great numbers of them are found in Guiana and Brafil. They
live in woods, hedges and hollow trees.
The female brings forth at all times of the year, and pro-
duces three, four, aed fometimes five at a time.
Akouchi. — This feems to be a variety of the agouti, and,
though fomewhat lefs, is nearly of the lame form, but its tail
js longer. It inhabits the fame countries, is of an olive colour ;
its flefh is white, delicate, and has the flavour of a young rabbit ;
is rhuch efteemed by the natives, who hunt it with dogs, aud.
reckon it among; the fineft ?ame of South-America.
Rock Cavy. — This is likewife found in Brafil, is about twelve
inches in iength ; the colour of the upper part of its body re-
fembles that of the hare ; its belly is white ; the upper lip
divided ; the ears fhort and rounded like thole of a rat, and
has no tail. It moves like thehare, its fore legs being fhorter
than the hind. It has four toes on the fore feet, and only three
on the hind. Its flelh is like that of the rabbit, and its manner
of living is alfo very fimilar.
ANIMAIS OF THE HARE KIND.
American Hare, — This animal is not mijch more than lialf the
fize of the European hare ; its ears are tipt with gvey, the
3A
M
3^2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
neck and body mixed with cinereous, rufl colour, and biactc ^
the upper part of the tail black and the lower part white ;
the legs :u-e of a pale ferruginous, and the belly white. This
animnl is found in ;ill parts of North-America, fouth of New-
Jerley it retains its colour all the year ; but to the northward^
in New- England, Canada and Hudlon's bay, it changes at the
approach of winter ; its fummer coat for one, long, foft, and
filvcry, the edges of its ears only preferving their colour. Its
flcfh is good, and is exceeding ufeful to thofe who winter
at Hudfon's bay, where they are taken in abundance.
Varying Hatc—^This animal in fummer is grey, with a flight
inixtute of black and tawny ; tail white, and the feet clofely
and warmly covered with fur : in winter it changes to S
Inowy white, except the tips and edges of the ears, which
remain black : this change not only takes place in the cold
bleak regions of the north, but when kept tame in ftove-
tvarmed rooms. They are in America chieSy found about
Kudfon's bay and Cook's river.
Brafilian Hare. — This animal has very large ears, a whiter
ring round its neck, in every other refpeft the fame as the
common hare, it is found in Brafil and Mexico, and is very
good for food.
Mr. Morfe mentions another fpceies found in all the United
States, which burrows like a rabbit ; this he thinks to be pecu--
liar to America. The rabbit, though it thrives well, particu-
larly in South-America, was never found wild in any part of thef
American continent.
Of all animals this is the moft fluggifh and inaSive ; and, if
we were to judge from outward appearance, would lecm the
moft heiplcls and wretched. All its motions fccm to be the
efFeft of the mod painful exertion, which hunger alone is ca-
pable of exciting-
It lives chiefly in trees j and having afcended one with infi-
nite labour and difficulty, it remains there till it has entirely
flrippcd it of all its verdure, fparing neitheir fruit, blofl'om
nor leaf ; after which it is faid to devour even the bark* Be-
ing unable to dcfcend, it throws itfclf on the ground, and con-
tinues at the bottom of the tree till hunger agiiin compels it to
renew its toils in learcla of lubfiftence.
Its motions nrc acc(Mnpanied with a mofl piteous and lamenta-
ble cry, which tcrriHcs even bcafls of prey, and proves its bed
defence.
•^
OF AMERICAN OUAD'RUPEDS, 363
Though flow, aukward, and almoft incapable of motion,
the lloth is ftrong, remarkably tenacious of life, and capable of
enduring a long abftinence from food. We are told of one
that having fattened itfelf by its feet to a pole, remained in that
fituation forty days without the leail i'uflenance. The ftrength
in its legs and feet is fo great, that, having leized any thing, it
is almoft impofTible to oblige it to quit its hold.
There are two kinds oi* floths, whi.:h are principally diflin-
guidaed by the nunaber of their claws ; the one called the ui
is about the (ize of a fox, and has three long claws on each
•foot; its legs are clumfy and aukwardly placed •, and the fore
legs being longer than the hind, add greatly to the ciilBculty of
its progrelTive motion ; its whole body is covered with a rough
coat of long hair, of a lightifh-brown colour, mixed whh
white, not unlike that of a badger, and has, a black Une down
the middle of the back ; its face is naked, and of a dirty white
colour ; tail {hort, eyes imall, black and heavy. It is found
only in South- America.
The C/nau has only two claws on each foot ; its head is fliort
and round, fomewhat like that of a monkey ; its ears are fhorr,
and it has no tail. It is found in South-America, and alio in
the ifland of Ceylon.
The fleih of both kinds is eaten. They have feveral fto-
machs, and are faid tq belong to the tribe of ruminating animalSv
ANT-EATEP.S.
There are feveral animals diftinguiflied by the common name
of ant-eaters, which differ greatly in form. They are divided
into three claiTes, viz. the Great, the Middle, and the LefTer
Ant-eater.
The Great Ant-eater is nearly four feet in length, exclufive
of its tail, which is two and a half. It is remarkable for the
great length of its fnout, which is of a cylindrical form, and
ferve^ as a (heath to its long and flender tongue, which always
lies folded double in its mouth, and is the chief inftrument by
which it finds iubfiftence.
This creature is a native of Brafil and Guiana, runs flowly.
frequently fwims over rivers, lives wholly on ants, which it
CoUefts by thrulling its tongue into their holes, and having
penetrated into every part of the neft, withdraws it into iis
raoulh loaded with prey.
3 A 8
364 CENERAL DESCRIPTION
Its legs are fo ftrong, that few animals can extricate them-
felves from its grip. It is faid to be formidable even to the
panthers of America, and fometimes fixes itielf upon them in
fuch a manner, that both of them fall and perifh together ; for
its obfUnacy is fo great, that it will not extricate itfeif from its
adverfary even after he is dead.
The fleOi has a ftrong difagreeable tafte, but it is eaten by
the Indians.
The Middle Ant-eater is about one foot feven inches from nofe
to tail ; it inhabits the fame countries, and procures its food in
the fame manner as the laft. Its tail is ten inches long, with
which it fecures its hold in climbing trees by twilling it round
the branches.
Both thefe animals have four ftrong claws on the fore feet,
and five on the hind.
The Lejfcr Ant-cater has a fharp-pointed nofe, inclining a
little downwaids ; its ears are fmall, and hid in the fur ; it has
two ftrong hooked claws on the fore feet, the outward one
being much the largeft, and four on the hind feet ; its fur is
long, loft and filky, of a yellowiih-brow colour; its length,
from nofe to tail, is feven inches and a half, tail above eight,
thick at the bafe, and taper to the end. It inhabits Guiana :
climbs trees in queft of a fpecies of ants which build their nefts
among the branches.
ANIMALS OF THE PORCUPINE KIND.
Brajilian Porcupine. — This animal is very different from that
known in general under the name of porcupine ; indeed it
can fcarcely be faid to bear any relation to it, except in its
being covered with fpines about three inches in length ; they
are white, very fharp, and have a bar of black near the points.
The breaft. belly, and lower part of the legs, are covered with
Itrong br'iftly hairs of a brown colour; its tail is long and flen-
der, and almoft naked at the end : the animal ufes it in defcend-
ing trees by twi|ling it round the branches.
It inhabits Mexico and Braftl, lives in woods, and feeds on
fruits and Imall birds ; it preys by night and fleeps in the day.
It makes a nolle like the grunting of a fwine, and grows very
fat. Its flefh is white and efteemed good to eat.
Cocndou. — This ^animal inhabits the fame countries with the
laft, and its h',We.i- .f, erh
jB3Wf the tail yellow; the tail
dufky, edged with yellow. The length both of the male and female is fcven
incli.'s. Tliis bird fuTpends its ueft to the horizontal forks of the tulip and pop-
lar trees, formed of the filaments of fome tough plants, curioufly woven,
Tfiixcd witli woo), and lined with hairs. It is of a pear (hapc, open at top,
with a } ole on the fide through which the young difcharge their excrements, and
are fed. In fome parts of North-America, thi.s fpecies, from its brilliant cs-
lour, is called the Fiery H.ingneft. It is named the Baltimore bird from its
colo-.irs, r;!'cmbling thofe in the arm* of the late Lord Baltimore, whofe family
"were proprietor.: c£ M-zylaud.
Vf AMKHICAN birds, 385
GEN. 12. PICUS.
The chara£idrS of this genils are — BiU, ftraight, ftrong, an-
gular, and cuntated at the end.- — •h'ojlrilsy coveted with bii files,
and reflefted ^own. -^-^Tonpie, very long, flender, cylindric,
bony, hard, jagged at the end, mifTile.-^?".:!^^, two forward and
two backward.—- T GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The birds in America of tiiis genus are the grofbcaks. crofs?
bills, and bulfinches ; of the two former there arc about twen-
ty fpecies, and of the latter five, known upon the American
continent.
GEN. 5. ZMBERIZA.
The charafters of this genus which includes the buntings arc
— Billy ftrong and ccmic, the fides of each majidible bending
inwards ; in the roof of the upper a hard knob, of ufe to break
and comminute hard feeds. There are fixtcen fpecies of this
bird known in America.
GEN. 6. TANGARA.
The tangares which form t'his genus are almofl all of them
natives of America ; there are only forty-fix fpecies known
forty-three of which have been found on that continent. The
charafters are — Bill^ conoid, a little inclining towards the point,
upper mandible flightly ridged and notched at the end,
GEN. 7. F^INGILLA.
This extenfive and multifarious genus includes the finches,
canaries, fifkins, linnets and fparrows, all of which, the canaries
excepted, are found in America, to the amount of near fixty
fpecies : the diftinguifi-jing charafter of this genus is the Bill^
perfeftly conic, flender towards the end, and very fharp pointed,
GEN. 8. PnYTOTOMA.
There is only one fpecies of this genus known, which is the
rara of South-America. Its diftinguifhing charafters are — Bill^
conical, ftraight and ferrated, — Nojirils, oval. — Tongue, (hort and
blunt ; it fcreams with a raucous interrupted voice, crops and
<^ ^ y->.-V.i>.>..=^
DiV. II. WATER-FOWL.
For the moft part migratory, (hiftirig from climate to climatej
from place to place, in order to lay their eggs, and bring up
their young in full fecurity ; the thinly inhabited north is thciT
principal breeding plaCe ; returning at ftated periods, and, in
general, yielding to mankind delicious and wholefome nutriment.
All the cloven-footed, or mere waders, lay their eggs on the
ground ; thofe with pinnated feet form large hefi:s, either in
the water or near it. From the firft we muft except the heron
and the night-heron, which build in trees.
All the web-footed fowl either lay their eggs on the ground,
or on the fhelves of lofty clifFs ; and none perch, except the
CQrvorant, ihugg, and one or two fpecies of ducks.
All the cloven-footed water fowl have long necks and long
I'-gs, naked above the knees, for the convenience of wading in
water in fearch of their prey. Thofe that prey on fifli have
llrong b:}!i ; thofe that Icarch for minute infefts, or worms that
op AMERICAN BIRDS, 395
lurk in mud, have (lender weak bills, and olfaflory nerves of
moft exquifite fcnfe ; for their food is out of fight.
As the naihe irtiplies, their toes are divided, fome to their
Origin; others have, between the middle ami outmoft loe, a
fmall membrane as far as the firft joint. Others have both the
exterior toes connefted to the middlemoft in the fame manner ;
and, in a faw, thofe webs reach as far as the fecond joint ; and
fuch are called Semipalmati,
Of the web-footed fowl, the Flamingo^ the Avofetta and
Courier, partake of the nature of both the cloven and web-
footed orders ; having webbed feet, long legs, naked above
the knees, and long necks. The other web-footed water-fowl
being very much on the clement, have (hort legs, placed far
behind, and long necks ; and, when on land (by reafon of the
lituation of their legs) an aukward waddling gait.
The make of the cloven-footed water-fowl is light, both aS
to (kin and bones ; that of the web-footed (Irong,
ORDER I. CLOVEN-FOOTED.
C£N. 1. PLATELEA.
The bird which conftitutes this genus is the Spoonbill, of
"which, according to Linnaeus and Briflfon, there are three fpc-
cies ; but M. BufFon contends that there is only one, and that
the other two are varieties ; whether varieties or different fpe-
cies, two out of the three are found in South-America and the
Weft-Indies. — The Bill is long, broad and thin, the end widen-
ing into a form like the bowl of a fpoon, rather round at the
end. — Nojlrils, fmall, placed near the bafe. — TonguCj fmall and
pointed. — Feet^ fcmipalmated.
GEN. 2. PALAMEDfiA.
The charaflers of this genus are — Bill, bending down at the
point, with a horn or with a tuft of feathers ereft near the bafe
of the bill. — •Nojlrils, oval. — Toes, divided almofl to their origin
with a very fmall membrane between the bottoms of each.
The bird which conftitutes this genus is the fcreamer, of which
there is only two fpecies found in South- America. The horned
fcreamer has likewife on each wing two long fpurs ; the horn
on its head is three or four inches long, and two or three lines
in diameter at the bafe: of the fpurs on the wings, which prc-^
jcct forward, and arc the apophyfes of the metacarpal bone^
3E
394 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
rifing from the anterior part of thefe extremities, the uppe?
fpur is larged, of a triangular form, two inches long, and nine
lines broad at the bafe, fomewhat curved, and terminating in a
point ; the lower fpur is only four lines long, and of the fame
bieadih at its origin.
GEN. 3. MYCTERIA.
Of the Jjbirou, which forms this genus, onl)' one fpccies is
known ; it is an Inhabitant of South-America. — Bill, long and
large, both mandibles bending upivards, the upper triangular.—
A'o/lrils, fmall : according to Marcgrave, no tongue. — Toes,
»«hvided. The bird is ss large as a fwan, the neck thick, and
the bill in general menlures about thirteen inches.
GEN. 4. CANCROMA.
Bill, broad, flat, with a keel along the middle, like a boat re-
vcried. — Nojlrils, fmall, lodged in a furrow. — Toes, divided.
The bird forming this genus is the Boatbill, a bird approaching
by its manners the heron tribe. Linnreus mentions two fpecies,
!)Ut it appears there is only one and two varieties j it is a native
of South- America.
GEN. 5. ARDEA.
The chara^iers of this genus are Bill, flright, fharp,
long, flnttiih. with a furrow extending from the noftrils tdi
the tip. Nojlrils, linear, — Tmgue, fharp. — Feet, four-toed.
This genus contains, the herons, florks, cranes and bitterns :
they are ranged in five fubdivifions ; the crowned, whofe
b;ll is fcarcly loriger than the head ; the cranes, whofe head
is b;ild ; tlie (loiks, whofe orbits are naked ; the herons, whofe
mfd toe is ferrated inwards ; and thofe which have the bill
gaping in the middle. Of the ftorks there are two fpecies
found in America, and two of the crane : a figure of one of
which, the Hooping Crane, we have given.* Of the herons
* It is as tall as oar largeft cranes, but of a flronge'r and tMcker make, itj
bill longer, its head bigger; iis neck and legs not fo flender ; all the plumage is
•white, except the great quills of the wings, which are black, and the head,
which is brown; the crown is callous and covered with black hairs, draggling
and delicate, under which the reddifli fkin appears naked ; a fimilar (kin covers
the cheeks : the tuft of loofe feathers in the tail is flat and pendant : the bill is
furrowed above, and indented at the edges near the tip ; it is brown and fix
Miches Jong. Catefby has defcribed this bird from an entire fkin given him by
an Indian, who told him that thefe birds frequent, in great numbers, the lower
parts of the rivers near the fea in the beginning of fpring, and return to the
OF AMERICAN BIRDS. ' 395
fhirty-feven fpecies are known on that continent, and nine
fpecies of the bittern.
CEN. 6. TANTALUS.
The bird which forms this genus is the Ibis, of which t\vo
fpecies only are found on the new continent, and both in the
fouthern part. Charafters — Bill, long, thick at the bale, wholly
incurvated. — Eyes, lodged in the bale. — Fact, naked. — Nqfirils,
linear. — Tongue, fliort and broad. — Toes, connefled at the bale
by a membrane.
GEN. 7. SCOLOPAX, 4r
This genus contains a variety of fpecies, known by the names
of Curlews, Whimbrels, Snipes, Woodcocks, Godwits, Red
Shanks, Green IShanks and Yellow Shanks. They may all,
however, be ranged under two names. Curlews and Snipes ; of
the former (the charafters of which are — Bill, I'^ng, {lender and
incurvated.— i^acf, covered with feathers.— A'oy2rz7i, longitudinal
near the bale. — Tongue, fliort and fliarp pointed.— -7o«, conneft-
«d together as far as the firll joint by a ftrong membrane) there
are eight fpecies in America ; of the latter nineteen Ipccies.
Charatlers— -BjY/, long, flender, ftraight and weak."-A'o/?rz/^,
linear, lodged in a furrow.— Tow^we, pointed and flender.—
Toes, divided or very flightly cofijiefted ; back toe very
fmall,
mountains in fummcr. " This faft," fays Catcfty, " has been fince confirmed
by a white, who informed me, that thefe cranes are very noify, and are feen in
the Savannas at the mouth of the Altamaha, and other rivers near St. Auguf-
tine in Florida, and alfo in Carolina, but that they are never found further
north."
Yet it is certain that they advance into the higher latitudes ; for the fame
white cranes are found in Virginia, in Canada, and even in Hudfon's bay,
as Edwards remarks.- — The fpecific charafter of the hooping crane, Ardea
Americana, h, " Its top, its nape and its temples, are naked and papilloui ;
its front, its nape, and its primary wing quills are black ; its body is white ;
the extreme length is five feet feven inches." We extratl the following
paffage relating to thefe birds from Mr. Pennant's ArClic Zoology : " They
rnake a remarkable hooping noife ; this makes me imagine thefe to have beea
the birds, whofe clamour Captain Phillip Amidas (the firft Engliihmaji who
ever fetfoot on North-America) lo graphically defcribes, on his landi;ig on
the ifle of Wokokou, off the coaft of North-Carolina ' When,' fays he,
* fuch a flock of cranes (the moft part white) arofe under us vilh fuch a cry,
redoubled by many echoes, as if an army of men had Ihouted together.'
This was in the month of July, which proves', that in thofe early days this
fpecies bred in the then defert parts of the fouthern provinces, till driven
away by population, as was the cafe with the common crane in England,
■which abounded in our undraincd fens till cultivation forced them entirely
to (juit our kingdom." Vol. ii. pag.- 443.
3 ^ a
39^ CENERAL DESCRIPTION
GEN, 8. TRINGA.
The birds found in America in this genus are known by &•
veral popular names, as the Turnftone, Knot, Lapwing, Pur-
res, Sandpipers, &c. They may almofl all be claffed under
the name Sandpiper, amounting in the whole to about eleven
fpecies, CharaGers-r— jSzV^, Itiaight, flender, about an inch and
a half long.— A o/?ri7j, fmall. — Tongue, flender. — Toes, divided,
generally the two outmoft connefled at bottom by a fmall mem^
brane.
CEK. 9, CHARADRIUS.
Of the Plover, which conftitutes this genus, there are ten
known fpecies in America. Charafters — Bill, ftraight, {hort
zs the head.— A'O/Zn/j, linear ; wants the back toe,
GEN. 10. PfMATOyVS,
A fingle fpecies conftitutes this genus : it is called the Oyf-
ter Catcher ; common to the old and new continents.rrr-Its BilH
is long, comprefled, and the end cuneated.—r^A^^rt/j, linear.— »•
Tongue, fcarce one-third of the length of the bill. — Toes, only
three, the middle one joined to the exterior by a ftrong mem-
brane ; by the help of the bill raifes limpets from the rocks,
and opens oyflers, on which it feeds.
GEN. 11. PARRA.
The Jacana's conftitute this genus, of which ten fpecies are
found in various parts of South-America, chiefly in Brafil.—
The Bill is flender, fharp-pointed, bafe carunculated. — Nojirilsf
fhort, fubovated, placed in the middle of the bill. — Wings,
armed on the front joint with a fharp fhort fpur. — Toes, long,
four on each foot, armed with very long and fliort fliarp-pointed
claws, from which circumftance it has by fome been called the
Surgeon.
GEN, 12, RALLUS.
Bill, flender, a little comprefled and flightly incurvated.—
Nojirils, fmall. — Tongue, rough at the end, — Body, much com-
prefled.— Tail, very fliort. Of the rails, which form this ge-
nus, there are feven fpecies found on the new continent,
GEN. 13. FULICA.
The Gallinule or Water-hen forms ih'S genus, of which feven
fpecies are found in different parts of the new continent.—
The Bill of this bird is thick at the bafe floping to the point ;
the upper mandible reaching far up the forehead, and not car-
ncous, — Body J comprefled.—- ff-'in^x, fhort and concave-— Jew,
.v\ F O § 33 T
OF AMERICAN BIRDS. 397
long and divided to the origin,-— 5 fli/, (hort, about the fize
of a common pullet fix months old.
ORDER II. WITH PINNATED FEET.
This order contains only the Phalarope, the Coot, and the
Glebe.
The Phalaro?e. This bird is claffed by Linnaeus in the
tringa genus ; but Briffon forms a new genus, under the name
of Phalaropus, from the fcallops on its toes. There are three
fpecies of it found in America. Charafters-— 5i74 ftraight and
{[cuder.—NoJlrils, minute,— Body and Legs in every refpeft like
the fandpiper.— To^x, furnifhed with fcalloped membranes.
The Coot. This bird is found in America as well as in
Europe; it frequents ponds and lakes, and may be confidercd
as the beginning of the extenfive tribe of true acquatic birds,
zs it is almoft conftantly on the water.— Its Bill is (hort, ftrong,
thick at the bafe, floping to the end, the bafe of the upper man-
•dibl--; rifing far up the forehead, both mandibles of equal length*
m^'NojirilSy inclining to oval, narrow and fhort.— ^o^ com-
preiTed.— J-Fm^j, fliort. — TaiY fhort. — Toes, long, furniihed with
broad fcalloped membranes. The coot is clafl'ed by Linnaeus in
the fuUca of the preceding order, but the fcalloped membranes
of its feet certainly removes it from that genus, however it may
agree in other refpefts.
The Glebe, The Bill of this bird is ftrong, flender and
fiiarp-pcixited.---iVo/?n7j, linear. — Tongue, flightly cloven at the
end. — Body, deprelTed. — Feathers, thick-fet, compaft, very
imooth and gloffy.— No tail. — Wings, {hon.—Legs, placed very
far behind, very thin, or much comprefTed, doubly ferrated
behind.— Tow, furnifhed on each fide with a broad plain menr-
brane. Linnaeus has clalled thefe birds with the web-footed,
by the name of Colymbri ; but Briffon has feparated them, and
from the make of their feet, they could not with propriety be
claffed with them. The Glebes are divided into two claffes,
the greater and the chelnut or caftageneux, of each of which
there are three fpecies on the new continent,
ORDER III. WEB-FOOTED.
C£N. 1. RECURVIROSTRA.
This genus contains the Avofets, of which there are but
two fpecies, one of which is found in America. The legs of
the avofet, like the flamingo, contrary to mod of the web-foot-
ed birds, are very long ; it has likewile another lingular cha-
rafter, viz, the inverfion of its bill, which is bent into the
'398 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
arc of a circle ; the fubftance of the bill is foft and almoft
membranous at its tip. — Head, neck, and upper part of the body,
of a pale buff colour ; the reft of the lower part of the body,
white. — Back and primaries black ; lefler coverts white, great-
er black ; beneath which is a long tranfverfe bar of white.—-
Legs, du(ky colour. — Feet, femipalmated, the webs bordering on
the fides of the toes for a confiderable way. It is a native of
North-America, and Mr. Pennant imagines they are fometimes
found entirely white,
GEN. 2. PHOEKICOPTERUS.
This genus includes but one fpecies, the Flammant or Fla-
mingo,—5i7/, thick, large, bending in the middle, forming a
fliarp angle, the higher part of the upper part carinated, the
lower comprefled ; the edges of the upper mandible fharply
denticulated, of the lower tranfverfely fulcated. — Nojirils, cov.
ered above with a thin plate, pervious, linearly longitudinal.—
^Tongue, cartilaginous and pointed at the end ; the middle muf--
cular, bafe glandular, on the upper part aculnted.— ^ifc^, very
Xong.— Head, large. — Legs and thighs of a great length.— i^e«?,
webbed, the webs extending as far as the claws, but are deeply
femilunated. — Back toe, very fmall. When this bird has at.
tained its full growth, it is not heavier than a wild duck, and
is yet five feet high,*
GEN, 3. DIOMEDA.
Charafters — Bill, ftrong, bending in the middle, and hooked
at the end of the upper mandible ; that of the lower mandible
abrupt, and the lower part inclining downwards. — Nojirils,
opening forward, and covered with a large convex guard.— No
back toe. The birds in this genus are the Albatroffes. Thefe
birds, which in the bulk of their bodies are fuperior to all the
known fpecies of water-fowl, inhabit the (hores, iflands and feas
within the tropics, along the coaft of Chili, and the extremities
of America, but it never has been feen in the feas of the nor».
them hemifpheie.
GEN, 4. ALCA,
The Auks form this genus, of which there are four fpecies
found about the new continent. Characters — Bill, thick, ftrong,
convex, and compreffed. — Nojirils, linear, placed near the edge
of the mznA\h\t.-^Tongue, almoft as long as the bill, — No back
tc>t, — Black on the back and white beneath.
Catefbyr.
OF AMERICAN BIRDS. ^jgi,
GEN. 5. COLYMBUS.
The web-footed birds in this genus, that can be confidered as
belonging to America, are only one fpecies of the Guillemot
and two of the Diver. The charafters of the former are — Biiif
flender, ftrong and pointed, upper mandible flightly bending
towards the end ; bafe covered with Ihort foft feathers.—
JSIoJirils, lodged in a hollow near the bafe.— Tore^we, flender, al-
moft the length of the bill. — No back toe. — Colour, in general,
black on the back, and white on the breaft. Its weight is about
twenty ounces.
The hill of the diver is ftrong and pointed, upper mandible
the longeft, edges of each bending inwards. — blojlrils, linear,
upper part divided by a fmall cutaneous appendage.-— Ton^jie,
long and pointed, ferrated at each fide near the bafe. — Legs,
very thin and flat.— ^ Tow, the exterior the longeft, back toe
fmall, joined to the interior by a fmall membra ne,"-7fltV, fliort.
This bird is about the fize of a goofe,
GEN. 6, RVNCHOPS.
This genus contains only a lingle fpecies and a variety, both
natives of North-America : it is fometimes called the Skimmer,
from the manner in which it collefts its food on the water with
the lower mandible ; by others it is called the Shearbill and
Cutwater.— The bill of this bird is greatly comprefled, lower
mandible much larger than the up^er.—NoJirils, linear and per-
vious.— A fmall back toe. — Tail, a little forked. In its habits
and figure it refembles the gulls,
GEN. 7. STERNA.
This genus Contains the Terns and the Nodies : of the for-
mer there are feven fpecies, all of which are found about the
feas of America ; of the latter we know of but one common.
to the fame fituations ; indeed it is nothing but a fpecies of the
tern rather fmaller. Ch?irdQ.ers— Bill, fhort, flender and point-
ed.—iV(y?n7i-, linear. — Tongue, flender and ftiarp.— fFin^f, very
long,— A fmall back toe, — Tail, forked.
GEN. 8. lARUS.
The charafters of this genus, which comprehends the Gulls
and Mews, names which only diftinguifti this family into the
greater and lefler gulls, zre—Bill, ftrong, bending down at the
point, on the under part of the lower mandible an angular
prominency.— iVo/ZnYj-, oblong and narrow, placed in the mid-
dle of the bill. — Tongue, a little cloven,— i5<^, light.— fFznjj,
long.— Xf^j, fmall, naked above the knecs.'-'Back toe^ fmail,—
4C0 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Briffon has eighteen fpecies of this genus, and we are inclined
to think them as common to the {hores of America as Europe.
GEN. 9, PXOCEtLAftrA.
The Petercl, which forms this genus, inhabits all parts of the
ocean ; tt braves and fports with the moft furious florms, and
fome of the fpecies feem to enjoy thofe tremendous fcenes
which fink the courage of the braveft men : they are found
in great plenty in the fcas near the cape of Good Hope and
along the coafts of America, in the fame parallels. The char-
afters of this ffenus are — Bill, ftraight, except at the end, which
is hooked.— Nojlrils, cylindric and tubular. — Legs, naked above
the knees. — No back toe, but a fharp fpur pointing downwards
inftead.
cZk. 10. mekgus.
The Mcrganfer is the fpecies that forms this genus ; it is
found in the north of Europe and north of America. — Its bill
is flcnder, a little depreffed, furnifhed at the end with a crooked
nail ; edges of each mandible very fharply ferrated. — Nojlrils^
near the middle of the mandible fmall and fubovated, — Tongue,
{lender. — Test, the exterior toe longer than the middle. The
largeft birds of this fpecies are between a duck and goofe, the
fmaller about the fize of the duck. There are in the whole
about fevcn fpecies known,
^ GEN. 1 1. ANAS.
This genus includes the whole of the duck tribe, under the
name of Swan, Goofe, Duck, Widgeon, Teal, &c. of which
near feventy fpecies are known in America ; of the fpecies of
the fwan only one, of the goofe ten, the reft ducks, &c. The
diflinguifhing charafters of this genus are — Bill, ftrong, broad,
flat or depreffed, and commonly furnifhed at the end with a
nail, edges marked with fharp \zm\\\ic.---NoJlrils, fmall, oval.-—
Tongue, broad, edges near the bafe fringed.— /"«/, middle toe
the largeft.
GEK. 12. PELICANUS.
The birds in this genus which may be faid to belong to
America, or found in its feas, are the Pelican, of which there are
two fpecies and four varieties belonging to that continent ; the
Boobies, fix fpecies ; the Frigat or Mjn of War bird j and,
accoiding to the opinion of Buffon, the Garnet, The char-
afters of the pelican ?ire—BiU, long and ftraight, the end hook-
ed or (lo^hig.— Nojirils, either entirely wanting, or fmall and
placed in a furrow which runs along the fides of the bill.-'-
OF AMERICAN BIRDS, 401
Face, naked.— Gw/Ze^, naked, and capable of great diftenfion.—
Toes^ all four webbed.
GEN. 13. PHAETON.
This genus is formed of the tropic birds ; a clafs of the winged
tribe, whofe favourite haunts are the fequeftered iflands of India
and America. There are three fpecies known.— The bill is
compreffed flightly floping down, point fliarp, under mandible
angular. — Nojtrils, pervious.— To«, all four webbed.— T<227, cune-
iform, two middle feathers tapering and extending to a vafl
length beyond the others.
GEN. 14. PLOTUS.
Charafters — Bill, long, fhraight, Iharp-pointed.— A'^ec/^, of a
great length. — Face and gullet, covered with feathers.— Toa, all
four webbed. The darter or anhinga is the only bird in this
genus. We believe there are three fpecies, betides varieties, in
the fouthern part of the new continent.
GEN. 15.
The penguin may be confidered as the link between birds and
fifhes. — Its bill is ftrong and ftraight, bending only a little to-
wards the point. Tongue, covered with ftrong, fharp fpines,
pointing backwards. — Wings, very fmall, pendulous, ufelels for
flight, covered with mere flat (hafts. — Body, covered with thick,
ihort feathers, with broad fhafts placed as compaftly as fcales.—
Legs, fhort and thick, placed entirely behind.— Toa, four ftanding
forward, the interior loofe, the reft webbed.— Jai/, confifting
of only broad fliafts. There are two fpecies found on the coafts
of South-America.*
• We noticed at the beginning of this account of American birds, th;
the divifiion and orders we had followed Mr. Pennant — the feveral genera ai
claffcd by Linnaeus, except where otherwife mentioned.
3 i^'
( 4<5i )
REPTILES
O F
AMERICA.
-^••<-< -«■■«..< 4- *>^»••»••»••>•>■■—•
I
MPERFECT as the lift of American quadrupeds and bitds
jijuft be confefTed to be, thofe of the reptiles muft be much
more fo ; few have been the charafters who, with leilure and
abilities, have poffeffed the inclination for thefe refearches,
and thofe who have attempted any thing of this kind,
have contented themfelves with very partial advances, or have
found fuch difficulties as have prevented any great progrefs ;
they have, however, done fufficient, we truft, to ftimulate others
to a farther purfuit, and we may reafonably hope that a few years
■will open to us a more particular acquaintance with the woods,
the marfhes, the mountains, and waters of the new continent.
The following lifts in a more particular manner refer to North-
America, though perhaps the greater part are found all over the
continent.
DIV. I. PEDATED REPTILES.
TORTOISE.
Teftudo, Mydas,
. imbricata,
Green Tortoife, .
IlavvkbiU do. .
Loggerhead do.
Trunk do. ,
Soft- {helled do.
Serrated do. ,
Chequered do, ,
Mud do.
Great Land do. called in the United States, Gopher.
marina, Raii,
Catesby,
Carolina,
OF AMERICAN REPTILES. «c3
Toad, . • Rana, buTo, feveral fpecieSo
Bull-frog, » . • ■ — ocellata,
Water.frog, . . Catesby.
Green-tree-frog, , — .— — . arborea,
Land- frog, . . C&teshy^
Cinerous, , , ■ ' ■
3ell-frog . . ■
Small green- frog, , -— — — •
LIZARD.
Alligator,* « . Lacerta, crocodylus,
Green-li£ard,+ . ^ '■•
* This formidable animal has a vaft mouth, furnifhed with (harp teeth ; from
the back to the end of the tail ferrated ; Ikin tough and brown, and covered
on the fides with tubercles. Grows to the length of from eighteen to twenty-
three feet.
This dreadful fpecies is found in the warmer parts of North-America, and
moft numerous as we approach the fouth, and the more fierce and ravenous ;
yet in Carolina it never devours the human fpecies, but on the contrary, (huns
mankind, yet will kill dogs as they fwim in the rivers, and hogs which feed in
the fwamps. It is often feen floating like a log of wood on the furface of the
water, and is miftaken for fuch by dogs, and other animals, which it feizes and
draws under water to devour at its leifure. Like the wolf when prefl"ed by
long hunger, it will fwallow mud, and even ftones, and pieces of wood. They
often get into the wears in purfuit of fifli, and do much mifchief by breaking
them to pieces.
They are torpid during the winter in Carolina, and retire into their dens,
which they form by burrowing far under ground ; it makes the entrance under
water, and works upwards. In fpring it quits its retreat, and reforts to the
rivers, which it fwims up and down, and chiefly feeks its prey near the mouth,
where the water is brackifli.
It roars and makes a dreadful noife at its firft leaving its den, and againft bad
weather. It lays a vaft number of eggs in the fand, near the banks of lakes and
livers, and leaves them to be hatched by the fun : multitudes are def.royed as
foon as hatched, cither by their own fpecies, or by fifh of prey. In South-
America the carrion vulture is the inftrument of Providence to deftroy multi-
tudes, by that means preventing the country from being rendered uninhabitable.
Bartram, in his account of his travels, has given a very particular account of
thefe creatures.
+ This little creature is totally green ; very (lender ; tail near double the length
of the body, and its whole length about five inches.
It inhabits Carolina, is domeftic, familiar, and harmlefs ; fports on tables
and windows, and amufes bj its agility in catching flies ; gazes at mankind
without concern ; fwells its throat into a protuberance,' which it difcharges at
!\'^ 2
404 GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Five-lined do. - - Lacerta,
Guada do. - - • iguana,
Blue tail do, - - . faciata,
Spotted do. - - punftata,
Annulated do. - - . .
Slender do. -
Scorpion do, -
Lion do. - - • fex lineata.
SIREN.
Mud Iguana, or Siren,
DIV. II. WITHOUT FEET.
CROTALUS.
Great Raltlefnake,* - Crotalus, horridus,
Small do. - - . duriffus,
Miliary do. - - • miliarus.
will. Cold afFefls the colours ; in that uncertain climate, when there is a quick,
tranfition, in the fame day, from hot to cold; it changes iuftantiy from the moft
brilliant green to a dull brown. It is fomeiimes tempted by a gleam of fun
to quit its retreat, but by the fudden change of weather, is fo enfeebled, as
not to be able to return to its hole, and will die with cold.
* This reptile has a brown broad head ; yello-SArifli brown back, marked
v'ith broad tranfverfe dentated bars of black ; fcalcs rough ; belly cinereous ;
the jaws furnifned with fmall flinrp teeth ; four fangs in the upper jaw, in-
curvated, large, and pointed, the inftruments of death ; at the bafe of each a
round orifice, opening into a hollow, that near the end of the tooth appears
agam in form of a fmall channel ; thefe teeth may be erefted or compreffed ;
when in the aftion of biting, they force out of a gland near their roots the
fatal jr.ice ; this is received into the round orifice of the teeth, conveyed
through the tube into the channel, and thence with uncring dire£lion into
the wouwd. •
The tail is furnilhed with a rattle, confifting of joints loofely eonnefled ; the
number uncertain, depending, as is pretended, on the age of the animal, it
receiving with every year a nev/ joint. Authors mention forty and feventy,
Rattlefnakes grow to the length of eight feet, aud, according to a newfpa-
prr account, to fourteen.
They fwarm in the lefs inhabited parts of North- America ; now almoft
extirpated in the populous ; none found farther north than the mountains near
lake Champlain ; but in the fouth infeft South- America, even as far as Brafil.
Love woods and lofty hills, efpecially where the ftrata are rocky or chalky :
the pafs near Niagara abounds with them. Being flow of motion, they frc-
OF AMERICAN RJ^PTILES, 405
COLUBER.
Familiar-fnake, - Coluber, aeftivus,
Porracious do. - - mifterizans,
Croffed do. - - iimus,
Water-viper, * - - punftatus.
quent the fides of rills, to make prey of frogs, or of fuch animals that refort
there to quench their third ; are generally found during fummcr in pairs ; in
winter, colleft in multitudes, and retire beneath the ground, beyond the reach
of froft : tempted by the warmth of a fpring day, they are often obferved to
creep out weak and languid : a perfon has feen a piece of ground covered with
them, and killed with a rod between fixty aftd feventy, till overpowered with
the ftench, he was obliged to retire.
They couple in Auguft, and then are moft dangerous ; are viviparous, and
bring forth in June, about twelve young ones : between that and September
they acquire the length of a foot.
Providence has given mankind a fecurity againft the bite of thefe dreadful
reptiles, for it does not often fail warning the paffenger of its vicinity, by the
rattle of its tail. In fine weather that monition is always given, in wet wea-
ther feldom, which gives the Indians a dread of travelling amidft the woods
in rainy feafons.
It moves along with the head on the ground ; but if alarmed, it flings its
body into a circle, coiling itfelf with the head in the centre ereft, and with
the eyes flaming in a moft terrific manner. Happily it may be eafily avoided :
it is flow in purfuit, and has not the power of fpringing at its aflailant, like
many of the innocent tribe.
It is difficult to fpeak of its fafcinating powers ; authors of credit defcribe
the effefts. Birds have been feen to drop into its mouth, fquirrels defcend
from their trees, and leverets run into its jaws. Terror and amazement feem
to lay hold on thefe little animals ; they make violent efforts to get away, ftill
keeping their eyes fixed on thofe of the fnake ; at length, wearied with their
movements, and frightened out of all capacity of knowing the courfe they
ought to take, become at length the prey of the cxpefting devourer, probably
in their lafh convulfive motion.
Rattlefnakes are apt to frequent houfes ; every domeftic animal on their
approach, as if by inftinft, takes alarm ; dogs bridle, and the poultry creft
their feathers ; hogs only attack them, feeding on them with impunity. The
Indians will alfo eat their flefli.
The bite is o^Hhe moft venomous kind ; if the wound is on a vein or artery,
death enfues as rapid as thought , if in a flefliy part there are hopes of reme-
dy ; the moft efficacious, if done in time, is either the burning, or cutting out
the part afl"e£led. The fymptoms are, naujia, convuHions, fpitting of blood
and bloody ftools ; lofs of the ufe of limbs ; fwellings, and difcoloured fitin :
fever, deHr^a ; and if the cure takes any length of time, difturbed reft, and
dreams of the moft horrible kinds.
* This fnake has a large head, fmall neck ; fangs in the upper jaw ; colour
of the head and back dufl<.y ; belly fafciatcd with black and yellow. At the
head of the tail a fmall horny fubftance.
4o5
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Black-fnake,
Coach Whip do.
Corn-fnake, *
Black-viper, *
Brown do. .
Copper-bellied fnakc,
Striated do. t
Dotted do. .
White-bodied, brown-eyed do.
Black-fnake, with linear rings,
Hooped do.
Dufky do, . .
Vitiated do,
Penlacola do. . .
Minute do. . •
Golden-eyed do, .
Moccaftn do. • •
Grey fpotted do. of Carolina,
Little brown bead do. •
Joint do, . .
Garter do. » ,
Coluber, conftriftor
— flagellum
■ fulvius
.-——*— preftcr
. luridus
■■ erythrogaflcr
- ftriatulus
» punftatis
' ' atropos
. leberis
. doliatus
' " (ipedoa
firtalis
annulatus
ANGUIS,
Glaffy fnake, . . Anguis vcntralij
Chicken do. . • maculata
Striped do. . . eryx
Blind do. . • fragilis
Brownifh fpotted do. . reticulata
Yellowifh white do, . ■ lumbricalis
Hi fling do. . • -
Ring do. - ,
Pale-coloured do. with brown belts laticauda.
Inhabits Carolina : fwims well, and is very dexterous in catching fifli. Dur-»
ing fummer, numbers of them are feen hanging on the boughs of trees over the
rivers, watching the approach of fifh or fowl, and frequently drop into the
boats pafTing beneath. They plunge on their prey, and- purfue it with great
fwiftnefs ; and as foon as they catch it, fwini alhore to devour it : are called the
Water Raf.lefnake, and are fuppofed to be as fatal in their bite. The little horn
at the tail gives it a dreadful name, as if armed with death at both extremities. '
The fuperftitious believe, that by a jerk of that part it can mortally woiiiid any
animal, and even caufe a tree to wither by translixing the bark.
OF AMERICAN REPTILES, 407
BOA.
Hog-nofe fnake,
Greenifti variegated do.
Large fpotted do.
Murine do.
Afli- coloured do.
Yellow fpotted do.
Dufky white do.
Pale-coloured do.
Boa conftortrix,
— canina,
— conftriflor,*
— murina,
— : fcytale,
— cenchria,
— enydris,
— hortulana.
* This is an immenfe animal ; it often exceeds thirty-fix feet In length ; the
body is very thick, of a duflcy white colour, and its back is interfperfed with
twenty-four large pale irregular fpots ; the tail is of a darker colour, and the
fides are beautifully variegated with pale fpots : befides, the whole body is inter-
fperfed with fmall brown fpots. The head is covered with fmall fcales, and has
no broad laminae betwixt the eyes, but has a black belt behind the eyes. It
wants the large dog-fangs, and of courfe its bite is not poifonous. The tongue
is flefhy and forked. Above the eyes, on each fide the head rifies high. The
fcales of this ferpentare all very fmall, roundifh and fmooth. The tail does not
exceed one-eighth of the whole length of the animal. The Indians, whp adore
this monftrous animal, ufe the fkin for clothes, on account of its fmoothnefs and
beauty. There are feveral of thefe fkins of the above dimenfions preferved and
to be feen in the different mufeums of Europe, particularly in the library and
botanic garden of Upfal in Sweden, which has of late been greatly enriched by
Count Grillinborg. The flelh of this ferpent is eat by the Indians and the
negroes. Pifo, Margraave and Kempfer, give the following account of its me-
thod of living and catching its prey. It frequents caves and thick forefts, where
it conceals itfelf, and fuddenly darts out upon ftrangers, wild beafts &c. When
it choofes a tree for its watching-place, it fupports itfelf by twilling its tail round
the trunk or a branch, and darts down upon fheep, goats, tigers, or any animal
that comes within its reach. When it lays hold of animals, efpecially any of
the larger kinds, it twifts itfelf feveral times round their body, and by the vaft
force of its circular mufcles bruifes and breaks all their bones ; after the bones
are broke, it licks the fkin of the animal all over, befmearing it with a glutinous
kind of faliva. This operation is intended to facilitate deglutition, and is a pre-
paration for fwallowing the whole animal. If it be a flag, or any horned animal,
it begins to fwallow the feet firft, and gradually fucks in the body, and laft of
all the head ; when the horns happen to be large, this ferpent has been obferved
to go about for a long time with the horns of a flag flicking out from its mouth :
as the animal digefts. the horns putrefy and fall off. After this ferpent has
fwallowed a flag or a tiger, it is unable for fome days to move ; the hunters, who
are well acquainted with this circumflance, always take this opportunity of
deftroying it. When irritated it makes a loud hifTing noife. It is faid to cover
itfelf over with leaves in fuch places as flags or other animals frequent, in order
to conceal itfelf from their fight, and that it may the more eafily lay hold of
tfaetn.
4o8 GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c.
TWO-HEADED SNAKE.
This has in general been confidered as a monftrous produc-
tion ; but Mr. Morfe fays, he is difpofed to believe that it is a
diflinft fpecies ; he obferves that he has feen one, and received
accounts of three others, found in different parts of the United
States : one of thefe was about eight inches long, and both heads,
as to every outward appearance, were equally perfeft, and
branching out from the neck at an acute angle*
TREATIES
BETWEEN
HIS MOST CHRISTIAN MAJESTY
AND THE
THIRTEEN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA^
TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE.
LOUIS, by the Grace of God, King of France and
Navarre, to all who (hall fee thefe prefents, greeting :
X HE Congrefs of the Thirteen United States of North-
America having, by their 5|l,eaipotentiaries rcfiding at Paris,
notified their deli re to eftablifh with us and our States a good
underftanding and perfeft correfpondence, and having for
that purpofe propoCed to conclude with us a Treaty of Amity
and Commeru : We having thought it our duty to give to the
faid States a fenfible proof of our afFeftion, determining us
to accept of their propoials : for thefe caufes, and other good
confiderations us thereunto moving, we, repofing entire cor\-
fidence in the abilities and experience, zeal and fidelity for
our fervice, of our dear and beloved Conrad Alexander
Gerard, royal fyndic of the city of Strafburg, and fecretary
of our council of ftate, have nominated, appointed, and com-
miilioned, and by thefe prefents, figned with our hand, do
nominate, appoint and commiffiojj, him our plenipotentiary,
giving him power and fpecial command for us and in our
name, to agree upon, conclude and fign with the plenipoten-
tiaries of the United States, equally furnifhed in due form
with full powers, fuch Treaty, Convention, and Articles of
Commerce and Navigation, as he fhdll think proper ; willing
3 G
410 TREATY OF
. — ^
that Tie a£t with the fame authority as wc might or could afi,
if we were peffonally prefent, and even as though he had
more fpecial command than what is herein contained ; pro-
mifing in good faith, and on the word of a king, to agree to,
confirm, and 6fl;abliih for ever, and to accomplifli and ej^e-
cute punftu'ally, all that our faid dear and beloved Conrad
Alexander Gerard fhall ftipulate and fign, by virtue of the
prefent power, witliout contravening it in any manner, or fuf-
fering it to be contravened for any caufe, or under any pre-
text whatfoever ; and alfo to latify the fame in due form, and
caufe our ratification to be deliviired and exchanged in thd
time that fliali be agreed on. For fuch is our pleafure. In
teflimony whereof we have hereunto fet our feai. Done at
Verfailles this thirtieth day of January, in the year of our
Lord one thoufand feven hundred and feventy-eight, and the
fourth year of our reig.n.
(Signed)
(L. S.) LOUIS.
(Underneath) By the King.
GRAVIER DE VERGENNES.
TREATY.
The MoPc Chrilllan King, and the Thirteen United States
of North-America, to wit, New-Hampfhire, Maffachufett's-
bay, Rhode-lfland, Conne6licut„|J^ew-York, Nev/-Jcrfev, Penn-
fylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-
Carolina and Georgia, willing to fix in an equitable and per-
manent manner, the rules v;hich ought to be followed relative
to the correFpondence and commerce whica the two parties
defire to efhabliih between their refpeflive countries, flutes
and fubjefts ; his Mod Chriftian Majelly and the faid United
States have judged, that the faid end could not be better ob-
t^ned than by taking for the bafis of their agreement the moil
perfect, equality and reciprocity, and by carefully avoiding all
thofe burtlienloine preferences which are ufually fources of de-
bate, embarraffment and difcontent ; by leaving alfo each party
at liberty to make refpefting navigation and commerce, thofe
interior regulations which it fhall find moll convenient to itfelf,
and by founding the advantage of commerce folely upon reci-
procal utility, and the juft rules of free intercourfe ; referving
vithal to each party the liberty of admntti^ng, at its pleafure,
other nations to a participation of the lame advantages. It is in
the fpirit of this intention, and to fulfil thefe views, that his
AM I TV AND COMMERCE. 4*^
Taid Majefty, having named and appointed fpr his plcnipoten.
tiaiy Conrad Alexander -Gerard, royal fyndic of the city of
Strafburg, fecretary of his majefly's council of (late; and
the United States, on their part, having fully empowered Ben-
jamin Franklin, deputy from the State of Pennfylvania to the
General Congrefs, and prefident to the convention of the State ;
Silas Deane, late deputy from the State of Conne£lIcut to ,thfi
faid Congrefs ; and Arthur Lee, confellor at law ; the fald re-
fpeclive plenipotentiaries, after exchanging their powers, and
after mature deliberation, have concluded and agreed upon thp
following articles :
Article I. There fhall be a firm, inviolable and univerfal
peace, and a true and Iincere friendfhip, between the Moft
Chriftian King, his heirs and fucceffors, and the Uivited States
of America, and the fubje£ls of the Moft Chriftian King and
of the faid States, and between the countries, iflands, cities and
towns, fituate under the jurifdiftion of the Moft Chriftian King
and of the faid United States, and the people and inhabitants of
every degree, without exception of perfons or places, and the
terms herein after mentioned, fhall be perpetual between ths
Moft Chriftian King, his heirs and fucceffors, and the faid
United States.
Art. II. The Moft Chriftian King and the United States
engage mutually not to grant any particular favour to other
nations, in refpeft of commerce and navigation, which fliall
not immediately become common to the other party, who fliall
enjoy the fame favour freely, if the concefTion was freely made,
or on allowing the fame compenfation, if the conceftion was
conditional.
Art. III. The fubjeds of the Moft Chriftian King (hall pay
in the ports, havens, roads, countries, iflands, cities or towns
of the United States, or any of them, no other or greater
duties or impofts, of what nature foever they may be, or by
what name foever called, than thofe which the nations moft
favoured are or fiiall be obliged to pay ; and they fhall enjoy all
the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities and exemptions in
trade, navigation and commerce, whether in pafiing from one
port in the faid States to another, Or in going to and from the
fame, from and to any part of the world, which the faid nr.tion.3
do or fliall enjoy.
Art. IV. The fubjefts, people and inhabitants of the faid
/L^nited States, and each of them, fhall not pay in the ports,
3 G .
41S T RE A TY 0 F
havens, ro3t3s, iflands, cities and places und;r the domination
of his Moft Chriftian Majefly in Europe, any other or greater
duties or impofts, of what nature foever they may be, or by
what name foever called, than thofe which the moft favoured
nations are or fhall be obliged to pay ; and they fhall enjoy all
the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities and exemptions in
trade, navigation and commerce, whether in pafling from one
port in the faid dominions in Europe to another, or in going to
and from the fame, from and to any part of the world, which
the faid nations do or Ihall enjoy.
Art. V. in the above exemption is particularly comprifed the
impofition of one hundred fous per ton, eftablifhed in France
on foreign fhips, unlefs when the fhips of the United States
fhall load with the merchandife of France for another port of
the faid dominions ; in which cafe the fhips fhall pay the duty
above mentioned, fo long as other nations the moft favoured
fhall be 'obliged to pay it ; but it is underftood, that the faid
United States, or any of them, are at liberty, when they
fhall judge it proper, to eftabhfti a duty eq[uivalent in the fame
cafe.
Art. VI. The iVIoft Chriftian King fhall endeavour, by all
the means in his power, to proteft and defend all vcffeU and
the effefls belonging to the fubje3;s, people or inhabitants, of
the faid United States, or any of them, being in his ports,
havens or roads, or on the feas near his countries, iflsnds,
cities or towns ; and to recover'Snd reftore to the right owners,
their agents or attornies, all fuch veffels and efFefts which fliall
be taken within his jurifdi£lion ; and the fhips of war of his
Moft Chriftian Majefty, or any convoy failing under his autho-
rity, fhall, upon all occafions, take under their proteftion all
veifels belonging to the fubjefts, people or inhabitants, of the
faid United States, or any of them, and holding the fame
courfe, or going the fame way, and fhall defend fuch veffels
as long as they hold the fame courfe, or go the fame way^
againft all attacks, force or violence, in the fame manner as
they ought to proteft and defend the veffels belonging to the
lubjc£ls of the Moft Chriftian King.
Art. VII. In like manner the faid United States, and their
fliips of war failing under their authority, fliall proteft and de-
fend, conformably to the tenor of the preceding article, all the
veffels and effefts belonging to the fubjefts of the Moft
Chriftian King, and ufe all their endeavonrs to recover,
and caufe to be reftored. the faid veffels and efftfts that {halj
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 413
have been taken within the jurifdiQion of the faid United States,
or any of them.
Art. VIII. The Moft Chriflian King will employ his good
offices and interpofitions with the King or Emperor of Morocco
or Fez ; the regencies of Algiers, Tunis and Tripoly, or with
any of them ; and alfo with every other prince, flate or
power, of the coaft of Barbary in Africa, and the fabjefts of
the faid king, emperor, ilates and powers, and each of them, in
order to provide as fully and efEcacioufly as pofiible for the be-
nefit, conveniency and fafety of the faid United States, and
each of them, their fubjefts, people and inhabitants, and their
veffels and effefts, againft all violence, infults, attacks or de-
predations, on the part of the faid princes and ftates of Bar-
bary, or their fubjefls.
Art. IX. The fubjefts, inhabitants, merchants, commanders
of fhips, mafters and mariners of the dates, provinces and do-
minions of each party refpeftively, fhall abftain and forbear to
fifh in all places pofleffed, or which fhall be poffefled by the
other party; the Moft Chriftian King's fubjefts fhall not fifh in
the havens, bays, creeks, roads, coafts or places, which the faid
United States hold, or fhall hereafter hold ; and in like manner
the fubjefts, people and inhabitants of the United States fliall
not fifh in the havens, bays, creeks, roads, coafts or places,
which the mofl Chriftian King polTelTes, or fliall hereafter pof-
fefs ; and if any fhip or vefTel fhall be found fifning contrary
to the tenor of this treaty, the faid fhip or velTel, with its lad-
ing, (proof being made thereof) fhall be confifcated ; it is how-
ever underftood, that the exclufion ilipulated in the prefent
article fhall take place only lo long, and fo far, as the Moft
Chriftian King, or the United States, fhall not in this refpeft
have granted an exemption to fome other nation.
Art. X. The United States, their citizens and inhabitants,
fhall never difturb the fubjefts of the Moft Chriftian King in
the enjoyment and exerciie of the right of fifhing on the banks
of Newfoundland, nor in the indefinite and exclufive right
which belongs to them on that part of the coaft of tliat ifland
which is defignated by the treaty of Utrecht, nor in the right
relative to all and each of the ifles which belong to his Moft.
Chriftian Majefty, the whole conformable to the true fenfe of
the treaties of Utrecht and Paris.
Art. XI. The fubje£ls and inhabitants of the faid United
States, or ?.ny of them, fliall not be reputed aubains in Fraace,
and confequently fhall be exempted fi om the cutral placrs, but alfo from one place belonging to an enemy to
another place belonging to an enemy, whether they be under
the jurifdiftion of the fame prince or under feveral. And it is
hereby fl.ipul.ited, that free fhips fhall alfo have a freedom to
carry goods, and that every thing fhall be deemed free and ex-
empt which fl^rtU be found on board the fhips belonging to the
fubjefts of either of the confederates, although the whole lad-
ing or any part thereof ihould appertain to the enemies of
cither, contraband goods being always excepted. It is alio
agreed in like manner that the lame liberty be extended to per-
fons who are on board a free lliip, with this effeft, that although
they be enemies to both or either party, they are not to be
taken out of thit free Hiip, unlefs they are foldiers and in aftual
fcrvice of the enemies.
Art. XXIV. Tliis liheriy of navigation and commerce {hall
extend to all kinds of merchandifes, except thofe only which
are diflinguiflicd by the name of contraband ; and under this
name of contraband or prohibited goods fliall be comprehended
nrms, great guns, bombs with their fufees and other things
belonging to them, cannon ball, gunpowder, match, pikes,
fwords, lances, I'pcars, h.ilberds, mortars, petards, grcnadoes,
faltpetre, mufkcts, muflcet ball, bucklers, helmets, bread plates,
coals of mail, and the like kinds of arms proper for arming
foldiers, mufiiet rcfts, belts, liorfes with their furniture, and
all other warlike infiruments wliatqvero Thefe merchan-
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 419
difes wKich follow fliall not be reckoned among contraband cr
prohibited goods ; that is to (ay, all forts of clothes, and all
other manufaftures woven of any wool, flax, filk, cotton, or
any other materials whatever; all kinds of wearing apparel,
together with the fpecies v%'hereof they are ufed to be made,
gold and filver, as well coined as uncoined, tin, iron,
latten, copper, brafs, coals ; as alio wheat and barley, and
any other kind of corn or puUe, tobacco, and likewile all man-
ner of fpices, felted and fmoakcd flefh, faited fifh, cheefe and
butter, beer, oils, wines, fugars, and all forts of falts, and in
general all provifions which ferve for the nouriflimcnt of man-
kind and the fuftenan^e of life ; furthermore, all kinds of
cotton, hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, Ciiblcs, fails, fail-ciothj
anchors, and any parts of anchors, alio fliips mails, planks,
boards and beams of what trees loever, and all other things
proper either for building or repairing fliips, and all other goods
whatever which have not been worked into the form of any
inftrument or thing prepared for war by land or lea, fliall not
be reputed contraband, much lefs fuch as have been already
•wrought up for any ether ufe ; all of which fliall be wholly
reckoned among free goods; as likewife all other merchan-
difes and things wiiich are not comprehended and particularly
jnentioned in the foregoing enumeration of contraband goods,
fo that they may be tranfported and carried in the frceft manner
by the lubjc£ls of both confederates even to places belonging to
an enemy, luch towns or places being only excepted as are a:
that time befieged, blocked up or invefled.
Art. XXV. To the end that all manner of diffenfions and
quarrels may be avoided and prevented on one fide and the
other, it is agreed, that in cafe either of the parries hereto fhould
be engaged in war, the fhips and velfels belonging to the
fubjefts of people of the other ally muft be furnifhed with
fea letters or pajGTports, ej^prefRng the name, property, and
bulk of the fliip, as alfo the name and place of habitation • of
the mailer or commander of the faid (hip, that it may appciir
thereby that the fhip really and truly belongs to the Iubjc6l?
of one of the parties, which paffport fliall be made out ar.d
granted according to the form annexed to this treaty ; they
Ihall likewile be recalled every year, that is, if the firip happrn';
to return home within the fpace of a year ; it is likewile agreed,
that fuch fhips being laden are to be provided not only with
paffports as above mentioned, but alio with cirtificates. tontain-
jng the feveral particulars of the cargo, tlie pbce v/hcnc" t!:?
3 H 2
4CC TR E A TY 0 F.
(hip failed, and whither flie is bound, that fo it may'bc'knowtt
whether any forbidden or contraband goods be on board of the
fame, wliich cirtificates fiiall be made out by the officers of
the place ^v'hence the fliip let fail, in the accu domed form ; and
if any one fhall think it fit or advileable to exprefs in the faid
certificates the perfon to whom the goods on board belong, he
may freely do fo.
Art. XXVI. The fiiips of the fubjefts and inhabitants of
either of the parties coming upon any coaft belonging to either
of the (aid allies, but not willing to enter into port, or being
entered into port and not willing to unload their cargoes, or
break bulk, they fhaU be treated according to the general
rules prcfcribed or to be prefcribed relative to the obje£l in
quellion.
Art. XXVII. If the fliips of the faid fubjcfts, people or in-
habitants of cither of the parties fliall be met with, either failing
along the coafts or on the high feas, by any fliip of war of the
other, or by any privateers, the faid fhips of war or privateers,
for the avoiding of any difordcr, fhall remain out of cannon fliot,
and may fend their beats on board the merchant fhip which they
fhall fo meet with, and may enter her to ^be number of two
or three men only, to whom the maflcr or commmander of fuch
fhip or veffel fliall exhibit his paflport concerning the property
of the fliip, made out according to the form infertcd in this
preTent treaty ; and the fliip, \yhen flie fliall have fhcwed fuch
pnffport, fhall be free and at liberty to purfue her voyage, fo
as it fhall not be lawful to moleft or fearch in any manner,
or to give her chace, or to force her to ^uit her intended
courfe.
Art, XXVIII. It is alfo agreed, that all goods, when once
put on board the fhips or vefTels of either of the two contra£l-
jng parties, fiiall be fubjeft to no further vifitation, but all
vifitation or fearch fliall be made beforehand, and all prohibited
g . )d3 fiiall be flopped on the fpot before the fame be put on
board, unlefs there are manifefl tokens or proofs of fraudulent
prafticc ; nor fhall either the perfons or goods of the fubjefts of
his Mod Chriftian Majefty, or the United States, be put under
anv arveft, or molefted by any other kind of embargo for that
cauic, and only the iubjcft of that State to whom the faid goods
have been or fnnll be prohibited, and who fnall prefumc to
fell or alienate fuch fort of goods, fliall be duly punifhcd for
the offence.
Art. XXIX. The two contrafting parties grant mutually
the liberty of having each in the ports of the other, conluls.
^AMITY AND COMMERCE. 421
ft'ice-confyls, agents and commiffarieSj whore funftions fhall be
regulated by a particular agreement.
Art. XXX. And the more to favour and facilitate the com-
merce which the fubjefts of the United States may have with
France, the Moft Chriftian King will grant them in Europe ens
or more free ports, where they may bring and difpofe of all the
produce and merchandife of the Thirteen United States ; and
his Majefly will alio continue to the fubjefts of the faid States,
the free ports which have been and are open in the French
iflancl'; of America, of all which free ports the faid fubjefts of
the United States (hall enjoy the ufc, agreeable to the regulations
which relate to them.
Art. XXXI. The prefent treaty fhall be ratified on both fides,
and the ratifications fhall be exchanged in the fpace of fix
months, or fooner, if poffible.
In faith whereof the refpeftive plenipotentiaries have figned
the above articles both in the French and Englilh lan-
guages ; declaring, nevertheleis, that the prefent treaty
was originally compofed and concluded in the French
language, and they have thereto affixed their feals.
Done at Paris, this fixth day of February, one thou-
fand feven hundred and feventy-eight.
(L. S.) C. A. GERARD,
(L. S.) B. FRANKLIN,
(L. S.) SILAS DEANE,
(L. S.) ARTHUR LEE.
Form of the pajfports and letters which are to be given to the jlrip!
and barques, according to the tzventy-fifth article of this treaty.
To all who fhall fee thefe prefents, greeting :
IT is hereby made known, that leave and permiffion has been
given to mailer and commander of the fhip called
of the town of burthen tons,
or thereabouts, lying at prefent in the port and haven of
and bound for and laden with after
that this fhip has been vlfited, and before failing, he fiiall make
oath before the officers who have the jurifdiftion of maritime
affairs, that the faid fhip belorigs to one or more of the fubjefts
of the aft whereof (hall be put at the end of thefe pre-
fents ; as likcwife that he will keep, and caufe to be kept by his
crew on board, the marine ordinances and regulations, and enter
422 TREATY 0 F
in the proper office a lift, figned and witneffed, containing the
names and furnames, the places of birtli and abode of the crew
of his {hip, and of all who fhall embark, on board her, whom
he fhall not take on board without the knowledge and permifhoii
of the officers of the marine ; and in every port or haven where
he fhall enter with his fhip, he fhall fhcw his prefent leave to
the officers and judges of the marine; and fliall give a faithful
account to them of what paffed and was done during his voy-
age ; and he fhall carry the colours, arms and enfign of the King
or United States during his voyage. In witnels whereof we
have figned thefe prefents, and put the fcal of our arms there«
unto, and caufed the fame to be counterfign^d by
at the day of Anno Pomini
TREATY OF ALLIANCE,
EVENTUAL AND DEFENSIVE.
^
X
LOUIS, by the Grace of Goo, King of France and
Navarre, to all who fhall fee thefe prefents, greeting:
HE Congrefs of the United States of North-America
having, by their plenipotentiaries refiding in France, propofed
to form with us a defenfive and eventual alliance ; Willing to
give the faid States an efficacious proof of the intereft we take
in their profperity, we have determined to" conclude the faid
alliance. For thefe caufcs, and other good confiderations
thereto moving, we, repofing entire confidence in the capa-
city and experience, zeal and fidelity for our fervicc, of our
dear and beloved Conrad Alexander Gerard, royal fyndic of
the city of Strafburg, fecretary of our council of flate, have
nominated, commiffioned and deputed, and by thefe prefents,
figned with our hand, do nominate, commiffion and depute
him our plenipotentiary, giving him power and fpecial com-
mand to aft in this quality, and confer, negociate, treat and
ngrec conjointly with the above-mentioned plenipotentiaries of
the United States, invefled in the like manner with powers in
due form, to determine, conclude and fign luch articles, con-
ditions, conventions, declarations, definitive treaty, and any
A L L I A N C -E,
4^3
other afts whatever, as he fhall judge proper to anfwer the
end which we propofe; promifing on the faith and word of a
king, to agree to, confirm and eftablifh for ever, to accomplifh
and execute punftually, whatever our faid dear and beloved
Conrad Alexander Gerard fhall have ftipulated and figned in
virtue of the prefent power, without ever contravening it,
or fufFering it to be contravened for any caufe and under any
pretext whatever ; as likewife to caufe our letters of ratifica-
tion to be made in due form, and to have them delivered, in
order to be exchanged at the time that fhall be agreed upon.
For fuch is our pleafure. In teflimony whereof we have fet
our feal to thefe prefents. Given at Verfailles, the thirtieth
day of the month of January, in the year of grace, one thou-
land feven hundred and fevcnty-eight, and the fourth of our
reign.
(Signed)
(L. S.) LOUIS.
By the King,
GRAVIER DE VERGENNES,
TREATY.
The Moft Chriflian King and the United States of North-
America, to wit, New-Hampfhire, Maffachufetts Bay, Rhode-
Ifland, Connefticut, New-York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, De-
laware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina, and
Georgia, having this day concluded a treaty of amity and com-
merce, for the reciprocal advantage of their fubjefts and citi-
zens, have thought it necefiary to take into confideration the
means of ftrengthening thofe engagements, and of rendering
them ufeful to the fafety and tranquillity of the two parties ;
particularly in cafe Great-Britain, in refentment of that connec-
tion, and of the good correfpondence which is the objeft of the
faid treaty, fliould break the peace with France, either by direft
hoflilities, or by hindering her commerce and navigation in a
manner contrary to the rights of nations, and the peace fubfifting
between the two crowns. And his Majefty and the faid United
States having refolved in that cafe to join their counfels and
efforts againft the enterprifes of their common enemy ;
The relpeftive plenipotentiaries impowered to concert the
claufes and conditions proper to fulfil the faid intentions, have,
after the moft mature deliberation, concluded and determined on
the following articles ;
Article I. If war fhould break out between France and Great-
Britain during the continuance of the prefent war between the
424 TREATl^ 0 F
United States and England, his Majefty and the faid United
States fhall make it a common caufe, and aid each other mutually
with their good ofHces, their counfels and their forces, according
to the exigence of conjunfbures, as becomes good and faithful
allies.
Art. II. The efTential and direft end of the prefcnt defenftve
alliance is, to maintain effeftually the liberty, fov^reignty and in-
dependence, abfolute and unlimited, of the faid United States,
as well in matters of government as of commerce.
Art. III. The two cont rafting parties fhall, each on its own
part, and in the manner it may judge mofl proper, make all the
efforts in its power againft their common enemy, in order to at^
tain the end propofed.
Art. IV. The contrafting parties agree, that in cafe either of
them fhould form any particular enterprife in which the concur-
rence of the other may be defired, the party whofe concurrence
is defired fhall readily and with good faith join to aft in concert
for that purpofe, as far as circumftances and its own particular
lituation will permit ; and in that cafe, they fhall regulate, by »
particular convention, the quantity and kind of luccour to be
furnifhed, and the time and manner of its being brought into
aftion, as well as the advantages which are to be its compenfa-
tion.
Art. V. If the United States fhould think fit to attempt the
rcduftion of the Britifh power remaining in the northern parts
of America, or the iflunds of Bermudas, thole countries or
iflands, in cafe of fuccefs, fhall be confederated with, or de-
pendent upon, the laid United States.
Art. VI. The Moft Chrifhian King renounces for ever the
poffeftion of the iflands of Bermudas, as well as of any part ef
the continent of North-America, which, before the treaty of
Par;s, in 1763, or in virtue of that treaty, were acknowledged
to belong to the crown of Great-Britain, or to the United States,
heretofore called Britifh colonies, or which are at this time, or
have lately been, under the power of the King and Crown of
Great-Britain,
Art. VII. If his Mofl Chriftian Majefly fhall think proper to
attack any of the iflands iituated in the Gulph of Mexico, or
near that Gulph, which are at prelent under the power of Great-
Britain, all the faid ifles, in cafe of fuccefs, fhall appertain to
the Crown of France.
Art. VIII. Neither of the two parties fhall conclude either
truce or peace with Great-Britain, without the formal confent of
ALLIANCE. 425
the other firft obtained ; and they mutually engage not to lay
down their arms, until the independence of the United States
(hall have been formally or tacitly alTured, by the treaty or
treaties that fhall terminate th.e war.
Art. IX. The contrdfting parties declare, that being refolved
to fulfil each on its own part, the claufes and conditions of
ihe prefent treaty of alliance, according to its own power and
circumflances, there ihall be no after-claim of compenlation,
on one fide or the other, whatever may be the event of the
war. "
Art. X. The Moft Chriftian King and the United States
agree to invite or admit other powers, who may have received
injuries from England, to make a common caufe with them,
and to accede to the prefent alliance, under fuch conditions
as fhall be freely agreed to, and fettled between all the
parties.
Art. XI. The two parties guarantee mutually, from the pre-
fent time and for ever, againft all other powers, to wit, the
United States to his Mofl Chriftian Majefty, the prefent poffef-
fions of the Crown of France in America, as well as thofe
which it may acquire by the future treaty of peace ; and his
Moft Chriftian Majefty guarantees, on his part, to the United
States, their liberty, fovereignty and independence, abfolute and
unlimited, as well in matters of government as commerce, and
alfo their pofteffions, and the additions or conquefts that their
confederation may obtain during the war, from any of the do-
minions now or heretofore poireffed by Great-Britain in North-
America, conformable to the fifth and fixth articles above
written ; the whole, as their polfeffion, fliall be fixed and
allured to the faid States, at the moment of the ceifation of their
prefent war with England.
Art. XII. In order to fix more precifely the fenfe and appli-
cation of the preceding article, the contrafting parties declare,
that in cafe of a rupture between France and England, the re-
ciprocal guarantee declared in the faid article fhall have its full
force and eft'ed, the moment fuch war (hall br;ak out ; and
if iuch rupture fhall not take place, the mutual obligations
of the faid guarantee fliall not commence until the moment
of the celTation of the prefent war between the United State*
and England fhall have afcertained their poffeflions.
Art. XIII. The prefent treaty fliall be ratified on both fides,
and ratifications fhall be exchanged in the fpace of fix months,
or fooner, if poflible,
3 I
4tS CONVENTION BETWEEN
In faith whereof the refpcfttve plenipotentiaries, to wit, an
the part of the Moft Chriftian King, Conrad Alexander
Gerard, royal fyndic of the city of Strafburg, and fecre-
tary of his Majefly's Council of State ; and on the part
of the United States, Benjamin Franklin, deputy to the
General Congrefs from the State of Pennfylvania, and prc-
fidcnt of the Convention of faid State ; Silas Deane, here-
tofore deputy from the State of Connefticut ; and Arthur
Lcc, counfellor at Uw, have figned the above articles
both in the French and Englifh languages ; declaring,
neverthelefs, that the prefcnt treaty was originally com-
pofed and concluded in the French language, and they
have hereunto affixed their feals.
Done at Paris this hxth day of February, one thoufand
fcven hundred and fevcnty-eight.
(L. S.) C. A. GERARD,
(L. S.) B. FRANKLIN,
(L. S.) SILAS DEANE,
(L. S.) ARTHUR LEE.
CONVENTION BETWEEN FRANCE AND AMERICA,
By tht Pfefidcnt of the United States of America,
A PROCLAMATION.
w,
HEREAS a conventioii, for defining and cflabliftiing the
funftions and privileges of the relpeftive confuls and vice-
confuls of his Moft Chriftian Majefty and the faid United
States, was concluded and figned by the plenipotentiaries of
his faid Moft Chriftian Majefty and of the faid United States,
duly and refpeftively authorifed for that purpofe, which con-
vention is in the form following, viz.
CONVENTION,
Between his Mojl Chrijlian Majejly and the United States of Amt'
rica, for the purpofe of denning and ejiablijliing the functions and
privileges oj their rejpedive confuls and vice-confuls.
His Majefty the Moft Chriftian King and the United States
of America having, by the twenty-ninth article of the treaty
FRANCE AND AMERICA. ^s^
«>f Amity and Commerce concluded between them, mutually
granted the liberty of having, in their refpeftive States and
ports, confuls, vice-confuls, agents and commiflaries ; and be-
ing willing, in confequencc thereof, to define and eftablifh, in
a reciprocal and permanent manner, the funftions and privilege*
of confuls and vice-confuls, which they have judged it con-
venient to eftablifh of preference, his Moft Chriftian Majefty
has nominated the Sieur Count of Montmorin, of St. HerenX,
marechal of his camps and armies, knight of his orders and
of the Golden Fleece, his counfellor in all his councils, miniftcr
and fecretary of ftate and of his commajndments and finances^
having the department of foreign affairs ; and the United Statea
have nominated the Sieur Thomas JefFerfon, citizen of the
United States of America, and their minifter plenipotentiary
pear the king, who, after having communicated to each
other their refpeftive full powers, have agreed on what fol-
lows ;
Art. I. The confuls and vice-confuls, named by the Moft
Chriftian King and the United States, {hall be bound to prefent
their commiflions according to the forms which fhall be efta:-
blifhed refpeftively by the Moft Chriftian King within his do-
minions, and by the Congrefs within the United States. There
fliall be delivered to them, without any charges, the exequatur
necefl"ary for the exercife of their funftions : and on exhibiting
the faid exequatur, the governors, commanders, head« of juf-
tice, bodies corporate, tribunals and other officers, having
authority in the ports and places of their confulates, fhall caufe
them to enjoy, immediately and without difficulty, the pre-emi-
nences, authority and privileges, reciprocally granted, without
exafting from the faid coniuls and vice-coniuls any fees under
any pretext whatever.
Art. II. The confuls and vke-confuls, and perfons attached
to their fun&ions, that is to fay, their chancellors and fecretaries,
Ihall enjoy a full and entire immunity for their chancery and
the papers which fhall be therein contained. They fhall be ex-
empt from all perfonal fervice, from foldier's billets, militia,
watch, guard, guardianfhip, trufteefhip, as well as from all
duties, taxes, impofitions, and charges whatfover, except on
the eftate real and perfonal of which they may be the propri-
etors or polTefTors, which fhall be fubjeft to the taxes impofed
on the eftates of all other individuals: and in all other inftan-
ces, they fhall be fubjeft to the laws of the land, as the natives
are. Thoie of the faid coniuls and vice-confuls, who fhall
cxercile commerce, fhall be refpeftively iubjett to all taxesj
3 I 2
423 CONVENTION BETWEEN
charges and impofitions, eflablidied on other merchants. They
Ihall place over the outward door of their houfe, the arms of
their fovereign ; but this mark of indication fhall not give to
the faid houfe any privilege of afylum for any peifon or pro-
perty whatfoever.
Art. III. The refpeftive confuls and vice-confuls may efta-
blifh agents in the different ports and places of their depart-
ments, where neceffity Ihall require. Thefe agents may be
chofen among the merchants, either national or foreign, and
furnifhed with a commifTion from one of the faid confuls.
They ihjU confine themfelves refpeftively to the rendering
to their refpeftive merchants, navigators and veffels, all pof-
fible fervice, and to inform the nearefl conful of the wants
of the faid merchants, navigators and veffels — without the
faid agents otherwife participating in the immunities, rights
and privileges, attributed to confuls and vice-confuls — and
without power, under any pretext whatever, to cxaft from
the faid merchants any duty or emolument whatfoever.
Art. IV. The confuls and vice-confuls refpeftively may efla-
blifh a chancery, where fhall be depofited the confular determi-
nations, afts and proceedings, as alfo teftaments, obligations,
contrafts and other afts, done by or between perfons of their
nation, and effefts left by deceafed perfons, or faved from fhip-
"Wreck. They may, confequently, appoint fit perfons to a£i
in the faid chancery ; receive and fwear them in ; commit to
them the cuftody of the feal, and authority to feal commiffions,
fentences and other confular afts ; and alfo to difcharge the
funftions of notary and regifter of the confulate.
Art. V. The confuls and vice-confu!s refpeSively fhall have
the exclufive right of receiving in their chancery, or on board
of veffcls, the declarations and all other afts, which the cap-
tains, mafters, crews, paffengers and merchants of their nation
may choofe to make there, even their teftaments and other
difpofals by lafl will : and the copies of the faid afts, duly
authenticated by the faid confuls or vice-confuls, under the
feal of the confulate, fhall receive faith in law, equally as
their originals would, in all the tribunals of the dominions of
the Moft Chriftian King and of the United States, They fhall
alfo have, and exclufively, in cafe of the abfence of the tefta-
mentary executor, adminiftrator, or legal heir, the right to inven-
tory, liquidate and proceed to the fale of the perfonal eflate left
by fubjetVs or citizens of their nation, who fhall die within
the extent of their confulate r they fhall proceed thither with
TRANCE AND AMERICA, 485,
the alTi fiance of two merchants of their nation, or, for want of
them, of any other at their choice ; arvd fhall caufe to be dc-
pofited in their chancery the effefts and papers of the faid
eflates : and no officer, military, judiciary, or of the police of
the country, fhall difturb them or interfere therein, in any
manner whatfoever : but the faid confuls and vice-confuls (hall
not deliver up the faid effefts, nor the proceeds thereof, to tlie
lawful heirs, or to their order, till they Ihall have caufcd to bp
pjid all debts which the deceafed fhall have contrafted in the
country : for which purpofe the creditors (hall have a right tp
attach the faid effefts in their hands, as they might in thole of
any other individual whatever, and proceed to obtain fale ojF
them till payment of what fhall be lawfully due to them.
When the debts ih-all not have been contrafted by judgment,
deed or note, the fignature whereof fhall be known, payment
fhall not be ordered but on the creditor's giving fufficient fure-
ty, refident in the country, tp refund the fums he fliall have
unduly received, principal, intereft and cofts : which furcty,
neverthclefs, fliall (land duly difcharged after the term of one
year in time of peace, and of two in time of war, if the de-
mand in difcharge cannot be formed before the end of this term,
againfl the heirs who (hall prefent themfelves. And in order
that the heirs may not unjuftly be kept out of the effefts of the
deceafed, the confuls and vice-confuls fhall notify his death in
fome of the gazettes publifhed within their coniulate ; and that
they fliall retain the faid efFefts in their hands feven months, to
anfwer all demands which fhall be prefented ; and they fliall be
bound, after this delay, to deliver to the perfons fucceeding
thereto, what fhall be more than fufBcient for the demands
which fhall have been formed.
Art. VI. The confuls and vice-confuls refpeftively fhall re-
ceive the declarations, protefts and reports, of all captains and
mafters of their refpeftive nations, on account of average loffes
fuflained at fea ; and thefe captains and maflers fhall lodge in
the chancery of the faid confuls and vice-confuls, the afts
which they may have made in other ports on account of the
accidents which may have happened to them on their voyage.
If a fubjeft of the Moft Chriftian King, and a citizen of the
United States, or a foreigner, are interefted in the faid cargo,
the average fiiall be fettled by the tribunals of the country, and
not by the confuls or vice-confuls ; but when only the fuhjefts
or citizens of their own nation fhall be interefted, the rcipec-
tive confuls or vice-confuls fhal! appoint Ikilfu! perfons to fettle
the damaaes and average.
43© CONVENTION BETWEEN
Art. VII. In cafes where by tempeft, or other accident,
French fliips or veffels Taall be ftrandcd on the coafts of the
United States ; and fhips or veffels of the United States (hall be
ftranded on the coafts of the dominions of the Moft Chriflian
King ; the conful or vice-conful, neareft to the place of fhip.
wreck, (hall do whatever he may judge proper, as well for the
purpofe of faving the faid fhip or veflel, its cargo and appurte-
nances, as for the ftoring and fecurity of the effeOis and mer-
chandife faved. He may take an inventory of them, without
the intermeddling of any officers of the military, of the cuf-
toms, of juflice, or of the police of the country, otherwifc
than to give to the confuls, vice-confuls, captain and crew of
the veffel, fhipwrecked or ftranded, all the fuccour and favour
which they fhall afk of them, either for the expedition and fe-
curity of the faving and of the effefts faved, as to prevent all
difturbance. And in order to prevent all kinds of difpute and
difcuffion, in the faid cafes of ftiipwreck, it is agreed, that when
there fhall be no conful or vice-conful to attend to the faving of
the wreck, or that the refidence of the faid couful or vice-con-
ful (he not being at the place of the wreck) fliall be more dif-
tant from the faid place, than that of the competent judge of
the country, the latter fhall immediately proceed therein with
all the dilpatch, certainty and precautions, prelcribed by the
refpeftive laws ; but the faid territorial judge fhall retire, on the
arrival of the conful or vice-conful, and fhall deliver over to
him the report of his proceedings, the expenfes of which the
conful or vice-conful fhall caufe to be reimbujTed to him, as well
as thofe of faving the wreck. The merchandife and effefts faved
fhall be depofited in the neareft cuftom-houfe, or other place of
fafety, with the inventory thereof, which fhall have been made
by the conful or vice-confuls, or by the judge who fhall have
proceeded in their abfence, that the faid effefts and merchan-
dife may be afterwards delivered, (after levying therefrom the
cofts) and without form of procefs to the owners, who, being
furnifhed with an order for their deliveiy from the neareft con-
ful or vice-conful, fliall re-claim them by themfelves, or by their
order, either for the purpofe of re-exporting iuch merchandife,
in which cafe they fhall pay no kind of duties of exportation ;
or for that of felling them in the country, if they be not pro-
hibited there ; and in this laft cafe, the faid merchandife, if
they be damaged, fhall be allowed an abatem.ent of entrance du-
ties, proportioned to the damage they have fuftained, whiclj
FRANCE AND AMERICA. ^^i
fliali be afcertained by the affidavits taken at the time the veliel
Was wrecked or ftruck.
Art. VIII. The confuls or vice-confuls fhall exercife police
over all the veffels of their refpeftive nations ; and Ihall have
on board the faid vefTels, all power and jurifdiftion in civil
matters : in all the difputes which may there arife, they fhall
have an entire infpeftion over the faid vefTels, their crews, and
the changes and fubllitutions there to be made : for which pur-
pofe they may go on board the faid vefTels whenever they may
judge it necelTary. It being well underftood, that the func-
tions hereby allowed fhall be confined to the interior of the
VefTels, and that they fhall not take place in any cafe which
fhall have any interference with the police of the ports where
the faid vefTels fhall be.
Art. IX. The confuls and vice-confuls may caufe to be ar-
refted the captains, officers, mariners, failors, and all other per-
fons, being part of the crews of the vefTels of their refpeftive
nations, who fhall have deferted from the faid vefTels, in order
to fend them back and tranfport them out of the country. For
which purpofe. the faid confuls and vice-confuls fhall addrefs
themfelves to the courts, judges, and officers competent ; and
(hall demand the faid deferters in writing, proving by an exhi-
bition of the regifters of the vefTel or fhip's roll, that thofc
men were part of the faid crews : and on this demand fo proved,
(faving, however, where the contrary is proved) the delivery
ftiall not be refufed : and there fhall be given all aid and affi fi-
ance to the faid confuls and vice-confuls for the fearch, feizure
and arreft of the faid deferters, who fhall even be detained and
kept in the prifons of the country, at their requefl and expenfe,
until they fhall have found an opportunity of fending them
back. But if they be not fent back within three months, to be
counted from the day of their arreft, they fhall be fet at liberty,
and fhall be no more arrefled for the fame caufe.
Art. X. In cafes where the refpeftive fubjefts or citizens fhall
have committed any crime, or breach of the peace, they fhall
be amenable to the judges of the country.
Art. XI. When the faid offenders fhall be a part of the crew
of a velTel of their nation, and fhall have withdrawn them-
felves on board the faid vefTel, they may be there feized and ar-
refled by order of the judges of the country; thefe fhall give
notice thereof to the conful or vice-conful, who may repair on
board, if he thinks proper; but this notificatioa ihail aot
4ii GOI^SANMENT BETWEEbf
in any cafe, delay execution or the order in queftibn. The
perfons arreted fhall not afterwards be fet at liberty, until the
conful or vice-conful fhall have been notified thereof i and they
ihall be delivered to him, if he requires it, to be put again on
board of the vefTel in which they were arrefted, or of others of
their nation, and to be feat out of the country.
Art. XII. All differences and fuits between the fubjefts of
the Moft Chilflian King in the United States, or between the
citizens of the United States within the donxinions of the Moft
ChriRian King, and particularly all difputes relative to the
wages and terms of engagement of the crews of the refpeftive
veffels, and all differences of whatever nature they may be^
\vhich may arife between the privates of the faid crews, or be-
tween any of them and their captains, or between the captains
of different veffels of their nation, fhall be determined by the
refpeftive coni'uls and vice-confuls, either by a reference to ar-
bitrators, or by a fummary judgment, and without cofls* No
ofHcer of the country, civil or military, Ihall interfere therein,
or take any part whatever in the matter ; and the appeals fromi
the faid Confular fentences fhall be carried before the tribunals
of France, or of the United States, to whom it may appertain
to take cognisance thereof.
Art. XIII. The general utility of commerce having caufed td
be eftablifhed, within the dominions of the mod Chriflian King,
particular tribunals and forms for expediting the decifion of
commercial affairs, the merchants of the United States fhall en-
joy the benefit of thefe eftablifhments •, and the Congrefs of the
United States will provide, in the manner moft conformable to
its laws, for the eftablifhment of equivalent advantages in fa-
vour of the French merchants, for the prompt difpatch and de-
cifion of affairs of the fame nature.
XIV. The fubjefts of the Moft Chriftlan King, aind citizens
of the United States, who fhall prove by legal evidence, that
they are of the laid nations refpeclively, fhall, in confequence,
enjoy an exemption from all perfonal fervice in the place of
their feltlement.
XV. If any other nation acquires, by virtue of any con-
vention whatever, treatment more favourable with relpeft to
the confular pre-eminences, powers, authority and privileges,
the conluls and vice-confuls of the Moft Chnftian King, or of
the United States^ reciprocally fhall participate therein, agreeably
FRANCE AND AMERICA. 433
to the terms ftipulated by the fecond, third and fourth articles
of the treaty of Amity and Commerce concluded between the
Moft Chrirtian King and the United States,
Art. XVI, The prefent convention fliall be in full force dur-
ing the term of twelve years, to be counted from the day of the
exchange of ratifications, which fhall be given in proper form,
und exchanged on both fides within the fpace of one year, or
fooner if polfible. In faith whereof, we, minifters plenipoten-
tiary, have ftgned the prefent convention, and have thereto fet
the feal of our arms.
Done at Verfailles the fourteenth of November, one
thoufand feven hundred and eighty-eight.
Signed L. C. De MONTMORIN, (L. S.)
THOMAS JEFFERSON. (L. S.)
PROCLAMATION.
And whereas the faid convention has been duly ratified and
confirmed by me on the one part, with the advice and confent
of the fenate, and by his Moft Chriftian Majefty on the other^
and the faid ratifications were duly exchanged at Paris on the
firft day of January in the prefent year. Now, therefore, to
the end that the faid convention may be obferved and performed
with good faith on the part of the United States, I have ordered
the premifes to be made public, and I do hereby enjoin and re-
quire all perfons bearing office, civil or military, within the
United States, and all others citizens or inhabitants thereof, or
being within the fame, faithfully to obferve and fulfil the faid
convention, and every claufc and article thereof.
In teftimony whereof I have caufed the feal of the UnitCvX
States to be affixed to thefe prefcnts, and figned tha
fame with my hand. Given at the city of New-York,
the ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord one
thoufand feven hundred and ninety, and of the fove-
rcignty and in ependencc of the United States the four-
feenth.
GEORGE WASHINGTON.
By the Prefident,
TiioriAs Jefferson.
3^
( 434 )
DEFINITIVE TREATY
BETWEEN
6ilEAT-BRITAIN AXD THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Signed at Paris, September 3, 1783.
In the name of the mojt holy and undivided Trinity,
T having pleafed the Divine Providence to difpofe the hearty
of the mod ferene and inofl potent prince George the Thircf,
by the grace of God, King of Great-Britain, France and Ire-
land, defender of the faith, Duke of Brunfwick and Lunen-
biugh, arch-treafurer and prince eleftor of the holy Roman
empire, &c. and of the United States of America, to forget all
pad mi lunder (landings and differences, that have unhappily
interrupted the good correfpondence and friendfhip which
they mutually wifh to re do re ; and to eflablilh fuch a beneficial
and fatisfaftory intercourfe between the two countries, upon
the ground of reciprocal advantages and mutual convenience,
as may promote and fecure to both perpetual peace and har-
mony, and having, for this defirable end, already laid the foun-
dation of peace and reconciliation, by the provifional articles
fioned at Paris, on the 30ih of November, 1782, by the com-
miiTioners empowered on each part, which articles were agreed
vj be inferted in, and to conftitute the treaty of peace propofed
to be concluded between the Crown of Great-Britain and the
iaid ijnilcd States, but wliich treaty was not to be concluded
until terms of peace Should be agreed upon between Great-
Britain and France, and his Britannic Majefty fhould be ready
lb conclude fuch treaty accordingly ; and the treaty between
Great-Britain and France having fmce been concluded, his
Britannic Majefty and the United States of America, in order
to carry into full efFcft the provifional articles above mentioned,
according to the tenor thereof, have conftituted and appointed,
that is to lay, his Britannic Ivlajeily on his part, David Hartley,
DEFINITIVE TREATY. ^35
Efq, member of the parliament of Great-Britain; and the
faid United States on their part, John Adams, Efq. late a com-
mifiioner of the United States of America, at the court of
Verfailles, late delegate in Congrefs from the State of MafTa-
chufetts, and chief juftice of the faid State, and minifter
plenipotentiary of the faid United States, to their High Migh-
tineffes the States-General of the United Netherlands ; Benjamin
Franklin, Efq. late delegate in Congrefs from the State of Penn-
fylvania, prefident of the convention of the faid State, and
minifter plenipotentiary from the United States of America at
the court of Verfailles; and John Jay, Efq. late prefident of
Congrefs, chief juftice of the State of New-York, and minifter
plenipotentiary from the faid United States at the court of
Madrid ; to be the plenipotentiaries for concluding and figning
the prefent Definitive Treaty ; who, after having reciprocally
communicated their refpeftive full powers, have agreed upon
and confirmed the following articles :
Article I. His Britannic Majefty acknowledges the faid United
States, viz. New-Hampfliire, Maffachufetts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland
and Providence plantations, Connefticut, New-York, Ncw-Jer-
fey, Pennfylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Caro-
lina, South-Carolina and Georgia, to be free, fovereign and
independent States ; that he treats with them as fuch,. and for
himfelf, his heirs and fucceflbrs, relinquifiies all claims to the
government, propriety, and territorial rights of the fame, and
every part thereof.
Art. n. And that ail difputes, which might arife in future,
on the fubjeft of the boundaries of the faid United States, may
be prevented, it is hereby agreed and declared, that the follow-
ing are and ftiall be their boundaries, viz. froni the north-weft
angle of Nova-Scotia, viz. That angle which is formed by a
line drawn due north from the fource of St. Croix river to the
highlands, along the faid highlands, which divide thofe rivers
that empty thcmfelves into the river St. Lawrence from thofc
which fall into the Atlantic ocean, to the north wefternmoft
head of Conne£iicut river ; thence down along the middle
of that river to the forty-fifth degree of north latitude ; from
thence by a line due weft on faid latitude, until it ftrikes the
river Iroquois or Cataraquy ; thence along the middle of the
faid river into lake Ontario ; through the middle of faid lake
until it ftrikes the communication by water between that luk-
and lake Erie ; thence along the middle of faid communication
into lake Erie ; through the middle of faid lake until it arrives
0, K 2
436 DEFINITIVE TREATY BETWEEN
at the water communication between that lake and lake Huron ;
thence along the middle of faid water communication ; thence
through the middle of faid lake to the water communication be-
tween that lake and lake Superior •, thence through lake Superior
northward of the ifles Royal and PhilipeauK to the Long lake ;
4hence through the middle of faid Long lake and the water com-
munication between it and the lake of the Woods, to the faid
lake of the Woods ; thence through the faid lake to the moft
north-weftern point thereof, and from thence in a due weft
courfe to the riv^er MilTiiTippi; thence by a line to be drawn
along the middle of the faid river Mifliffippi until it fhall in-
terleft the northernmoft part of the thirty-firft degree of north
latitude. South, by a line to be drawn due eaft from the
determination of the line laft mentioned in the latitude of
thirty-one degrees north of the equator, to the middle of the
river Apalachicola or Catahouche ; thence along the middle
thereof, to its junction with the Flint river ; thence ftrait to
the head of St. Mary's river; and thence down along the mid-
dle of St. Mary's river to the Atlantic ocean. Eaft, by a line to
be drawn along the middle of the river St. Croix, from its
mouth in the bay of Fundy, to its fource, and from its fource
direftly north to the aforefaid highlands, which divide the
•rivers that fall into the Atlantic ocean, from thofe which fall
■into the river St. Lawrence, comprehending all iflands within
twenty lengiies of any part of the fnorts of the United States^
and lying between lines to be drawn d jc eaft from the points
where the aforeiaid boundaries between Nova- Scotia on the one
part, and Eaft-Florida on the other, fhall refpeftively touch the
bay of Fundy, and the Atlantic ocean, excepting fuch iflands an
now are, or heretofore have been, within the limits of the feid
province of Nova-Scotia.
Art. III. It is agreed, that the people of the United States
rnall continue to enjoy, unmolefted, the right to take fifh of
every kind on the Grand Bank, and on all the other banks of
Newfoundland, alfo in the gulph of St. Lawrence, and at all
other places in the fea, where the inhabitants of both countries
uffd at any time heretofore to fifh. And alio, that the inhabi-
tants of the United States fhall have liberty to take fifh of every
kind on fuch part of the coaftof Nev^rfoundland, as Britifli fifh-
ermen fhall ule (but not to dry or cure the (ame on that ifland)
and alfo on the coafts, bays and creeks, of all other of his
Britannic Msjcfty's dominions in America ; and that the Ame-
rican fifhermen fliall have liberty to dry and cure fifh in any
of the unfettled bays, harbours and creeks, of Nova-Scotia,
GREAT-BRITAIN AND AMERICA. 437
Magdalen iflands, and Labrador, fo long as the fame {hall remain
unfettled ; but fo foon as the fame or either of them fhall be fet-
tled, it fhall not be lawful for the faid filhermen to dry or cure
fifh at fuch fettlcrnent, without a previous agreement for that
purpofe with the inhabitants, proprietors, or poflclfors of the
ground.
Art. IV. It is agreed, that the creditois on either fide fhall
meet with no lawful impediment to the recovery of the full
value, in (lerling money, of all bona fide debts heielofore con-
tra6led.
Art. V. It is agreed, that Congrefs (hall earneflly recommend
it to the Icgiflatures of the refpcftive States, to pfivide for the
reftitution of all eftates, rights and properties, which have been
confifcated, belonging to real Biitifh fubjefts ; and alfo of the
eftates, rights and properties, of perfons refident in diftrifts in
poffeirion of his Majefty's arms, and who have not borne arm.s
againft the faid United States ; and that perfons of any other de-
fcription (hall have free liberty to go to any part or parts of the
Thirteen United States, and therein to remain twelve months
unmolefted, in their endeavours to obtain the reftitution of fuch
of their eftates, rights and properties, as may have been confif-
cated ; and that Congrefs fhall alfo earneftly recommend to the
feveral States, a re-confideration and revifion of all afts or laws
refpefting the premifes, fo as to render the faid afts or laws per-
fectly confiftent, not only with juftice and equity, but with that
fpirit of conciliation, which, on the return of the bleflings of
peace, ftiould univerfally prevail : and that Congrefs fhall alfo
earneftly recommend to the feveral States, that the eftates, rights
and properties, of fuch laft-mentioned perlons, fhall be reftored
to them, they refunding to any perfons who !nay now be in pol-
feftion, the bona fide price (where any has been given) which
fuch perfons may have paid, on purchrifing any of the faid lands,
rights or properties, fince the confifcation. And it is agreed,
that all perfons, who may have any intereft in confifcated lands,
either by debts, marriage fettlcments, or otherwife, fhall meet
with no lawful impediment in the profecution of their juft
rights.
Art. VI. That there fhall be no future confifcations made, nor
any profecutions commenced, againft any perlon or perfor.s, for,
or by reafon of the part which he or they may have taken ia
ihe prefent war : and that no perfon fhall, on that account, fufrer
any further lofs or damage, either in his perfon, liberty or pro-
perty : and that thofe who may be in confinement on fuch charges,
at the time of the ratification of the treaty in America, fhall be
4SS DEFINITIVE TREATY, Gc,
immediately fet at liberty, and the profecution, fo commenced}
be difcontinued.
Art. VII. There fliall be a firm and perpetual peace between
his Britannic^ Majefty and the faid States, and between the fub-
jefts of tlie one and the citizens of the other ; wherefore all
hoftilities, both by fea and land, fhall from henceforth ceafc ; a}l
prifoners on both fides fliall be fet at liberty ; and his Britannic
Majcfty fliall, with sill convenient fpeed, and without caufmg
any deftruftion, or carrying away any negroes, or other property
of the American inhabitants, withdraw all his armies, garrifons
and fleets, from the faid United States, and frorn every pofl:,
place and harbour, within the fame, leaving in all fortificatiorjs
the American artillery that may be therein ; and (hall alfo order
and caufc all archives, records, deeds and papers, belonging to
any of the faid States, or their citizens, which, in the courfc of
the war, may have fallen into the hands of his officers, to be
forthwith reflored, and delivered to the proper States and pcr-
fons to whom they belong.
Art. VIII. The navigation of the river Mijfijfippi, from its
Jourcc to the ocean, Jhallfor ever remain free and open to the fub"
je6ls of Great-Britain and the citizens of the Urdted States.
Art. IX. In cafe it fhould fp happen, that any place or terri-
tory belonging to Great-Britain, or to the United States, fhould
have been conquered by the arms of either from the other, be-
fore the arrival of the faid provifional articles in America, it is
agreed, that the fame fhall be reflored without difficulty, and
without requiring corr.penfation.
Art. X. The folemn ratifications of the prefent treat}', expe-
dited in good and due form, fhall be exchanged between the con-
tracting parties in the fpace of fix months, or fooner, if poffiblc.
to be computed from the day of the fignature of the prefent
treat)'. In witnefs whereof, we the underfigned, their miniflers
plenipotentiary, have, in their name, and in virtue of our full
powers, figned with our hands the prefent Definitive Treaty,
and caufed the feals of our arras to be affixed thereto. Done at
Paris, September 3, 1783.
(L. S.) JOHN ADAMS,
■ (L. S.) DAVID HARTLEY,
(L. S.) B. FRANKLIN,
(L. S.) JOHN JAY.
439 )
TREATY
oi
AMITY AND COMMERCE
BETWEEN
THEIR HIGH MIGHTINESSES THE STATES GENERAL OF THE
UNITED NETHERLANDS, AND THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
(to wit)
SeW-HAMPSHIRE, MASSACHUSETTS, R I| ODE-ISLAND AND PRO-
VIDENCE PLANTATIONS, CONNECTICUT, NEW-YORK, NEW-
JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, VIRGINIA,
NORTH-CAROLINA, SOUTH-CAROLINA, AND GEORGIA.
T
X HEIR High Mightineffes the States-General of the United
Netherlands, and the United States of America, to wit, New-
Hampftiire, Maffachufetts, Rhode- Ifland and Providence planta-
tions, Conneaicut, New- York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, De-
lav^are, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina,
and Georgia, deftring to afcertain, in a permanent and equitable
manner, the rules to be obferved relative to the commerce and cor-
i-efpondence which they intend to eflabliHi between their refpec-
tive States, countries and inhabitants, have judged, that the faid end
cannot be better obtained, than by efhblifliing the moft perfeft
cquahty and reciprocity for the bafis of their agreement, and by
avoiding all thofe burthenfome preferences, which are ufually
the fources of debate, embarraffment and difcontent ; by leaving
alfo each party at liberty to make, refpeaing commerce and na-
vigation, fuch ulterior regulations, as it fliall find moft conve-
nient to itfelf ; and by founding the advantages of commerce
folely upon reciprocal utility, and the juft rules of free inter-
courle ; referving withal to each party the liberty of admitting
at Its pleafure, other nations to a participation of the lame ad-'
vantages.
44© T R E A T Y OF
On thele principles, their fiiid High MightinefTes the States-
General of the United Netherlands have named for their pleni-
potentiaries, from the midft of their aiTembly, McHieurs their
deputies for the foreign affairs ; and the faid Uiuted States of
America, on their part, have furnifhcd with full powers Mt,
John Adams, late commiffioner of the United States of Ame-
rica at the court of Veriailles, heretofore delegate in Congrefs
from the State of MaflTachufetts bay, and chief juftice of the
faid State, who have agreed and concluded as follows : to wit.
Article I. There fhall be a firm inviolable and univerfal peace,
and fincere frienddiip, between their High MightinefTes the
Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands and the
United States of America, and between the fubjefts and inhabi-
tants of the faid parties, and between the countries, iflands, ci-
ties and places, fituated under the jurildi6lion of the faid United
Netherlands and the faid United States of America, their fubjefts
and inhabitants of every degree, without exception of perfons
or places.
Art. n. The fubj^fts of the faid States-General of the United
Netherlands fliall pay in the ports, havens, roads, countries,
iflands, cities or places of the United States of America, or any
of them, no other nor greater duties or imports, of whatever
nature or denomination they may be, than thofe which the na-
tions the mod favoured are or fhall be obliged to pay ; and they
fhall enjoy all the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities and
exemptions in trade, navigation and commerce, which the faid
nations do, or fli-dl enjoy, whether in paffing from one port to
another in the faid States, or in going from any of thofe ports
to any foreign port of the world, or from any foreign port of
the world to any of thofe ports.
Art. ni. The fubjcfts and inhabitants of the faid United
States of America fhall pay in the ports, havens, roads, coun-
tries, iflands, cities or places, of the faid United Netherlands,
or any of them, no other, nor greater duties or impofts, of what-
ever nature or denomination they may be, than thofe which the
nations the nioft favoured are or fhall be obliged to pay ; and
they fl-iall enjoy all the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities
and exemptions in trade, navigation and commerce, which the
faid nations do, or fhall enjoy, whether in paffing from one port
to another in the faid States, or from any one towards any
one of thole ports, from or to any foreign port of the world.
And the United States of America, with their fubjefts and in-
habitants, ihall leave to thofe of their High MightinefTes, the
'AMITY AN3 COMMERCE, ^ l^^
j^eaceable enjoyment of their rights in the countries, ifiand^
.and feas, in the Eaft and Weft Indies, without any hindrance
or moleftation.
Art. IV. There fhall be an entire and perfeA liberty of con*
fcience allowed to the fubjefts and inhabitants of each party,
and to their families : and no one fhall be molelled in regard to
iiis worfhip, provided he lubmits, as to the public demon ftra»
tion of it, to the laws of the country. There fhall be given
moreover liberty, when any fubjefts or inhabitants of either
party fhall die in the territory of the other, to bury them ia
.the ufual burying places, or in decent and convenient grounds,
to be appointed for that purpofe, as occafion (hall require.
And the dead bodies of thofe who are buried fhall not in any
wife be molefted ; and the two contra£ting parties fliall provide,
each one in his jurifdiftion, that their refpeftive fubjefts and
inhabitants may henceforward obtain the requifite certificates,
i^ cafes of deaths, in which they fhall be interefted^
Art. V. Their High Mightineffes the States-General of the
United Netherlands, and the United States of America, fhall
endeavour, by all the means in their power, to defend and pro-
tc£l all veffels and ether efFefts belonging to their fubjefts and
inhabitants refpeQ:iveIy, or to any of them, in their ports,
roads, havens, internal feas, pafTes, rivers, and as far as their
jurifdi£lion extends at fea ; and to recover, and caufe to be
reflored to the true proprietors, their agents or attornies, all
fuch veffels and efFefts which fiiall be taken under their jurif-
di6lion : and their veffels of war and convoys, in cafes when
jhey may have a common enem)'-, fhall take under their protec-
tion all the veffels belonging to the fubjefts and inhabitants of
either party, which fhall not be laden with contraband goods,
according to the defcription which {hall be made of them here-
after, for places with which one of the parties is in peace, and
the other at war, nor deftined for any place blocked, and
which (hall hold the fame courfe, or follow the fame route :
and they {hall defend fuch veffels, as long as they {hall hold the
fame courfe, or follow the fame route, again{l all attacks, force
and violence of the common enemy, in the fame manner as thc;/
ought to proteft anJ defend the veffels belonging to their own
refpeftivc fubjefts.
Art. VI. The fubjefts of the contrafting parties may, on one
fide and on the other, in the refpeftive countries and States,
difpofe of their effefts by teflament, donation or otherwife ; and
t]aeir heirs, fubjefts of one of the parties, and refiding in the
4.ia TREATY OF
country of the other, or elfewhere, fhall receive fuch fuc-
ceffions, even ab inteflate, whether in perfon, or by their
attorney or fubftitute, even although they fhall not have ob-
tained letters of naturalization, Mrithout having the effeft of fuch
connnijfion contefted under pretext of any rights or prerogatives of
any province, city or private perfon : and if the heirs to whom
fuch fuccefficns may have fallen, fhall be minors, the tutor?^
or curators, eflablifhed by the judge domiciliary, of the faid
minors, may govern, direft, adminifter, fell, and alienate the
tffefts fallen to the faid minors by inheritance ; and in general,
in relation to the faid fuccefTions and effrfts, ufe all the rights
and fulfil all the funftions whicli belong, by the difpofition of
the laws, to guardians, tutors and curators; provided, ncve-
thelefs, that this difpofition cannot take place, but in cafes
where the teflator fhall not have named guardians, tutors, cura-
tors by teftament, codicil or other legal inftrument.
Art. VII. It fliall be lawful and free for the fubjefts of each
party to employ fuch advocates, attornies, notaries, folicitors or
faftors, as they fhall judge proper.
Art. VIII Merchants, maflers and ovfntr% of fhips, mariners,
men of all kinds, fhips and veffels, and all merchandifes and
goods in general, and efFefts, of any of the confederates, or
of the fubjefts theieof, fliall not be feifed or detained in any
of the countries, lands, iflands, cities, places, ports, fhores or
dominions whatfoever of the other confederate, for any military
expedition, public or private ufe of any one, by arrefls, vio-
lamce, or any colour thereof; much lefs fhall it be permitted
to the fubjefts of either party to take, or extort by force,
anv thing from the fubjefts of the other party, Avithout the
confent of the owner ; which, however, is not to be underflood
of feifures, detentions and arrefls, which fhall be made by the
command and authority of juflice, and by the ordinary methods,
on account of debts or crimes, in refpeft whereof the pro-
ceedings mufl be by way of law, according to the forms of
juftice.
Art. IX. It is further agreed and concluded, that it fhall
be wholly free for all merchants, commanders of fhips, and
other fubjefts ?«1 inhabitants of the contrafting parties, in
every place fubjctled to the jurifdiftion of the two powers re-
fpe6tivc!y, to manage, themfelvcs, their own buftnefs : and
rr.oieover, as to the uie of interpreters or brokers, asalfo in rela-
tion to the loading or unloading of their velfels, and every thing
•which has relation thereto, they fhall be, on one fide and on
the other, confidcred and treated upon the fcotirig of natural
AMiTY AND COMMERCE. 443
iubje£ls, or, at leaft, upon aa equality with the mofl favoured
nation.
Art. X. The merchant fhips of either of the parties, com-
ing from the port of an enemy, or from their own, or a neutral
port, may navigate freely towards any port of an enemy of the
other ally. They fhall neverthclefs be held, whenever it (hall
be required, to exhibit, as well upon the high feas as in the
ports, their fea-letters and other documents defcnbed in the
twenty-fifth article, dating exprefsly that their effefts are not
of the number of thofe which are prohibited as contraband*
And not having any contraband goods for an enemy's port, they
may freely and without hindrance purfue their voyage towards
the port of an enemy. Nevertheleis, it fhall not be required
to examine the papers of veiTsls convoyed by velTels of war
but credence fhall be given to the word of the officer who fhall
condu£l the convoy.
Art. XL If by exhibiting the fea-letters and other docu-
ments defcribed more particularly in the twenty- fifth article of
this treaty^ the other party fhall difcover there are any of thofe
forts of goods which are declared prohibited and contraband,
and that they are configned for a port under the obedience of
his enemy : it fhall not be lawful to break up the hatches of
fuch ihip, nor to open any cheft, coffer, packs, cafks, or other
Veffels found therein, or to remove the fmalleft parcel of her
goods, whether the laid veffel belongs to the fubjefts of their
High MightinefTes the States-General of the United Nether-
lands, or to the fubjefts or inhabitants of the faid United States
of America, unlefs the lading be brought on fliore in prefence
of the officers of the court of admiralty, and an inventory
thereof made : but there fhall be no allowance to fell, exchange
or alienate the fame, until after that due and lawful procefs
ilaall have been had againfl fuch prohibited goods of contraband,
and the court of admiralty, by a fentence pronounced, fliall
have conhfcated the fair.e ; faving always as well the fliip itfelf,
as any other goods found therein, which are to be efleemed
free, and may not be detained on pretence of their being in-
fected by the prohibited goods, much lefs fliall they be con-
fifcated as lawful prize : but on the contrary, when, by the
vifttation at land, it fhall be found, that there are no contia-
band goods in the veflel, and it fliall net appear by the papers,
that he who has taken and carried in the veffel has been able
to difcover any there, he ought to be condemned in all the
chargeSj damages, and interelb of them, which he fhall hav«
3 L z
4^4 'i' ^^ E A TY 0 F
caufed, both to the owners of veffels, and to the owners ahcf
freighters of cargoes with which they fhall be loaded, by his
ijemerity in taking and carrying them in : declaring moft cx-
prelsly the free veffels fhall affure the liberty of the effefts with
which they fliall be loaded, and that this liberty fhall extend
itfelf equally to tbx perfons who fhall be found in a free veffel,
■who may not be taken out of her, unlefs they are military men,
aftualiy in the fervice of an enemy.
Art. XII. On. the contrary, it is agreed, that whatever
ihall be found to be laden by the fubjefls and inhabitants of
either party, on any fhip belonging to the enietnies of the other,
or to their lubjefts, although it be not comprehended uxider
the fore of prohibited goods, the whole may be confilcated in
the fame manner as if it belonged to the enemy ; except,
neverthelefs, fueh effeft's and merchandifes as were put on board
fuch vellel before the declaration of war, or in the fpace of
£x months after it ;' which efFefts fhall not be in any manner
fubjeft to conHfcation, but fhall be faithfully and without
delay rcftorcd in nature to the owners, who fhall claim them,
or caufe tbern to be claimed, before the coniifcation and fale i
as alfo their proceeds, if the claim could not be made but in
the ipace of eight months after the fale, which ought to be
|)ublic : provided, neverthelefs, that if the faid nierchandifes
are contraband, it fhall by no means be lawful to tranfport them
afterwards to any port belonging to enemies.
Art. XIII. And that more elfeftual care may be taken for
the f'ecurity of fubjefts and people of either party, that they do
not iuffer moleflation from the veffels of war, or privateers of
the other party, it fliali be forbidden to all commanders of vef-
fels of Avar, and other armed veffels of the faid States-General
of tlie United Netherlands, and the faid United States of
America, as well as to all their officers, fubjefts and people, to
give any offence, or do any damage to thofe of the other party ;
and if they ai;l to the contrary, they fliall be, upon the firfl
complaints which fhall be made of it, being found guilty, after
a juft examination, puniflicd by their proper judges : and more-
over, obliged to make ialisfuftion for all damages and interell
thereof, by reparation, under pain and obligation of their per-
fons and goods.
Art. XIV. For further determining of what has been faid,
all captains of privateers, or fitters out of veffels armed for
war, under commiffion, and on account of private perfons,
fliall be held before their departure, to give fufficient caution
AM ITS AND COMMERCE, 445
before competent judges, either to be entirely refponfible for the
Jfnalverfations which they may cormnit in their cruizes or voyi
ages, as well as for the contraventions of their captains and
officers againft the prefent treaty, and againfl the ordinances
and edifts which ihall be publiflied in confequence of, and in
Conformity to it, under pain of forfeiture and nullity of the
faid commifTjons.
Art. XV. All veffels and merchandifes, of whatfoever na-
ture, which ftiall be refcued out: of the hands of any pirates ot
robbers, navigating the high feas without requifite commiffions,
fhall be brought into fome port of one of the two States, and
depofited in the hands of the officers of that port, la order to
be reflored entire to the true proprietor, as foon as due and fuf-
ficient proofs fhall be made concerning the property thereof.'
Art. XVI. If any fhips or vefTels, belonging to either of the
parties, their fubjefts or people, fhall, within the coafls or do-
minions of the other, flick upon the fands, or be wrecked, or
fuffer any other fea damage, all friendly affiflance and relief
fhall be given to the perfons fhipwrecked, or fuch as (hall be
in danger thereof ; and the vefTels, effefts and merchandifes. or
the part of them which fhall have been faved, or the proceeds
of them, if, being perifhable, they fhall have been fold, being
claimed within a year and a day by the mafters or owners, or
their agents or attornies, fhall be reftored, paying only the rea-
fonable charges, and that which mull be paid in the fame cafe
for the falvage by the proper fubjefts of the country. There
fhall alfo be delivered them fafe-condu6ls or palfports for their
free and fafe paffage from thence, and to return each one to his
own country.
Art. XVII. In cafe the fubjefts or people of either party,
with their fhipping, whether public and of war, or private and
of merchants, be forced through fljefs of weather, purfuit of
pirates or enemies, or any other urgent neceffity for feeking of
Ihelter and harbour, to retreat and enter into any of the rivers,
creeks, bays, ports, roads or fhores, belonging to the other party,
they fhall be received with all humanity and kindnefs, and en-
joy all friendly proteftion and help ; and they fhall be permit-
ted to refrefh and provide themfelves at reafonable rates with
viftuals, and all things needful for the fuftcnance of their per-
fons, or reparation of their fhips ; and they fhall no ways be
detained or hindered from returning out of the faid ports or
roads, but may remove and depart, when and whither they
pleafe, without any lett or hindrance.
445 fRi: ATY 0 ^
Art. XVIII. For the better promoting of commerce on bbtH
fides, it is agreed, that if a war fhould break out between theii-
High Mightincffes the States-General of the United Nether-
lands and the United States of America, there fhall always bi
granted to the fubjefts on each fide, the term of nine months,
after the date of the rupturCj or the proclamation of war, to
the end that they may retire with their efFefls, and tranfport
them where they pleafe ; which it fhall be lawful for them to
do, as well as to fell or tranfport their efi^efts and goods in all
freedom, and without any hindrance, and without being able to
proceed, during the faid term of nine months, to any arreft of
their cfFefts, much Icfs of their perfons ; on the contrary, there
fhall be given them, for their veffels and their effcfts which
they would carry away, paffports and fafe-condufts for the nearefl
ports of their refpeftive countries, and for the time neceffary
for the voyage. And no prize, made at fea, ftiall be adjudged
lawful, at leaft, if the declaration of war was not, or could not
be known in the laft port which the vefTel taken has quitted,
.But for whatever may have been taken from the fubjefts and
inhabitants of either party, and for the offences which may
have been given them in the interval of the laid terms, a com-
plete fatisfaftion fliall be given them.
Art. XIX. No fubjeft of their High MightincfTes the States-
General of the United Netherlands fliall apply for, or take any
commifTion, or letters of marque, for arming anv fhip or fhips
to aft as privateers againft the faid United States of America, or
any of them, or the fubjefts and inhabitants of the faid United
States, or any of them, or againft the property of the inhabi-*
tants of any of them, from any prince or flate with which the
faid United States of America may happen to be at war : nor
fliall any fubjeft or inhabitant of the faid United States of Ame-
rica, or any of them, apply for, or take any commilTion, or
letters of marque, for arming any fhip or fhips, to aft as priva-
teers againfl the High and Mighty Lords the States-General of
the United Netherlands, or againft the fubjefts of their High
MightinelTes. or any of them, or againfl the property of any
one of them, from any prince or flate with which their High
MightineiTes may be at war. And if any perfon of either na-
tion fliall take fuch commiffion, or letters of marque, he fhall
be punifhed as a pirate.
Art. XX. If the veffels of the fubjefts or inhabitants of one
of the parties Cvome upon any coaft belonging to either of the
faid allies, but not wiliing to enter into port, or being entered
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 447
into port, and not willing to unload their cargoes, or break
bulk, or take in any cargo, they fliall not be obliged to pay,
neither for the veffels, nor the cargoes, any duties of entry in
or out, nor to render any account of their cargoes, at lead if
there is not juft caufe to prelume, that they carry to an enemy
merchandifes of contraband.
Art. XXI. The two contra£ling parties grant to each other,
mutually, the liberty of having, each in the ports of the other,
ponfuls, vice-confuls, agents and commiffaries of their own
appointing, whofe funftions fhall be regulated by particular
agreements, whenever either party chules to make fuch ap-
pointments.
Art. XXII. This treaty ftiall not be undcrftood in any man-
ner to derogate from the ninth, tenth, nineteenth and twenty-
fourth articles of the treaty with France, as they were num-
bered in the fame treaty concluded the 6th of February, 1778,
and which majce the articles ninth, tenth, feventeenth, and
twenty-fecond, of the treaty of commerce now fubfifting be-
tween the United States of America and the crown of France :
nor fhall it hinder his Catholic Majefly from acceding to that
treaty, and enjoying the advantages of the faid four articles.
Art. XXIII. If at any time the United States of America
fhall judge necelfary to commence negociations with the king or
emperor of Morocco and Fez, and with the regencies of Al-
giers, Tunis or Tripoli, or with any of them, to obtain paff-
ports for the fecurity of their navigation in the Mediterranean
lea, their High Mightineffes promile, that upon the requihtion
which the United States of America fhall make of it, they will
fecond fuch negociations in the mofl favourable manner, by
means of their confuls refiding near the faid king, emperor, and
xe^encies.
Art. XXIV. The liberty of navigation and commerce fhall
extend to all forts of merchandifes, excepting only thofe which
are diftinguifhed under the name of contraband, or merchan-
difes prohibited : and under this denomination of contraband,
and merchandifes prohibited, fhall be comprehended only war-
like flores and arms, as mortars, artiilerv, with their artifices
and appurtenances, fufils, piftols, bombs, grenades, gunpow-
der, faltpetre, fulphur, match, bullets and balls, pikes, fabres,
lances, halbeits, cafques, cuiraffes, and other forts of arms ; as
alfo, foldiers horfes, laddies, and furniture for horfes. All otlier
effefts and merchandifes. not before fpecified exprefsly, and
fven all iorts of naval matleis, however proper they may be
^48 TRE AT-y 0 F
for the conftruftion and equipment of veffels of war, or forth^
inanufafture of one or other fort of machines of war, by land
or fea, fhall not be judged contraband, neither by the letter,
nor according to any pretended interpretation whatever, ought
they, or can they be comprehended under the notion of effefts
prohibited or contraband : fo that all effefts and merchandifes
whicji are not exprefsly before named, may, without any excep-
tion, and in perfeft liberty, be tranfported by the fubjefts an^
inhabitants of both allies, from and to places belonging to the
enemy ; excepting only, the places which at the fame time fhall
be befieged, blocked or invefted ; and thofe places only fliall be
held for fuch, which are furrounded nearly by fome of the
belligerent powers.
Art. XXV. To the end that all diffenfion and quarrel may
fee avoided and prevented, it has been agreed, that in cafe one
of the two parties happens to be at war, the veflels belonging
to the fubjefts or inhabitants of the other ally {hall be provided
with fea-letters or paffports, exprefling the name, the property,
and the burthen of the veifel, as alfo the name of the place of
abode of the mailer or commander of the faid veffel ; to the
end that thereby it may appear, that the veffel really and truly
belongs to fubjefts or inhabitants of one of the parties ; which
paffports fliall be drawn and diftributed according to the form
annexed to this treaty. Each ti^ie that the veffei fliall return,
ihe fiiould have fuch her paffport renewed ; or, at lea ft, they
ought not to be of more ancient date than two years, before the
veffel has been returned to her own country. It has been alC©
agreed, that fuch veffels being loaded, ought to be provided not
only with the faid paffports or fea-letters, but alfo with a general
paffport, or with particular paffports, or manifefts, or other
public docum.ents, which arc ordinarily given to veffels outward,
bound, in the ports from whence the veffels have fet fail in the
laft place, containing a fpecification of the cargo, of the place
from whence the veffels have fet fail in the daft place, contain-
ing a fpecification of the cargo, of the place from whence the
veffel departed, and of that of her deftination ; or, inftead of
all thefe. with certificates from the magiftrates, or governors of
cities, places and colonies from whence the veffel came, given
in the ufual form, to the end that it may be known whether
there are any eft'efts prohibited or contraband on board the
veffels, and whether they are deftined to be carried to an ene-
my's country or not. And in cafe any one judges proper to
exprefs ijn the faid documents, the perfons to whom the effeAs
AMITY AND COMMkRCE. 449
fcelon'g, he niay do it freely, without, however; being boiTnd to
do it ; and the otnifiion of fuch exprefliori cannot, and ought
x^ot to taiife a confifcatiotl.
Art. XXVI. If the veffels of the faid fubjeifts or inhabitants
of either of the parties, failing along the coaits, or on th6 high
feas, are met by a vcltel of war, or privateer, or other armed
veffel of the othet- party; the faid veffels of war, privateers or
armed veffels, for avoiding all diforder, fhall rerriaiti without the
reach of canrion, but may fend their boats on board the merchant
Veffels whith tlicy (hall meet in this manner, Upon which they
may not pafs more than two or three men, to whom the msftcr
or commander (hall exhibit his paffport, containing the pro-
perty of the veffel, according to the form annexed to this
treaty : and the veffel, after having exhibited iuch a paffport,
fea-letter, and other documetits, fliall be free to continue her
voyage, [o that it ihidl not be lawful to moicil her, orfe^rchher,
in any manner, nor to give her chace, nor to force her to alter
her courfe.
Art. XXVII. It fiiall be lawful for merchants, captains, and
Commanders of veffels, whether public arid of war, or private
and of merchants, belonging to the faid United States of Ame-
rica, or any of them, or to their fubje6ls and inhabitants, to
take freely into their fervice, and to receive on board of thcii*
veffels in any port ci* place in the jurildi6lion of their High
Might'ineffes aforefaid, feartien or others, natives or inhabitants
of ainy of the faid States, upon fiich conditions as they
fhall agree on, v/ithout being lubjeft, for this, to any fine,
penalty, punifllment, procefs or reprehenfioa whatfoever.
And reciprocally, all merchants, captains and commanders,
belonging to the faid United iStetherlands, (hall enjoy all in the
ports and places under the obedience of the (aid United States
of Americaj the fame privilege of engaging aj^d receivin-:; Tea-
men or others, natives or inhabitants of any country of the
domination of the faid States-General : provided, that neither on
one fide nor the other, they may not take into their (eirvice fuch
of their countrymen who have already engaged in the fervice of
the other party contracting, whether in war or trade, and
whether they meet them by land or fea ; at leaft, if the captains
or mafters under the command of whom fuch perfons may be
found, will not of their own confcnt difcharge them from their
fervice, upon pain of being olherwifc treated and puaill?ei a*
defertcrs.
Vol, IV. 3 M
^5^ T RE A TY 0 F
Art. XXVllI. The affair of the refraftlon fliall be rege-
lated in all equity and juftice by the magiftrates of cities rc-
fpeftively, where it fhall be judged that there is any room to
complain in this refpeft.
Art. XXIX. The prefent treaty fhall be ratified and approve/i
by their High MightinefTes the States-General of the United
Netherlands, and by the United States of America ; and the
afts of ratification fhall be delivered, in good and due form,
on one fide and on the other, in the fpace of fix months, or
fooner, if poflible, to be computed from the day of the figna-
tuve.
In faith of which, we the deputies and plenipotentiaries of
the Lords the States-General of the United Netherlands,
and the minifler plenipotentiary of the United States of
America, in virtue of our refpeflive authorities and full
powers, have figned the pfeient treaty, and appofed
thereto the feals 6f our arms.
Done at the Hague, the eighth of Oftober, one thoufand
feven hundred and eighty-two.
(L. S.) GEORGE VAN RANDWYCR^
(L. S.) B, V. SANTHEUVEL,
(L. S.) P. VAN BLEISWYK,
'(L. S.) W. C. H. VAN LYNDEN,
{L. S.) D. J. VAN HEECREREN,
(L. S.) JOAN VAN RUFFELER,
(L. S.) T. G. VAN DEDEM, (Tot den Gclder)
(L. S.) H. T. JASSENS,
(L. S.) JOHN ADAMS.
«_..<..<..<4^(|.>..)l..>. —m
THE FORM of the Pajfport which fiall he given to flips and
veffels, in confequcnce of the twenty -Jifth article of this treaty.
To all who fliall fee thefe prefents, greeting :
BE it known, that leave and permilTion are hereby given to
mafter or commander of the
fiiip or veiTcl called of the burthen of
tons, or thereabouts, lying at prefent in the port or haven of
bound for and laden with
to depart and proceed with his faid (hip or vrffel on his faid
voyage, fuch fhip or veffel having been vifited, and the faid
^AMITY AND COMMERCE. ^j
tnafter and commander having m»de oath before the proper
officer, that the faid Ihip or veffel belongs to one or more of
the fubjefts, people or inhabitants of
and to him or them only. In witnefs whereof we
have fubfcribed our names to thefe prefents, and afHxed the feul
pf our arms thereto, and caufed the fame to be counterfigned by
{It this
day of in the year of our Lord Chrift
fORM oj the Certificate zohich JhalL be given to Jhips or vejfds^ in
confequence of the izuenty-fifth article of this treaty.
WE
magiftrates or ofEcers of the cuftoms of the city or
port of do certify and atteft, that on the
day of in the year of our Lord
C. D. of perfonally appeared before
us, and declared by folemn oath, that the ihip or yeflel called
of tons or thereabouts, v/hereof
of is at prefent mafter or commander,
docs rightfully and properly belong to him or them only ; that
file is now bound from the city or port of to the
port of laden with goods and merchandifes hereunder
particularly defcrlbed and enumerated, as follows :
" In witnefs whereof we have figned this certificate, and fealed
it with the feal of our office, this day of
in the year of our Lord Chrift
FORM of the Seq-Letter.
MOST Serene, Serene, Moft PuilTant, Puiffant, High, liluf-
trious. Noble, Honourable, Venerable, Wife and Prudent,
Lords, Emperors, Kings, Republics, Princes, Dukes, Earls,
Barons, Lords, Burgo-mafters, Schepens, Counfellors, as alfo
Judges, Officers, Jufticiaries and Regents of all the good cities
and places, whether ecclefiaftical or fecular, who Ihali fee thefe
prefents, or hear them read.
We, Burgo-mafters and Regents of the city of
make known, that the mafter of appearing before us,
has declared upon oath, that the veffel called of the
burthen of about lafts, which he at prefent navigates, is of
the United Provinces, and that no fubjefts of the enemy have
any part or portion therein, direftly nor iridireftly, fo may God
Almighty help him. And as we wifli to fee the faid mafter
3 1^ ^
452 DECREE OF THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAL.
profper in his lawful afFairs, our prayer is to all the before
mentioned, and to each of them feparatply, -where the faicj
maflcr fliall arrive with his veiTel and caigo, that they may
pleafe to receive the faid mafter with goodnefs, and to treat
him in a becoming manner, permitting biip.j upon the ufual toll
and cxpcnfes in pafling and repafung, to pals, navigate, an4
frequent the ports, paiTes and territories, to the end to tranfaft
his bufinefs where and in what manncf he fhall judge proper ;
whereof we fhall be willingly indebted.
In witnefs and for caufc wliereof, we affix hereto the feal of
this city.
(In the margin.)
Sy ordinance of tht High and Mighty Lords the Statcs-Gtmral of
the Uniitd Netherlands.
■■<■■<••< •<^^>"^">-V-—v
AUTHEXTIC COPY OF THE
DECREE OF THE QUEEN OF PORTUGAI.,
rOR OPENING A COMMERCTAL INTERCOURSE BETWEEN HE 11
SUBJECTS AND THOSE Of THE UNITED STATES.
POR.TUGAL.
Her Mujelty has been pleafcd to order the following Decree to
be tianfmitted to her Royal Court of Exchequer, that publi-
cation may be made of the lame.
HEREAS by the Declaration. of the Irtdependcnce pf the
United States of North-America, the objeft intended by the
Royal Decree of the 4ih of July, 1776, and the publication
thereof, by our Couit of Exchequer, on the 5tli of the fame
monll), have ceaicd to operate. We are therefore pleafed to
abolifh and annul the decree and publication aforefaid ; and do
hereby order, that free entrance be granted in all the ports of
our dominions, unto all fliips and veffcls coming from ^6rth-
A.nieric3, in ths fjfme manner as was formerly had in the admif-
TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE. ^53
JJpn of thofe which arrived from the faid colonies in the port*
aforefaid, and that all hofpitality ar.d favour be fliewn them,
which is uTually done to other friendly nations.
Our Court of Exchequer will fee this performed accordingly;
and are ordered to cavde this decree to be printed and fet up in
all public places of our city of l^ifoon, and of other ports of
this kingdom and Algarve, that all perfons may have due notice
ihereof, and none plead ignorance of the fame.
Given at Salvaterta de Magos, the 13th of February, 1783.
(Signed) With her Majeily's Cypher,
And in order that all perfons may have notice of this royal
refolution of our Lady aforefaid, we have caufed thefe prefents
to be printed, and affixed at all public places of this city and
wlher parts of this kingdom, agreeable to the tenor of the Decree
jibove mentioned.
Lifbon, this 17th of February, 1783.
(Signed) GONSOLA JOSE DA SILVEIRA PRETQ,
JOSE DA CONSTA RIBEIRO.
..«..«..<..«..« .^ V^<<^ ^ »•■>■ )•••■
TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE
BETWEXM
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF PRUSSIA, AND THE THIRTEEN'
UNITED ST.\TE3 Of AMERICA,
-IS Majelly the King of Prufiia, and the United States of
America, defiring to fix, in a permanent and equitable manner,
the rules to be obferved in the intercourfe and commerce they
defire to eftablifh between their refpeftive countries, his Majefty
and the United States have judged, that the faid end cannot be
better obtained than by taking the moib perfeft equality and re-
ciprocity for the bafis of their agreement.
With this view, his Majelly the King of Pruflia has nominated
and conftituted, as his plenipotentiary, the Baron Frederick
William de Thulemeier, his prii'y ccunfellor of embaffy and en-
voy extraordinary, with their High MightinelTes the States-
peneral of the United Nctherlonds ; and the United States have,
pn their part, given full pov/ers to John Adams, Efq. late one
454 TREATY OF
of their miniflers plenipotentiary for ncgociating a peace, here«
tofore a delegate in Congrefs from the State of MafTachufetts,
and chief juftice of the fame, and now miniller plenipotentiary
of the United States with his Britannic Majefty ; Dr. Benjamit)
Franklin, late minifter plenipotentiary at the Court of Verfailles,
and another of their miniflers plenipotentiary for negotiating a
peace; and Thomas Jefferfon, heretofore a delegate in Congrefs
from the State of Virginia, and governor of the faid State, and
now minifter plenipotentiary of the United States at the Court
of his Moft Chriftian Majefly, which refpeftive plenipotentia-
ries, after having exchanged their full powers, and on mature
deliberation, have concluded^ fettled and figned the following
articles :
Article I. There fliall be a Srm, inviolable and univerfal peace
and fincere friendfnip between his Majefty the King of Pruftia,
his heirs, fucceffors and fubjefts, on the one part, and the United
States of America and their citizens, on the other, without e§.
ceptions of perfons or places.
Art. II. The fubjefls of his Majefty the King of Prufiia may
frequent all the coafts and countries of the United States of
America, and refide and trade there in all forts of produce, ma-
nufaflures and merchandife 5 and fhall pay within the faid United
States no other or greater duties, charges or fees whatfoever.
than the moft favoured nations are or fhall be obliged to pay;
and they (hall enjoy all the rights, privileges, and exemptions ii^
navigation and commerce, v/hich the moft favoured nation does
or fhall enjoy ; fubmitting themfelves, neverthelcfs, to the laws
and ufages there eftabliflied, and to which are fubmitted the ci-
ti2ens of the United States and the citizens apd fubjcfts of tl^c
moft favoured nations.
Art. III. In like manner the citizens of the United States of
America may frequent all the coafts and countries of his Majefty
the King of Prufiia, and refide and trade there in all forts of
produce, manufaftures and merchandife, and fhall pay in the
dominions of his faid Majefty, no other or greater duties, charges
or itcs whatfoever, than the moft favoured nation is or fhall be
obliged to pay ; and they fliall enjoy all the rights, privileges,
and exemptions in navigation and commerce, which the moft
favoured nation does or fliall enjoy : fubmitting themfelves ne-
verlhelels to the laws and ufages there eftabliflied, and J;p. which
are fubmhted the I'uhjefts of his M;jcfty the King <:)f PrufFia.
and the fubjecls and cii-zens cf the moft favouicd nations. ■
AMITY and commerce. 455
Art; IV. More efpecially each party fhall have a riglit to carry
their own produce, manufaftures and merchandife, in their own
or any other veffels, to any parts of the dominions of the other,
where it fhall be lawful for all the fubjefts or citirens of that
other freely to purchafe them ; and thence to take the produce,
manufaftures and merchandife of the other, which all the faid
citizens or fubje6ls {hall in like manner be free to fell them, pay-
ing in both cafes fuch duties, charges and fees only, as are or
fhall be paid by the mod favoured nation. Neverthelefs the
King of Pruflia and the United States, and each of them, re*
ferve to themfelves the right where any nation reftrains the tranf-
portation of merchandife to the veflels of the country of which
it is the growth or manufafture, to eftablifh agairift fuch nation
retaliating regulations ; and alio tlie right to prohibit, in their
refpeftive countries, the importation and exportation of all mer-
chandife whatfoever, when reafons of flate fhall require it. In
this cafe, the fubjects or citizens of either of the contrafting par-
ties Ihall not import nor export the merchandife prohibited by
the other ; but if one of the contrafting parties permits any
other nation to import or export the fame merchandife, the citi-
zens or fubjefts of the other fhall immediately enjoy the fame
liberty.
Art. V. The merchants, commanders of velTels, or other fub-
jefts or citizens of either party, fhall not, within the ports or
jurifdiftion of the other, be forced to unload any fort of mer-
chandife into any other veflels ; nor to receive them into their
own, nor to wait for their being loaded longer than they
pleafe.
Art. VI. That the veffeis of either party loading within the
ports or jurifdiftion of the other, may not be ufelefsly haraffed
or detained, it is agreed, that all examinations of goods required
by the laws, fhall be made before they be laden on board the
vefTel, and that there fhall be no examination after ; nor fhall the
velTel be fearched at any time, unlefs articles fliall have been
laden therein clandeftinely and illegally ; in which cafe the per-
fon by whofe order they were carried on board, or who carried
them without order, fhall be liable to the laws of the land in
which he is : but no other perfon fliall be molefled, nor fhall
any other goods, nor the velTel, be feifed or detained for that
caufe.
Art. Vll. Each party fhall endeavour, by all the tncnns in
their power, to proteft and defend ail veffeis and other effefts
fcelonging to the citizens or fubjefts of the other, which ih^ll he
45& TkEATY OF
Within the c-Ntent of their juiifdiflion, by fea or by land ; and fnall
iiie. all their efforts to recover, and caufe to be reftorcd to their
right owners, their veffcls and efFetls which (hall be taken from
them within the extent of their laid jurifdiftion.
Art. VIII. The vefTels of the fubjefts or citizens of eithef
^aity, fcoming on any coaft belonging to the other, but not
•willing to enter into poit, or being entered into port, and not
•willing to unload their cnvgoes or break bulk, fllall have liberty
to depart, and to purfue their voyage without tnoleftation, and
ivithout being obliged to render account of their cargo, or to
pay any duties, charges or fees whatfoever, except thole eftab-
liftied for veffels entered into port, and appropriated to the
maintenance of the port itlelf, or of other ellablifliments for
the fafety and convenience of navigators, which duties, charges
and fees, fliall be the iamc, and (hall be paid on the fame foot-
ing as in the cafe of lubjctls or citizens bf the country whei'Ci
they are eflablifhed.
Art. IX. When any vefTel of either pr receivii.g thf?m. Antl if
A M 1 1 Y A N D CO M MERGE. 457
^uef!ion fliall arife among feveral claimants, to wKich of them
the faid goods belong, the fame fliall be decided finally by the
?:iws and judgies of the land Avherein the Paid goods are. And
where, on the death of any perfon holdinj^ real eftate within
the territories of the ore party, fuch real eftate \vonld, by the
laws of the land, defcend on a citizen or fubjeft of tlie othevj
xvere he not difqualified by alienage, fuch fubjeft fanll be allowed
a reafonable time to fell the fame, and to withdraw the proceeds
without moleftation, andexenpt from all rights of detraftion
on the part of the government of the refpeftive States. But
this article fliall not derogate in any manner from the force of
the lau'S already publifhed, or hereafter to be publiflied, by his
M;:jefty the King of F^'ufiia, to prevent the emigration of his
fubjefts.
Art. XI. The mofl perfeft freedom of confcience, and of
worfhip, is granted to the citizens or fubjefts of either partv,
within the jurifditlion of the other, without being liable to
moleftation in that refpeftj for any caufe or infult on the reli-
gion of others. Moreover, when the fubjefts or citizens of
^.he one party Tnall die within the jurildiftion of the other, their
bodies fhall be buried in the uiual burying grounds, or other
decent and fnitable places, and fhall be protected from violation
or difturbance;
Art. Xil. If one of the tontrafting parties fhould be engaged
in war with any other power, the free intercourle and com^
mei'ce of the fubjcfts or citizens of the party remaining neuter
with the belligerent J^ovv'ers fliall not be iuterrupted. On the
contrary, in that cafe^ as in full peace, the velTcls of the neu-
trjl pi^arty may navigate freely to and from the portpj and on the
coafts of the belligerent parties^ free vefTels making free goods j
infomuch that all things fhall be adjudged free, which flTall be
On board any velTel belonging to the neutral party, although
fuch things belong to an enemy of the other; and the fame
freedom fnall be extended to perfons who fhall be on board a
free vedel, although they fliall be enemies to the other
party, unlefs they be foldiers in the aftual ferviee of ^fuch
enemy.
Art. JCIII. And in the fame cafe, of one of the contra£lirg
parties being engaged in war with any other power, to prevent
all the difficulties and .mifuipderilandings that ufualjy arife re*
fpe6ling^th"e merchandife heretofore called contraband, fuch as
arms,, ammunition and milifaiy ftores of every kind, no luch
articles, 'Carried m ths vsiieis, or by the iubjctts or citizens of
45* TREATY Of
one of ike parties, to the enemies of the other, fhaTl ht
deemed contraband, fo as to induce confifcation or condemna-
tion and a lofs of property to individuals. Neverthelefs, ixr
fliall be lawful to ftop fuch veffels and articles, and to detain
them for fuch length of time as the captors may thing ncceffary,
to prevent the inconvenience or damage th'at might enfue from
their proceeding, paying, however, a reafonable compcnfation
for the Jois fuch arred fhall occafron to the proprietors : and it
ftiall farther be allowed to u(e in the fervlce of the captors, the
ivhole or any part of the military fti. res fo detained, paying tha
owners the full value of the fame, to be afcertained by the
current pvkc at the place of its deflination. But in the cafe
fuppdVrd, of a veffel ftopped for articles heretofore deemed
contraband, if the maflcr of the veffel (lopped will deliver
out the goods fuppofed to be of contraband nature,- he fhall be
admitted to do ft ;■ and the velTcl fl^all not in that cafe be carried
into any p'ort, itor further detained, but fhall be alliawcd to
proceed on her voyage.
XIV. And in the fame cafe, where one of the paiflles is en-
gaged in war with another power, that the velTels of the neutral
party may be readily and certainly known, it is agreed, that
they flrall be' provided M'ith fea letters, or pafTports, which
flrall exprelis the name, the property, and burden of the veflel,
as alfo the name and dwelling of the mafter ; tvhich pallports
fhall be made out in good and due forms, to be fisftled by con-
ventions between the parties, whenever occafions fhall- retjuirc ;
fliall be renewed as often as the veffel flnll return into port |-
and fhall be exhibited, whenever required, as well in the open
fea as in port. But if the faid veffel be under convoy of one
or more veffels of v/ar, belonging to the neutral party, the
fimple declaration of the oficer commanding- the convoy, that
the fuid veffel belongs to the party of which he if, fhall be
confidered as efhsibli firing the fa6l, and fhall relitve both parties
from the trouble of further examination.
XV. And to prevent entirely all disorder and violence in
fuch cafes^, it is flrpulated,- that when the veffels of the neutral
parfy, failing without convoy, flrall be met by any veffel of
war, public or private, of the other party, fuch veffel of
war fliiill not approach within cannon Ihot of the faid neutral
veffel,- nor fend more than two or three men in their boat on
board the fame, to examine her (ea letters or paffports. And
all perfons belonging to any vcffcl of war, public or private,
who flrall molefl or injure, in any manner whatever, the
people, veffels, or effcds of the other party, ftiall be refponfible
- 'AMITY AND COMMENCE, ^f
ip their perfons and property, for damages and interell ; fufH.-
cient fecurity for which fhall be given by all commanders of
private armed veffels, before they are commiffioned.
XVI. It is agreed, that the fubjefts or citizens of each of
the contrafting parties^ their vejffels and cffedls, ftiall not be
liable to any embargo or detention on the part of the other, for
any mililitary expedition, or other public or private purpofc
ivhatfoever. And in all cafes of feisure, detention, or arrefl,
for debts contrafted, or offences committed by any citizen or
fubjeft of the one party, within the jurifdiftion of the other,
(he fame fhall be made and profecuted by order and authority of
law only, and according to the regular courfe ,of proceeding?
ttfual in fuch cafes.
XVIJt, If any vedel or efFefts of the ijeutral power be taken
by an enemy of the other, or by a pirate, and retaken by the
other, they (hall be brought into fome port of one of the par-
tics, and delivered into the cuflody of the officers of that port,
jn order to be reftored entire to the true proprietor, as foon as
^ue proof fhall be made concerning the prop.erty thereof.
XVIII. If the citizens or fubjcfts of either party, in danger
from tempefls, pirates, enemies, or other accident, fliali take
jrefuge, with their velTels or effefts, within the harbours or
jurifdifibion pf the other, they fliall be, received, protefted,
9nd treated with humanity and kindnefs, and fhall be per-
mitted to furnifh themfelves at reafonable prices with all lefrefli-
mcnts, provifions, and other things necclTary for their fufte-
nance, health and accommodaticnj and for the repair of their
veffels,
XIX. The vefTels of war, public and private, of both parr
ties, fhall carry freely wherefoever they pleafe, the velTcls and
effefts taken from their enemies, withouj; being obliged to pay
^ny duties, charges, or fees, to ofI].cers of admiralty, of the
cuftoms, or any others; nor fhall fych prizes be arrefted,
fearched or put under legal procefs, wheri tliey come to, and
enter the ports of the other party ; but may freely be carried
out again at any time, by their captors, to the places exprclfed
in their commiflions, which the coiumandijig officer of fuch
ycflels fhall be obliged to flicw. But no vefl'el which fliail
have made prizes on the fubjecls of his Mull Chriftian Maj-fly
the King of France, fhall have a right of afylum in the pots
or haven§ of the laid United States: and if any fuch be forced
therein, by tempeft or dangers of the fea, they fnall hz obliged to
4epart as foon as pqflible, according to the tenor of the treaties
3 N 2
4^6 T R E A TYO F
exifling between his faiJ Moft Chrillian M.ijcfty and the faid
United States.
XX. No citizen or fubje£l of either of the contracling par-
tics fhall take from any povver with which the other rn;!y be at
war, any commifiion or letter of marque for arming any
veffel to a£b as privateer againft the other, on pain of being
punifiied as a pirate ; nor fhall either party hire, lend, or
give any pait of their naval or military force to the cnerr.y
of the other, to aid them offcnfively pr dcfenfivcly againft that
other.
XXI. If the twQ contrafting parties fhould be engaged in a
^^'ar againft a common enemy, the following points fhall be
obfcrved between them :
ill. If a velTel of one of the parties, retaken by a privateer
6f the other, fhalj not have been in polteflion of the enemy
jnore than twenty-four hours, flie fhall be rellored to the fird
•wncr for one third of the value of the vefTel and cargo : but
if flie fhall have been more than twenty-four hours in the pof-
felfion of the enemy, fhe fhall belong wholly to the recaptor.
2d. If in the fame caie the recapture were by a public velfel of
war of one party, rcflitution fhall be miide to the owner for
one thirtieth part of the value of the veil'el and cargo, if flie
Ihall not have been in the polfefrion of the enemy more than
twenty-four hours, and one tenth of the laid value where flie
(hall have been longer, which fums fhall be diRributcd in gratui-
ties to the recaptors. 3d. The reftitution in the cafes afoefaid,
fhall be after due proof of property, and luiety given fcr the
part to which the recaptors are entitled, 4th. The veffels of
war, public and private, of the two parties, fliall be recipro-
cally admitted with their prizes into the refpeftive ports of
each : but the faid prizes fliall not be clifcharged nor fold there^
until their legality fhall have been decided, according to the
lavx^s and reaul-jtjons of the flate tq which the captor belongs
but by the judicatures of the place into which the prize fhalj.
iiavi been condufted. 5th. It fliall be fiee to each party to
make ii;ch reguldtions as they fliall judge neccifjiy, for the
condu6l,uf their lelpcft'ivc vcffols of wai, public and private,
relative to the velllls which they fliall take auu carry into the
po.its of the :u'0 pai.tics.
XXI J. Where the paities fliaij have a common enemy, or
iliall-boih be neutral, the vefTels of war of eac'.i fhall upon all
tccahons , tiike under dieir protection the velfcls of the oth^r
gQin!5,,tbif,;f*^a^:,coyjrfej and fliall defend fuch v^ffeU-^s long
AMlTY ANI> COMMERCE, 4^4
as iliey hold the faftie courfe, againfl all force and violence, id
the fame manner as they ought to proteft and defend veffels be-
longing to the purty of which they are.
XXIII. If war ihould arife between the two contrafting
parties, the merchants of either country, then rehding in the
Other, fliall be allowed to remain nine months to colle6l their
debts, and fettle their affairs, and may depart freely, carrying
off all their effefts, without moleflation or hindrance ; and all
women and children, fchohrs of every faculty, cultivators of
the earth, artifans, manufafturers, and hfliermen, unarmed and
inhabiling unfortified towns, villages or places, and in genen;!
all others, whofe occupations are for the common fubfiftcnce and
benefit of mankind, (hall be allowed to continue their refpeftive
employments, and fhail not be molefted in their peribns ; nor
fliall their houfes or goods be burnt, or otherwife deftroyed,
nor their fields walled by the armed force of the enemy, into
whofe power, by the events of war, they may happen to fall :
but if any thing be neceffary to be taken from them for tlie ufs
of fuch armed force, the fame fhall be paid for at a reafonable
price. And all merchant and trading veffels employed in ex-
changing the produfts of different places, and thereby rendering
the neceffaries, convcniencies, and comforts of human life more
eafy to be obtained, and more general, {hall be allowed to pafs
free and unmoleffed : and neither of the contrafting parties
fhall grant or iffue any commiffion to any private armed veffels*,
empowering them to take or dcllroy fuch trading veffels, or in-
terrupt fuch commerce.
XXIV. And to prevent the deflru£lion of prifoncrs of war,
by fending them into diftant and inclement countries, or by
crowding them in dole and noxious places, the two contrafting
parties folemnly pledge themlelves to each other, and to the
world, that they will not adopt any fuch praflice ; that neither
will fend the prifoners whom they may take from the other,
into the Eiifl- Indies, or any other parts of Aha or Africa, but
that they fliall be placed in fome part of their dominions in
Europe cr America, in wholefome fituations ; that they {hall
not be confined in dungeons, prifon ffiips, nor prifons, nor be
put into irons, nor bound, nor otherwilc reftrained in the ufe
of their limbs ; that the ofEceis fhall be enlarged on their paroles
within convenient diflricls, and have comfortable quarters ; and
the common men be difpofed in eant6nments, open and ex ten-
five enough for air and exerciicj and lodged in barracks as
foomy and as' good as are provided by tlie paity in whofe power
:hey are^ for their ov/n tl'oops ; that ti.e oHiccrs ih-.'.Il alfo be
46a TREATY OF AMITY AND COMMERCE.
daily fMrnifhed by the party in whofe power they are, v/itH
as many rations, and of the fame articles and quality as arc
allowed by them, either in kind or commutation, to officer?
of equal rank in thfrir own army ; and all others (hall be dai-
ly furnifhed by them with fuch rations as they allow to a com-
mon foldier in their own fervice, the value whereof ^all be
paid by the other party, on mutual adjuftment of accounts
for the fuflenance of prifoners at the clofe of the war : and
the faid accounts (hall not be mingled with, or fet off againft
any others, nor the balances due on them be withheld as a.
fatisfaftion or reprifal for any other article, or for any other
caufe, real or pretended, whatever j that each party ihall be
allowed to keep a commilTary of prifoners of their own ap-
pointment, wit^ every feparate cantonment of prifoners in
pofleflion of the other; which commifTary fhall fee the pri-
foners as often a$ he pleafes, (hall be allowed to receive and
diftribute whatever comforts may be fcnt to them by thei|-
friends, and {hall be free to make his reports in open letters
to thofe who employ him : but i^ any officer {hall break his
parole, or any other prifoner fliall efcape from the limits of
his cantonment, after they fhall have been defignatcd to him,
fuch individual officer or other prifoner {hall forfeit fo mucl>
pf the benefit of this article, as provides for his enlargement
on parole or cantonment. And it is declared, that neither
the pretence that war diffolves all treaties, nor any other what-
ever, fhall be confidered as annulling or fufpending this and
the next preceding article ; but, on the contrary, that th^
(late of war is precifely that for which they are provided,
and during which they are to be as facredly obferved as^ th^
moft acknowledged articles in the law of nature or nations,
XXV. The two contrafting parties grant to each other
the liberty of having each in the ports of the other, confuls,
vice-cAnluls, agents, and commiflfajies of their own appoint-
ment, whofe funftions fhall be regulated by particular agree-
ment, whenever either party fhall choofe to make fuch ap-
pointment ; but if any iuch confuls {hall cxercife commerce,
they {hall be fubmitted to the fame laws and ufages to vichich
the private individuals of their nation are fubmitted in the
fame place.
XXVI. If either party fhall hereafter grant to any other
nation, any particular favour in navigation or commerce, it
fhall immediately become commori to the other party— free-
ly, where it is freely granted, fo fuch other natior, — .or on
yelding tlu'.-compcnfatJorij \vhe;e fuch nation does the U\n^^
tREATY Ot AMitY, COMMERCE, £lc, 463
XXVII. His Majefty the King of Pruffia and the Unit-
iniiiiop, provided that one of the commiflioners named on each
COMMERCE AND KAVIGATIO^. 469
^de, and the fifth commiflloner fhall be prefent, and all deci-
fions {hall be made by the majority of the voices of the com.
piiflioners then prefent ; eighteen months from the day on which
the faid commiffioners fhall form a board, and be ready to pro«
ceed to bulinefs, are afligned for receiving complaints, and
applications; but they are nevcrthelefs authoriied in any parti-
cular cafes in which it fhall appear to them to be reaionablc and
juft, to extend the faid term of eighteen months for any term
not exceeding fix months, after the expiration thereof. The
faid commiflioners fhall firft meet at Philadelphia, but they fhall
have power to adjourn from place to place as they fhall fee
caufe.
The faid commiflioners in examining the complaints and appli«
cations fo preferred to them, are empowered and required, ia
purfuance of the true intent and meaning of this article, to
take into their confideration all claims, whether of principal and
intereft, or balances of principal and intereft, and to determine
the fame refpeftively according to the merits of the feveral cales,
due regard being had to all the circumftances thereof, and as
equity and juflice fhall appear to them to require. And the
faid commiflioners fhall have power to examine all fuch perfons
as {hall come before them on oath or alfirmation or books, or
papers, or copies, or extrafts thereof, every fuch depofition,
book, or paper, or extra6l bejiig duly authenticated, either ac-
*Cording to the legal forms now refpeftively exifting in the two
Countries, or in fuch other manner as the faid commifTioncrs
Ihall fee caufe to require or allow.
The award of the iaid commiffioners or of any three of them
as aforefaid, fhall in all cafes be final and conclufive, both as to
the juflice of the claim, and to the amount of the lum to be
paid to the creditor or claimant : and the United States under-
take to caufe the fum lo awarded to be paid in fpecie to luch
creditor or claimant with deduftion ; and at fuch time or times,
and at fuch place or places as fhall be awarded by the laid com-
jnifTioners ; and on condition of luch reieafes or alignments to
be given by the creditor of claimant, as by the faid commif*
fioners may be direfted ; provided always, that no luch payment
fhall be fixed by the laid commiffioners to take place fooncr than
twelve months from the day of the exchange of the ratifica-
tions of this treaty.
Art. 7. Whereas Complaints have been made by divers mer-
chants and other, citizens of the United States,- that during
the courfe of the war in which his Majefty is now engjged,
?hey have fuftained confiderable loffes and damage, by reaion
4^9 TREATY OF AMITY,
cf irregular or illegal captures or condemnations of their vefr
fels and other property under colour of authority or commiC
fions from his Majefty, and that from various circumflances
belonging to the faid cafes, adequate compenfation for the loITcs
and damages fo fuftained cannot now be actually obtained*
had and received by the or linary courfe of judicial proceed-
ings : it it agreed, that in all fuch caJes were adexjuate com-
penfation cannot, for whatever reafon, be now aftually ob-
tained, had and received by faid merchants and others in the
ordinary courfe of juftice, full and complete compenfation for
the fame will be made by the Britifh government to the faid
complainants. But it is diflinftly underftood that this provi-
f\on is not to extend to fuch loffes or damages as have been
occafloned by the manifefl delay or negligence, or wilful omif-
fion of the claimants.
That for the purpofe of afcertaing the amount of any fuch
Joffes and damages, 6ve comminioners (hall be appointed and
authorifed to aft in London, exaftly in the manner direfted with
lefpeft to thofe mentioned in the preceding article, and after
having taken the fame oath or alRrmation [mjitatis viutandis) the
fame term of eighteen months is alfo afTigned for the receptiori
of claims, and they are ip J ike manner authorifed to extend the
fame in particular cafes, Tljsy (hall receive teftirnony, books,
papers and evidence in the fame latitude, and exercife the like
dilcretion and powers refpc,£ling that fubjeft ; apd (hall decide
ihe claims in queftion according to the merits of the feveral
cafes, and to juftice, equity, and the laws of nations. 7 he award
of the commifTioners, or any fuch three of them as aforefaid,
fhall, in all caies be final and conclufive, both as to the juftice of
the claim, and the amount of the fum to be paid to the claimant ;
and his Britannic Majefty undertakes to caufe the f^me to bg
paid to fuch claimant in Ipecie, without any deduftion, at fuch
place or places, and at fuch time or times as fhall be awarded by
the faid commiluoners, and on condition of fuch relcafes or afr
lignments to be given by the claimants, as by the laid commif-
iioners may be direfted.
And whereas certain merchants and others his Majefty's fub-
je6ls complain that in the courfe of the war they have iuftained
lofs and damage by reafon of the capture of the velfcls and
merchandife taken within the limits and juriidiftion of the
States, and brought into the ports of the lame, or taken by vef-
fels originally armed in ports of the faid States.
It is agreed that in all fuch cafes where reftitution (hall rot
have been made agreeably to the tenor of the letter from Mr,
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION, qp
Jefferfon to Mr. Hammond, dated at Philadelphia, Sept. 5, 1^93,
a copy of which is annexed to this treaty ; the complaints of
the parties (hall be and hereby are referred to the commiflioners
to be appointed by virtue of this arti; le, who are hereby au-
thorifed and required to proceed in'the like manner relative to
thefe as to the other cafes committed to them ; and the tJnited
States undertake to pay to the complainants or claimants in fpe-
cie, without deduftion, the amount of fuch fums as fhall be
awarded to them refpeftively by the faid commifiioners, andal
the times and places which in fuch awards fhall be fpecified ; and
on conditions of fuch releafes or affignments to be given by the
claimants as in the faid award may be direfted : and it is further
agreed that not only the now exifling cafes of both defcriptions
but alfo all fuch as fhall exift at the time of exchanging tha
ratifications of this treaty, fhall be confidered within the provi-
fions, intent and meaning of this article.
Art. 8. It is further agreed, that the comminioners mentioned
in the two preceding articles fhall be refpeftively paid in fuch
Itianner as fhall be agreed between the two parties ; fuch agree-
ment being to be fettled at the time of the exchange of the ratifi-
cation of this treaty. And all other expences attending the faid
Commilfions fhall be defrayed jointly by the two parties, the
fame being previoufly afcertained and allowed by the majority
of the commiffioners. And in the cafe of death, ficknefs or
neceffary abfence, the place of every fuch commiffioncr refpec-
tively fhall be fupplied in the fame manner as fuch commiflioner
was appointed, and the new commifTioner fhall take the fame
Oath or affirmation and do the fame duties.
Art. g. It is agreed that Britifh fubjefts who now hold lands
in the territories of the United States, and American citizens
Avho now hold lands in the dominions of his Majefly fhall con-
tinue to hold them according to the nature and tenure of their
refpeftive ftates and titles therein ; and may grant, fell, dr devife
the fame to whom they pleafe, in like manner as if they were
natives ; and that neither they nor their heirs or afiigns fhall fo
far as may refpeft the faid lands and the legal remedies incident
thereto, be regarded as aliens.
Art. 10. Neither the debts due from individuals of tlie one
nation, to individuals of the other, nor fharcs nor monies which
they may have in the public funds, or in the public or private
banks fhall ever in any event of war or national differences be
i'cqueflered or confifcated, it being unjuft and impolitic that
debts and engagements contraftcd and made by individnals liav-
4ii TREATY OF AMITY,
ing confidence in each other, and in their refpcftive governments
fhould ever bs deftroyed or impaired by national authority on
account of national differences and difcontents.
Alt. 11. It is agreed between his Majefty and the United
States of America, that there {Kail be a reciprocal aud entirely
pcrfeft liberty of navigation and commerce between their re-
fpeftive people, in the manner, under the limitations and on
the conditions fpecified in the following articles.
* Art. i?.. Plis Mnjefty confents that it fhall and may be
lawful during the time herein after limited for the citizens of
the United States to carry to any of his Majefty's iflands and
ports in the Weft-Indies from the United States, in their own
vslTels, not being above the burthen of feventy tons, any goods
or merchandifes being of the growth, manufacture or produce
of the faid States, which it is or may be lawful to carry to the
faid iflinds or ports from the faid States in Britilh vedels ; and
that the faid American veffels fnall be fubjeft there to no othef
or higher tonnage duties or charges than fhall be payable by
Britifh vciTeh in the ports of the United States ; and that the
cargoes of the faid American veffels Ihall be fubjeft there to no
other or higher duties or charges than ftiall be payable on the
like articles if imported there from the faid States in Britifh
vefTels.
And his Majefly alfo confents that it fhall be lawful for the
faid American citizens to purchafe, load and carry away ia
their faid vcifcls to the United States from the laid iflands
and ports all fuch articles being of the growth, manufafture
or produce of the faid iflands as may now by law be carried
from thence to the faid States in Britifh veffels and iubjeft only
to the fame duties and charges on exportation, to which Bri-
tifh vefTels and their cargoes are or fhall be fubjeft in fimiUr
circumflances.
* CONDITIONAL RATIFICATION, on the part of the United
States, in Senat?, June 24, 1795-
Refolved, that the Senate do confent to, and advife the Prefident of th<
United States to ratify the treaty of amity, commcrr.e and navigation, be-
tween his Britannic Majefty and the United States of America, concluded
at Ivondon, the -.gth November, 1794, on condition that there be added to
the faid treaty, and article -whereby it fhall be agreed to fufpcnd fo much
of the 12th article, as fefpefla the trade, which his faid Majefty thereby
confents may be carried on between the United States and his Iflands in
the Weft'Indies, in the manner, and on the terras and conditions therein
i'pecificd.
And the Senate recommend to the Prefident to proceed without delay
to further friendly negociations with his Majefly on the fubjcft pf the faid
trade, and of the terms and conditions in quelljon.
C 0 MM£ RC 'E AND NA VIGA Tl 0 N. 473
Provided always that the faid American veffels do carry and
iand their cargoes in the United States only, it being exptcfsly
agreed and declared thai durir^g the continuance of this article,
the United States will prohibit and rcftrain the carrying any
molaffes, lugar, coffee, cocoa or cotton in American veffels^
either from his M.ijefty's iflands or from the United States to
any part of the world ejicept the United States, reafonable fea.
ftorcs excepted. Provided alfo, that it fhall and may be law-
fal, daring the fame period, for Britilh veirds to import from
the faid iilands into the United States, and to export from the
United States to the faid illands, all articles whatever being of
the growth, produce or manufafture of the faid iflands, or of
the United States refpeftively, which now may, by the laws
of the faid States, be fo imported and exported. And that
the cargoes of the faid Britidi veffels fliall be fubjeft to no
other or higher duties or charges, than flauU be payable on the
iame articles, if fo imported or exported in American veffels.
It is agreed that this article and eve-ry matter and thing there-
in contained fhall continue to be in force during the continuance
of the war, in which his Majefly is now engaged ; and alfo for
two years from and after the day of the fignature of the pre-
liminary or other articles of peace by which the lame may be
terminated,
• And it is further agreed, that at the expiration of the faid
term, the two contr;i6iing parties will endeavour further to re-
gulate their commerce in this refpeft, according to the lituation
in which his Majefty may then find himfelf with relpe6l to the
Weft-Indies, and with a view to fuch arrangements as may belt
conduce to the mutual advantage and extenfion of commerce.
And the faid parties will then alio renew their difcuffions, and
endeavour to agree, whether in any and what cales, neuiral
veileis fhall proteft enemy's property ; and in what cales provi-
fions and other articles, not generally contraband, may become
fuch. But in the mean time their conduft tovv-ardi each other
in theie refpe^s, fhall be regulated by the articles herein after
iiiferted on thole fubjefts.
Art. 13, His Majefty confents that the veffels belonging to
tiie citizens of the United States of America, fliall be admitted
and holpitably received in all the fea ports and haibours of the
Biitilli territories in the Eaft-lndies, And that the citizens of
the i^id United States may freely carry on a trsde between the
faid territories and tiie faid United States, in all articles, of
which' the importation or exportation refpeftively to or from
the laid lemtoiies, fhill not entirely ' -.hilbited. Provided
474 TREATY OF AMITY,
only that it fhall not be lawful for them in any time of wzr
between the Briiifh government and any other power or ftatc
whatever, to export from the faid territories, without the fpc-
cial permillion of the Bfitifh government there, any military
ftores or naval ftores or rice. The citizens of the United
States fhall pay for their veffels when admitted into the iaid
ports no other or higher tonnage duty than fhall be payable on
Britifli vefTels when admitted into the ports of the United
States. And they {hall pay no other or higher duties or charged
on the importation or exportation of the cargoes of the laid
veffels, than Ihali bs payable on the fame articles when im-
ported or exported in Bntifli veffels. But it is exprefsly agreed,
that the veflTels of the United States fhall not carry any of the
articles exported by them from the faid Britifh territories to any
port or place except to fome port or place in America, where
the fame fliall be unladen, and iuch regulations fhall be adopted
by both parties, as Ihall fi om time to time be found neceffary
to enforce the due and faithful obfervance of this ftipulation.
It is alfo under flood that the permiflion granted by this article
is not to extend to allow the veffels of the United States to
carry on any part of the coafting trade of the faid Britifh ter-
ritories ; but veffels going with their original cargoes, or part
thereof, from one port of difcharge to another are not to be
confidered as carrying on the coafting trade. Neither is this
article to be conflltuted to allow the citizens of the faid States
to fettle or refide within the laid territories, or to go into the
interior paus thereof, without the permiflion of the Britifh
government eflablifhed there ; and if any tranfgrefTion fhould
be attempted againfh the regulations of the Britifh go-
vernment in thij» relpeft, the obfervance of the fame fhaii
and may be enforced againfl the citizens of America in the
fame manner as againfl Britifh fubjefts or others tranfgrefling
the fame rule. And the citizens of the United States when-
ever they arrive in any port or harbor in the faid territories, or
if they fhould be permitted in manner aforelaid, to go to any
other place therein fhall always be fubjeft to the laws, govern-
ment and jurildiftion of what nature eflablifhed in fuch har-
bor, port or place, according as the fame may be ; the citizens
of the United Stales, may alfo touch for refrefhment at the
illand of St, Helena, but fubjeft in all refpefts to fuch regula-
tions as the Britifli government may from time to time eitablifh
there.
Art. 14. There fhall be between all the dominions of his
Majefly in Europe and the territories of the United States a
reciprocal and perfeft liberty of commerce and navigation. The
[COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION. 475
people and inhabitants of the two countries refpeftively fhall
have liberty freely and fecurely and without hinlrance and
moleftation to come with their fhtps and cargoes to the lands,
countries, cities, ports, places and rivers within the dominions
and territories aforefaid, to enter into the fame, to refort there
and to remain and reiide there, without any limitation of time :
and alfo to hire and poffefs houfes and warehoufes for the pur-
pofes of their commerce, and generally the merchants and tra-
ders on each fide {hall enjoy the moft complete proteftion and
fecurity for their commerce ; but fubjeO: always as to what ref-
pefts this article to the laws and flatutes of the two countries
refpeftively.
Art, 15. It is agreed that no other or higher duties fhall be
paid by the Ihips or merchandife of the one party in the ports
of the other, than fuch as are paid by the like veffels or mer-
chandife of all other nations. Nor fhall any other or higher
duty be impoted in one country on the impoxtation of any ar-
ticles the growth, produce or manufa£lure of the other than are
or fliall be payable on the importation of the like articles being
of the growth, produce or manufafture of any other foreign
country. Nor fhall any prohibition be impofed on the exporta-
tion or importation of any articles to or from the territories of
the two parties refpe^ively, which fliall not ecjually extend to
all other nations.
But the Britifh government referves to itfelf the right of im-
pohng on American veffels entering into the Britifh ports in
Europe a tonnage duty equal to that which fhall be payable by
Britifh veffels in the ports of America : and alfo fuch duty
as may be adequate to countervail the difference of duty now
payable on the importation of European and Afiatic goods when
imported into the United States in Britifh or in American
veffels.
The two parties agree to treajt: for the mere eKa£l equalizatiorj
of the duties on the refpeftlve navigation of their fubjefts and
people in fuch manner as may be mofl beneficial to the two
countries. The arrangements for this purpofe fhall be made at
the fame time with thofe mentioned at the conclufion of the
1 2th article of this treaty, and are to be conndered as a part
thereof. In the interval it is agreed, that the United States
will not impofe any new or additional tonnage duties on Britifli
veffels, nor increaie the now lubfifl'mg difference between the
duties payable on the importation of any article in Britifh or in
American veffels.
Art, 16, It fhall be free for the two contrafting parties, ref-
peftively to appoint conful? for the protc6lio.n of trade, to refide
476 TREATY 01 A, M I T 1\
in the dominions and territories aforefaid, and the faid confulf
fhall enjoy thole liberties and rights which belong to them by
reafon of their fun6lion. But before any conful fhall aft 33
fuch he fliall be in the ufual forms approved and admitted by
the prity to whom he is, lent 5 and it is hereby declared to be
lawful and proper, that in cafe of illegal or improper conduft
towards the laws or government, a conful msy either be punilh-
ed accordiijg to law, if the !av\'s \viU reach the cafe or be dif-
miifed, or even fcnt back, the offended government aifigning to,
the other their realons for the fame.
Either of the parties may except from the refidence o-f con=
fuls luch particular places as fuch party fliall judge proper tQ
be lo excepted.
Art. x-j. It is agreed, that in all cafes where veflel? fiiall be
captured or detained on juft fufpicion of having on board ene-.
my's property, or of carrying to the enemy any of the articles
which are contraband of war : the (aid vefTel fliall be brought
to the nearell or rnofl convenient port; and if anv property of
ail en.cmy fhould be found on board fuch vefTel, that part onLy
•which belongs to the enemy fhall be made prize, and the veflel
fliall be at liberty to proceed with the remainder without any
' impediment. And it is ogreed^ that all proper meafures fhal.l
be token to prevent delay, in deciding the cales of fhips o^
cargoes io brought in for adjudication ; and in the payment or
recoveiy of any mdemniftcation adjudged or agreed to be paid
to the mafhers or owners of fuch fliips.
Art. 18. In order to regulate what is in future to be deemed
contraband of war, it is agreed, that under the laid denomination
flidU be comprifed all arms and implements ferving for the pur-
pofes of war, by land or fea, luch as cannon, mufkets, mortars,
petards, bombs, grenados, carcafles, laucifTes, carriages for can-
nons, mufket refts, bandoliers, gun powder, match, faltpetre,
ball, pikes, Iwords, head pieces, cuiralies, halberts, lances, jave-
liiies, norle furniture, hoHlers, belts, and generally all other irr^-
plemeuis of war ; as alio timber for fliip building, tar, or rofin,
copper in flieets, fails hemp and cordage, and generally whate-
ver rnav ierve diieftly to the equipment of veilels, unwrought
iron and fir planks only excepted ; and all the above articles are
iiereby deckued to be juil ohjefts of confilcation, whenever they
aie atienipten to be cairied li> an enemy.
And Vv'heieas l)ie difiiculty of agreeing en the prccife cafes
in which alone proviiions and other articles not generally con-
traband may be irgardcd as luch, renders it expedient to provide
aaamfl the mconvcnicncies and milunderflandings which m'ght
COMMERCE AND NAVIGATION: ^-jj
fhcnce atife : it is further agreed, that whenever any fuch ar-
ticles fo becoming contraband according to the exifting laws of
nations, fhall for that reafon be feized, the fame fhall not be
confifcat«d, but the owners thereof fhall be fpeedily and com-
pletely indemnified ; and the captors, or in their default the go-
vernment under whofe authority they aft, fhall pay to the maf-
ters or owners of fuch veilel the full value of all articles, with
a reafonabll mercantile profit thereon, together v^fith the freight,
and alfo the demurrage incident to fuch detention.
And whereas it frequently happens, that ve^els iail for a port
or place belonging to any enemy, without knowing that the
fame is either befieged, blockaded or inverted ; it is agreed, that
every veffel fo circumftanced may be turned away from fuch
port or place, but fhe fhall not be detained nor her cargo, if not
contraband, be confifcated, unlefs after notice fhe (hall again at-
tempt to enter ; but fhe fhall be permitted to go to any port or
place fhe may think proper : nor fhall any velfel or goods of
either party, that may have entered into fuch port ox pljce, be-
fore the fame was befieged, blockaded or inverted by the other,
and be found therein after the reduftion or furrender of fuck
place, be liable to confifcation, but fliall be reflored to the
owners or proprietors thereof.
Art. ig. And that more abundant care be taken for the fer
curity of the relpeftive lubjefts and citizens of the contrafting
parties, and to prevent their fuffering injuries by the men of
war, or privateers of either party, all commanders of fliips of
-yvar and privateers and all others the laid lubjefts and citizens
Ihall forbear to do any damage to thofe of the other party, or
committing any outrage againft them, and if they aft to the
contrary, they ihall be punilhed, and fhall alfo b; bound in their
perfons and eftates to make fatisfaftion and reparation for all
damages, and the intereft thereof, of whatever nature the faid
damages may be.
For this caufe all commanders of privateers before they re-
ceive their commirtions Ihall hereafter be obliged to give before
a competent judge, fufRcient fecurity by ?t leart two reiponlible
i'ureties, who have no interert in the laid privateer, each of
whom, together with the faid commander, fhall be jointly and
feveraily bound in the fum of fifteen hundred pounds fterling,
or if inch Ihips be provided with above one hundred and fifty
feamen or loldiers, in the lum of tliice thouland pounds fterling,
to fatisfy all damages and injuries, which the laid privateer or
officers or men, or any of them may do or commit during their
•', Utile, contrary to the tenor of this treaty, or to the laws and
47« TREATY OF AMITY,
inftruftions for regulating their conduft ; and further that in
all cafes of aggreflions the faid comtniflions fhall be revoked
and annuled.
It is alfo agreed, that whenever a judge of a court of admi-
ralty of either of the parties, fhall pronounce fentence againft
any veffel of goods or property belonging to the fubjefts or
citizens of the other party a formal and duly authenticated copy
of all the proceedings in the caufe, and of the faid fentence,
fhall if required be delivered to the commander of the faid
veffel, without the fmalleft. delay, he paying all legal fees and
demands for the fame.
Art. 20. It is further agreed that both the faid contracting
parties, fhall not only refufe to receive any pirates into any of
their ports, havens, or towns, or permit any of their inha-
bitants to receive, proteft, harbour, conceal or affift them in
any manner, but will bring to condign punifhment all fuch in-
habitants as {hall be guilty of fuch a£ls or offences.
And all their fhips with the goods or merchandifes taken by
them and brought into port of either of the faid parties, fliall
be feized as far as they can be difcovered, and fhall be reftored
to the owners or the faftors or agents duly deputed and autho-
rifed in writing by them (proper evidence being firft in the
court of admiralty for proving the property) even in cafe fuch
efiefts fhould have pafled into other hands by fale, if it be
proved that the buyers knew or had good reafon to believe, or
fufpeft that they had been piratically taken.
Art. 21. It is likewife agreed, that the fubjefts and citizens
of the two nations, fhall not do any afts of hoitility or violence
againfl each other, nor accept commifTions or inftruftians fo to
aft from any foreign prince or fhate, enemies to the other party;
nor fliali the enemies of one of the parties be permitted to in-
vite, or endeavour to enlift in the military fervice any of the
fubjcCls or citizens of the other party ; and the laws againft all
fuch (jfFcnces Ihall be punftually executed. And if any fubjeft
or citizen of the faid parties rcfpeftively fhall accept any
foreign commifTion, or letters of marque, for arming any velfel
to oft as a privateer againft the other party, it is hereby declared
to be lawful for the faid party to treat and punifh the faid fub-
jeft or citizen, having fuch ccmmifTion or letters of marque, as
a pirate.
Art. 22. It is exprcTsIy fl.ipulated that neither of the faid
contrafting parties will orcer or authorife any afts of reprifal
againft the ether, on complaints of injuries or damages, until
the iaid party fliall H;rt havr rcnrercn:':d to the other, a flatc-
COMMEkCE ANb NAVIGAtiON. 479
ment thereof, verified by competent proof and evidence, and
demanding juftice and fatisfaftion, and the fame fhall either have
been refuted or unreafonably delayed.
Art. 23. The fhips of war of each of the contrafting parties
{hall, at all times, be hofpitably received in the ports of the
other, their officers and crews payin-g due refpeft to the laws
and government of the country. The officers fhall be treated
with that refpeft which is due to the commiflions which they
bear ; and if any infult fhould be offered to them by any of the
inhabitants, all offenders in this refpeft fhall be punifhed as
difturbers of the peace and amity between the two countries*
And his Majefty confents, that in cafe an American veffel,
fhould by flrefs of weather, danger from enemies or other mis-
fortunes be reduced to the neceffity of feeking fheher in any of
his Majefty's ports, into which fuch veffel could not in ordi-
nary cafes claim to be admitted, fhe fhall, on manifefting that
neceffity to the fatisfaftion of the government of the place, be
hofpitably received and permitted to refit and to purchafe at
the market price fuch neceffaries, as ffie may ftand in need of,
conformably to luch orders and regulations as the government of
the place, having refpeft to circumftances of each cafe, fhall
prefcribe. She fhall not be allowed to break bulk or unload
her cargo unlefs the fame ffiall be bona fide neceffary to her being
refitted. Nor fhall be permitted to fell any part of her cargOj
unlefs fo much only as may be neceffary to defray her expenfes,
and then not without the exprefs permiffion of the govern-
ment of the place. Nor fhallftie be obliged to pay any duties
whatever except only on fuch articles as ffie may be permit-
ted to fell for the purpofe aforefaid.
Art. 24. It fhall .not be lawful for any foreign privateers
(not being fubje£ls or citizens of either of the faid parties) who
have commiffions from any other prince or ftate in enmity with
either nation, to arm their fhips in the ports of either of the
faid parties, nor fell what they have taken, nor in any othe.i-
manner to exchange the fame ; nor ffiall they be allowed to
purchafe more provifions than ffiall be neceffary for their going
to the neareft port of that prince or flate from whom they ob-
tained their commiffion.
Art. 25. It fhall be lawful for the fhips of v\^ar and pri-
vateers belonging to the faid parties refpedlively, to carry
wliitherfoever they pleafe the fliips and goods taken from their
enemies, without being obliged to pay any fee to the officers of
the admiralty, or to any judges whatever ; nor Ihall the faid
prizes when they arrive at, and enter the ports of the faid
48c> TREATY OF AMITY,
parties be detained or feized, neither fliall the fearchcrs or otlier
officers of thofe places viTit fuch prizes (except for the purpofe
of preventing the carrying of any part of the cargoe thereof
6n Ihore in any manner contrary to the eftablinied laws of
revenue, navigation, or commerce) nor fhall fuch ofr.cers take
cognifance of the validity of fuch prizes ; but they fhall be at
liberty to hoift; fail and depart as fpeedily as may be, and carry
their faid prizes to the place mentio-ned in their commifuons oi:
patents, which the commanders of the faid fliips of war or
privateers fliall be obliged to fhew. No fhelter or refuge fliall
be given in their ports to luch as have made a prize upon the
lubjefts or ciiiiens of either of the laid parties ; but if forced
by (Irefs of Weather, or the danger of the fea, to enter therein^
particulai- care ftiall be t.iken to hallen tlieir departure, and to
caufe them to retire as (oon as pofTible. Nothing in this treaty
Contained Ihnll, however, be condituted or operate contrary to
former and exifting public treaties witli other fovereigns or
Hates. But the two parties agrecj that while they continue in
amiiy ncithei" of theln will in future make any treaty that flaall
be inconfiftcnt with this or the preceding article.
Neither of the faid parties fhall permit the fhips or goods
belonging to the fubjefts oi- citizens of the other to be taken
within cannon fllot of the coaR, nor in any of the bays, ports,
or rivers of Iheir territories by fhips of war, or others having
coiuinilnon from any Prince, Republic, or State whatever. But
in cdle It Ihould lo happen, t!ie party whofe territorial rights
ihail thus have been violated, (li^U u'e his utmoft endeavours to
obtaui Iroin tlie offending party, full and ample fatisfaftion foir
the vciVcl or veifels lo taken, v^helhcr the fame be vcilclti of war
or mcjchant veifels.
Alt. 26. If at any time a rupture flrould take place (which
Cod foibici) between his Majefty and the United States, the
ruerthar.ts and others of each of the two nations jeliding in
llie dominions of tlie other fiiall have tlie privilege of remaining
and continuing their trade, lo long as they behave peaceably and
commit no ofFsnce again ft the laws ; and in cafe their conduft
fhould rerider them lulpcfted and the reipeUive government's
ihould tliink proper to order them lo remove, the term of
twelve months from the publication of the order fhall be allowed
them for tiiat purpofe, to remove with their families, effe£ls,
and propeity, but this favor ihall not be extended to tliole who
fhall aft contrary to the ellabliPned laws, and for greater cer-
tainty, it is declared tliat lucii rupture Paall not be deemed to
ex ill while negociatiuns for accommodating -differences, fhall
COMMERCE Al^D NAVIGATION. 481
be depending, nor until the refpeaivc Ambaffadors or Minifters,
if fuch there (hall be, fhall be recalled or fent home on account
of fuCh differences, and not on account of perfonal mifcondutl
according to the nature and degrees of which both parties retain
their rights, either to requeft the recall, or immediately to fend
home the Ambaffador or Minifter of the other : and that without
prejudice to their mutual friendfhip and good undeiftanding.
Art. 2^. It is further agreed that his Majefty and the United,
States on mutual requifitions, by them refpeftively, or by their
refpeftivc Minifters or Officers authorifed to make the fame, will
deliver up to juflice all perfons who being charged with murder
or forgery, committed within the jurildiftion of either, fhall leek
an afylum within any of the countries of the other, provided
that this (hall only be done on fuch evidence of criminality as,
according to the laws of the place, where the fugitive or perfon
fo charged fhall be found, would juflify his apprehenfion ard
commitment for trial, if the offence had there been committed.
The cxpence of fuch apprehenfion and delivery fhall be borne
and defrayed by thofe who make the requifition and receive the
fugitive.
Art. 28. It is agreed, that the firft ten articles of this Trea-
ty (hall be permanent, and that the fubfequent articles, except
the twelfth, fliall be limited in their duration to twelve years,
to be computed from the day on which the ratifications of
this Treaty (hall be exchanged, but fubjeft to this condition
—that whereas the faid twelfth article will expire by the
limitation therein contained, at the end of two yeais from,
the figning the preliminary or other articles of peace which
(hall terminate the preicnt war in which his Majefty is engag-
ed, it is agreed, that proper meafures (hall by concert be taken
for bringing the fubjeft of that article into amicable treaty
and diicufTion, fo early before the expiration of the laid term,
as that new arrangements on that head, may by that time be
perfefted and ready to take place. But if it fhould unfor-
tunately happen, that his Majefty and the United States fhould
not be able to agree on fuch new arrangements, in that cafe
all the articles of this treaty, except the firfl ten fhall then
ceafe and expire together.
Laftly. This Treaty, when the fame fhall have been ratified by
his Majefly and by the Prefident of the United States, by and
with the advice and confent of their Senate, and the refpeftive
ratifications mutually exchanged, fhall be binding and obligatory
on his Majefty and on the laid States, and fhall be by them rc-
fpeflively executed and pblerved with punftuality and the misfl
3 Q
482 TREATY OP
iincere regard to good faith ; and whereas it will be expedient^
in order the better to facilitate intercourfe and obviate difficul-
tJeSj that other articles be propofed and added to this Treaty,
which .trticles from want of time and other circumftances, can-
not novvr be perfcfted — it is agreed, that the faid parties will,
from time to time, readily treat of and concerning fuch articles,
and will fincerely endeavour lo to form them, as that they may
cnndvice to mutual convenience, and tend to promote mutual fa-
tisfaftion and fiiendfhip; and that the faid articles, after having
been duly ratified, fhall be added to, and make a part of this treaty.
In faith whereof, we the underfigned Minifters Plenipoten-
tiary of his M.ije/ty the King of Great Britain and the Unit-
ed States of America, have figned this prcfent Treaty, and
have cauled to be affixed thereto the Seal of our arms.
Done at Londonj this Nineteenth day of November,
One Thoufand Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four,
GRENVILLE, [Seal)
JOHN JAY. {iieai}
A— <■•<•<• <^^> •>>■•>■— .
TREATY OF
t>EACE AND FRIENDSHIP
BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND HIS I.MPERIAt
MAJESTY THE EMPEROR OF MOROCCO.
To ell Fcrfons to whom theje prefeiits Jliall com: or be viade knoion.
w,
HEREAS the United States of America in Consrefs
alTembled, by their cofnmiffions bearing date the twelfth day
of May, one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-four, thought
proper to conftitute John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and
Thomas Jefferion, their minifters plenipotentiary, giving to
them, or a majority of them, full powers to confer, treat and
negociate with the ambaiTador, minifler, (w commifnoner of
his Majefty the Emperor of Morocco, concerning a treaty of
amity and comiriCrce ; to make and receive propofuions for
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP, 483
fuch treaty, and to conclude and fign the fame, tranfmitting
it to the United States in Congrefs affembled,' for their final
ratification ; and by one other commiflion bearing date the
eleventh day of March, one thoufand feven hundred and
eighty-five, did further empovv^er the faid miriirters plenipo-
tentiary, or a majority of them, by writing under their hands
and feals, to appoint fuch agent in the faid bufinefs as they
might think proper, with authority under the diredions and
inftruftions of the faid minifters, to commence and profecute
the faid negociations and conferences for the faid treaty, prOf
vided that the faid treaty fhould be figned by the faid minif-
ters : And whereas we the faid John Adams and Thomas
Jef?erfon, two of the faid minifters plenipotentiary (the faid
Benjamin Franklin being ablent) by writing under the hand
and feal of the faid John Adams at London, Oftobei the fifth,
one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-five, and of the faid
Thomas JefFerfon at Paris, Otlober the eleventh of the fame
year, did appoint Thomas Barclay, agent in the bufinefs afore-
faid, giving him the powers therein, which by the faid fecond
commiflion we were authorifcd to give, and the faid Thomas
Barclay in purfuance thereof, hath arranged articles for a
treaty of amity and commerce between the United States of
America, and his Majefty the Emperor of Morocco, which
articles, written in the Arabic language, confirmed by his
faid Majefty the Emperor of Morocco, and fealed with his
royal feal, being tranfluted into the language of the faid United
States of America, together with the atteftations thereto an*
pexed, are in the following words, to wit,
J Seal. J
In the Name of Almightv God.
THIS is a Treaty of Peace and Friendlhip eftablifhed between
us and the United States of Anierica, which is confirmed, and
which we have ordered to be written in this book, and fealed
with our royal ieal, at our court of Morocco, on the twenty- fifth
day of the bleffed month of Shaban, in the year one thoufand
two hundred, trufting in God it will remain permanent.
Article I. We declare that both parties have agreed that this
treaty, confifting of twenty-five articles, (hall be infeited in this
book, and delivered to the Honorable Thomas Barclay, the agent
of the United States now at our court, with whofe approbation
it has been made, and who is duly authorifed on their part to treat
-with us concerning all the matters contained therein.
1^ TREATY OF
Art. 11. If either of the parties fhall be at v/ar with any na-
tion whatever, the other party fliall not take a commifrion from
the enemy, nor fight under their colours.
Art, III. If either of the parties (hall beat war with any na-
tion whatever, and take a prize belonging to that nation, and
there fhall be foMnd on board fubjefts or effefts belonging to ci-
ther of the parties, the fubje6ls {hall be fet at liberty, and the
«ffe£ls returned to the owners. And if any goods belonging to
any nation, with whom either of the parties (hall be at war, fhall
be loaded on veiTels belonging to the other party, they fliall pafs
free and unmolefled without any attempt being made to take or
(detain them.
Art. IV. ^ fignal or p^fs {hall be given to all veffels belong-
ing to biOth parties, by which they are to be known when they
meet at fea ; and if the commander of a fhip of war of either
party {liall have other fl^ips under his convoy, the declaration
of the commander fliall alone be fufficicnt to exempt any of
theni from examination.
Art. V. If either of the parties fhall be at war, and (hall
ijieet a veffel at fea belonging to the other, it is agreed, that if
an examination is to be ipade, it fhall be done by fending a boat
with two or three men only ; and if any gun (hall be fired, and
injury done without reafon, the offending party fhall make good
all damages.
Art. VI. If any Moor fhall bring citizens of the United
States, or their efTefts, to his Majefty, the citizens fhall imme-
diately be fet at liberty, and the effc£ls reflored ; and in like
manner, if any Moor, not a fubjeft of thelc dominions, fhall
make prize of any of the citizens of America, or their effefts,
and bring them into any of the ports of his Majefty, they fhall
be immediately releafed, as they will then be confidered as under
his Majefty's proteftion.
Art. VII. If any veffel of either party fhall put into a port
of the other, and have occafion for provifions or other fupplies,
they fhail be furnifhed without any interruption or molef-
tation.
Art. VIH. If any veffel of the United States fhall meet with
a dilafter at fea, and put into one of our ports to repair, fhe
fhall be at liberty to land and reload her cargo, without paying
any duty whatever.
Art. IX. If any veffel of the United States fhall be caft on
ffcore on any part of our coalls, fhe fhall remain at the difpofition
of the owners, and no one fhall attempt going near her without
their approbation, as Die is then confidercd particularly under our
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP. 485
proteftion ; and if any velTel of the United States ftiall be forced
to put into our ports by ftrefs of weather, or otherwife, (he
Jhall not be compelled to land her cargo, but fliall remain in
tranquility until the commander fhall think proper to proceed on
his voyage.
Art. X. If any vcffel of either of the parties fhall have an
engagement with a vefTcl belonging to any of the Chriftian pow-
ers within gun fhot of the forts of the other, the veffel fo en-
gaged fliall be defended and protefted as much as poffible until
fhe is in fafety ; and if any American veffel fhall be caft on fhore
pn the coaft of Wadnoon, or any eoaft thereabout, the people-
belonging to her fhall be protefted and affifted, until, by the help
of God, they fhall be fent to their country.
Art. XI. If'We fhall be at war with any Chriftian power, and
any of our veffels fail from the ports of the United States, nd
veffel belonging to the enemy {hall follow urjtil twenty-four
hours after the departure of our veffels ; and the lame regula-
tion fhall be obferved towards the American veffels failing from
our ports, be their enemies Moors or Chriftians.
Art. XII. If any fhip of war belonging to the United States
ihall put into any of our ports, fhe fhall not be examined on any
pretence whatever, even though fhe fhould have fugitive (laves
on board, nor fhall the governor or commander of the place
compel them to be brought on fhore on any pretext, nor require
a,ny payment for them.
Art. XIII. If a fhip of war of either party fhall put into a
port of the other and falute, it fhall be returned from the fort
with an equal number of guns, not with more or lefs.
Art, XIV. The commerce with the United States fhall be on
the fame footing as is the commerce with Spain, or as that with
the mod favoured nation for the time being ; and their citizens
fhall be refpefted and efteemed, and have full liberty to pafs
and repafs our country and feaports whenever they pleafe with-
out interruption.
Art. XV. Merchants of both countries (hall employ only fuch
interpreters, and fuch other perfons to affifl them in their bu(i-
nefs, as they fhall think proper. No commander of a veffel
fhall tranfport his cargo on board another veffel ; he (hall not be
detained in port longer than he may think proper ; and all per-
fons employed in loading or unloading goods, or in any other
labour whatever, fhall be paid at the cuftomary rates, not more
and not lefs.
Art. XVI. In cafe of a war between the parties, the prifoners
Sire not to be ma .e (laves, but to be exchanged one for another,
486 TREATY 0 F
captain for captain, officer for officer, and one private man for
another ; and if there fhall prove a deficiency on either fide, it
ihali be made up by the payment of one hundred Mexican dol-
lars for each perfon wanting. And it is agreed that all prifoners
fhall be exchanged v^ithin twelve months from the time of their
being taken, and that this exchange may be effefted by a mer-
chant or any other perfon authorized by either of the parties.
Art. XVII. Merchants fhall not be compelled to buy or fell
any kind of goods but fuch as they fhall think proper ; and may
buy and fell all forts of merchandize but fuch as are prohibited
to the other Chriftian nations.
Art. XVIII. All goods fliall be weighed and examined before
they are fent on board, and to avoid all detention of veffels, no
examination fhall afterwards be made, unlefs it {hall firft be
proved that contraband goods have been fent on board, in which
cafe the perfons who took the contraband goods on board, fhall
be puniflied according to the ulage and cuflom of the country,
and no other perfon whatever fhall be injured, nor fhall the (hip
or cargo incur apy penalty or damage whatever.
Art. XIX. No velTel fhall be detained in port on any pre-
tence whatever, nor be obliged to take on board any article
without the confent of the commander, who fhall be at full
liberty to agree for the freight of any goods he takes on
board.
Art. XX. If any of the citizens of the United States, or any
perfons under their prole£lion, fhall iiave any difputes with each
other, the conlul fhall decide between the parties, and whenever
the coiiful fhall require any aid or afTiftance from our governr
ment, to enforce his decifions, it fhall be immediately granted
to him.
Art, XXI. If a citizen of the United States fhould kill or
wound a Moor, or on the contrary if a Moor fhall kill or wound
a citizen of the United States, the law of the country fhall take
place, and equal juflice fhall be rendered, the conful affifling
at the trial ; and if any delinquent fhall make his efcape, the
conful fhall not be anfwerable for him in any manner what-
ever.
Art. XXII. If an American citizen fhall die in our country,
and no will fliall appear, the conful fhall take pofTefTion of his
efFcfts. and if there fliall be no conlul, the effefts fliall be de-
pofited in the hands of fome perfon worthy of trull, until the
party fhall appear who has a right to demand them ; but if the
heir to the perlon decealcd be prcfent, the property fhall be de-
livered to him without interruption ; and if a will fhall appear^
PEACE ^M) FRJEM)SIilP. 4:87
the property fhall defcend agreeable to that will as foon as the
conflil ihall declare the validity thereof.
Art. XXIII. The confuls of the United States of America,
fhall refide in any fea-port of our dominions that they (hall
think proper; and they (hall be refpefted, and enjoy all the
privileges which the confuls of any other nation enjoy : and if
any of the citizens of the United States fhall contraft any debts
or engagements, the confuls fliall not be in any manner account-
able for them, unlefs he fhall have given a promife in writing
for the payment or fulfilling thereof, without which promife
in writing, no application to him for any rediefs fhall be
made.
Art. XXIV. If any differences fhall arife by either party in-
fringing on any of the articles of this treaty, peace and harmony
fhall remain- notwithflanding, irl the fulleft force, until a friendly
application fliall be made for an arrangement, and until that ap-
plication fhall be rejcfted, no appeal fhall be made to arms. And
if a war fhall break out betv/een the parties, nine months fhall
be granted to all the fubjcfts of both parties, to difpofe of their
efFefts and retire with their property. And it is further de-
clared, that whatever indulgencies in trade or otherwife, fhall
be granted to any of the Chriftian powers, the citizens of the
United States fhuU be equally entitled to them.
Art. XXV. This treaty fhall continue in full force, with the
help of God, for fifty years.
We have delivered this book into the hands of the before
mentioned Thomas Barclay, on the firfh day of the blelled month
of Ramadan, in the year one thoufand two hundred.
/ certify that the annexed is a true copy of the tranjlation made
by Jfaac Cordoza Nunez^ interpreter at Morocco, of the treaty le-
tween the Emperor of Morocco, and the United States of America.
TPIOxVIAS BARCLAY,
ADDITIONAL ARTICLE,
GRACE TO THE ONLY GOD.
I, THE under-written, the fcrvant of God, Taher Ben Ab-
delkack Fennifh, cio certify, that his Imperial Majefhy, my mai-
ler, (whom God preferve) having concluded a treaty of peace
and commerce with the United States of America, has ordered
me, the better to complcat it, and in addition of the te-nth .jrf'\-
4^8 TREATY OF PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP.
cle of the treaty, to declare, " That if any veffel belonging to
the United States, fhall be in any of the ports of his Majefty's
dominions, or within gun-fhot of his forts, he fhall be protcfted
as much as pofTible, and no veffel whatever, belonging cither to
Moorifh or Chriftian powers, with whom the United States may
be at war, fhall be permitted to follow or engage her, as we
now deem the citizens of America our good friends.'*
And, in obedience to his Majefly's commands, I certify this
declaration, by putting my hand and fcal to it, on the eighteenth
day of Ramadan,* in the year one thoufand two hundred.
The fervant of the King, my mafter, whom God prefervc,
Taker Ben Abdelkack Fennish.
I do certify that the above is a true copy of the tranjlation made
at Morocco, by Ifaac Cordoza Nunez, interpreter, of a declaration
made andfigned by Sidi Hage Taker Fennifk, in addition to the
treaty bettveen the Emperor of Morocco, and the United States of
America, which declaration the faid Taher Fennifli made by the ex~
prefs dircElions of his Majefly.
THOMAS BARCLAY.
Now KNOW VE, That wc the faid John Adams and Thomas
jefFerfon, minifters plenipotentiary aforefaid, do approve and
conclude the laid treaty, and every article and claufe therein
contained, referving the fame neverthelefs to the United State*
in Congiefi affembled for their final ratification.
In iefiimony whereof, zoe havefigned the fame toitk our names and
feals, at the places of our refpcctive refidence, and at the dates
expreffed under our fignatures refpectively,
JOHN ADAMS. (l. s.)
London, January 2^th, 1787.
THOMAS JEFFERSON. (t. s.)
Paris, January \jl, 1787.
• The Ramadan of the year of the Hcgira 12OO, commenced on the 28th
Tunc, in the year of our Lord, 1786.
( 489 )
TREATY
BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND HIS CATPIOLIC MAJESTY.
Hi
.IS Catholic Majefty and the United States of America,
defiring to coniolidate, on a permanent bafis, the friendfhip and
good correfpondence which happily prevails between the two
parties, have determined to eflablifh by a Convention, fevera.l
points, the Settlement whereof will be produftive of general
advantage and reciprocal utility to both nations.
With this intention his Catholic Majefty has appointed the
mod excellent Lord Don Manuel de Goday, and Alvarez de
Faria, Rois, Sanchez, Zazoza, Prince de Paz, Duke de la AI-
cudia. Lord of the Roto de Roma, and of the ftate of Albala,
grandee of Spain of the firfk clafs, perpetual Regedor of the
city of Santiajo, Knight of the illuftrious order of the Goldea
Fleece, and Great Crofs of the Royal and diftinguifhed Spanifh
order of Charles III. Commander of Valencia, del Ventofe,
Rivera, and Acenchal :n that of Santiajo, Knight and Great
Crofs of the religious order of St. John, Counleller of State,
Firfl Seccetary of State, and Difpatch Secretary to the Queen,
Superintendant General of the Pofls and Highways, Proteftc.r
of the Royal Academy of the Noble Arts, and of the Royal
Societies of Natural Hiftory, Botan)'-, Chemiftry and Aftro-
nomy, Gentleman of the Bed Chamber in employment, Cap-
tain General of his armies, Infpeftor and Major ot the Royal
Corps of Body Guards, &c. &c. &c. And the Prefident of
the United States, with the advice and confent of their Senate,
has appclr.ted Thomas Pinckney, a citizen of the United States,
and their Envoy Extraordinary to his Catholic Majefty. And
the iaid Plenipotentiaries have agreed upon and concluded the
followmg Arricles.
Art. I. There fhall be a, htm and- inviolable peace and fincerc
friendnaip between his Catholic Majefty, his fucceffors and
lubjctts, Slid the United States, and their citizens, without
exception of perfons or j^iaccs.
Alt. 11. To prcv/ent all diipute on the fubjeft of the boun-
daries which feparale che territories of tlie two high contrafting
parci'.'S, it 3S hcteo / .ieclared and agreed as foUovv'S, to wit :
49=» TREAfY BETWEEN
The foutliern boundary of the United States which divides
their territory from the Spanifh colonies of Eaft and Weft-
Fiorida, fliall be defignaled by a line beginning on the river
Miffiirippi at the northernmofl part of the thirty-fifft degree
of latitude north of the equator, which from thence Ihall be
drawn due eafl; to the middle of the river Apalachicola or
Carahfuche, thence along the middle thereof to its junftioa
with the Flint, then flraight to the head of St. Mary's river,
aid thence down the middle thereof to the Atlantic Ocean,
And it is a;^reed, that if there fhould be any troops, garrifons,
or fcttlements of eithef parly on the territory of the other
according t.o the c-.bove-mentioned boundaries, they fhall be
withdrawn from the faid territory within the term of fix months
after the ratification of this treaty, or looner, if it be poflible ;
and that they fhall be permitted to take with them all the goods
and efFefts which they poffcfs.
Art. III. In order to carry the preceding article into efFcft,
one commiffioner and on£ furveyor fhall be appointed by each
of the contrasting parties, \vho fhall meet at the Matches, on
the left fide of the river Mifliffippi, before the expiration of
fix months from the ratification of this Convention, and they
fhall proceed to run and make this boundary according to the
i^ipulations of the faid article. They fhall make plats and keep
journals of their proceedings, which fliall be confidered as part
of this Convention, and fhall have the lame force as if this
were inferted therein. And if on any account it fhould be
found necefiary that the faid commiffiouers and iurveyors fhould
be accompanied by guards, they fhall be furnifhed in equal prc-
nortiou by the commanding officer of his Majefty's troops in
the two Floridas, and the commanding olfiter of the troops of
the UnUi;Q States in the loulh-weftern territory, who fhall aft
by common confent and amicably, as well with relpcft to this
point, as to ' the furnifhing provifions and inllruinents, and
making every other arrangement which may be ritceifary or
ulcful for the execution of this article.
Art, IV. It is likevvife agreed that the weftcrn boundary of
the United States, which feparatcs them from the Spanifh co-
lony of Louihana, is in the middle of the channel or bed of
the river Milhihppi, from the northern boundary of the iaii
States, to llie completion of the (hiiivfirft degree of laULude
north of the equator. And his Catholic Majefty has likcwife
ogrced, tllTtt \.\\c. Tnvt!»ation of the i.::d river, from its lource
i.o ihc ocean, fhnll be free or.ly lu his iubjefts and the citizens
SPAIN AND AMERICA. 491
of the United States, unlefs he fhould extend this privilege to
the fubjefts of other powers by a fpecial convention.
Art. V. The two high contrsfting parties fliall, by all means
in their power, maintain peace and harmony among th-c feveral
Indian nations who inhabit the country adjacent to the lines
3nd rivers which, by the preceding article, form the boundaries
of the two Floridas ; and the better to attain this effeft, both
parties oblige themfelves exprefsly to rellrain, by force, all
hoftilities on the part of the Indian nations living within their
boundary : fo that Spain will not fulTer their Indians, inhabit-
ing their territory, nor will the United States permit their laft
mentioned )tndians to commence hoftilities againft his Catholic
Majefty, or his Indians, in any manner whatfoever.
And whereas fevcrai treaties of friendfhip exift between the
two contracting parties and the faid nations of Indians, it is
hereby agreed, that in future, no treaty of alliance, or other
>vhatfoever, (except treaties of peace) fhall be made by either
party with the Indians living within the boundary of the other ;
but both parties will endeavour to make the advantages of the
Indian trade common and mutually beneficial to their refpeftive
fubje£ls and citizens, obferving in ail things the moft. complete
reciprocity, fo that both parties may obtain the advantages
arifing from a good underftanding with the faid nations, with-
out being fubjeft to the expence which they liave hitherto oc-
cafioned.
Art. VI. Each party {hall endeavour, by all the means in
their power, to proteft and defend all veffels and other effefts
belonging to the citizens or fubjefts of the other, which fhall
be within the extent of their juriidi6lion, by fea or by land,
and fhall ufe all their efforts to lecover, and caufe to be reco-
vered to the right owners, their veifels and effe£ls which may
have been taken from them within the extent of their faid juril-
di£lion, whether they are at war or not with the lubje£is who
have taken poircffion of the faid effcfts.
Art. VII. And it is agreed that the fubjcSs or citizens of
each of the faid contrafting parties, their veffels or effects, fhall
not be liable to any embargo or detention on the part of tlie
other for any military expedition, or other public or private
purpofe whatfoever. And in all cafes of feizure, detention,
or arreft for debts contrafted, or offences committed by any
citizen or fubjeft of the one party within the jurildiftion of
■the other, the fame fhall be made and profecuted by order and
authority of law only, and accoiding to the regular courfe of
proceedings ufual in fuch caies. The citizens and fubjefts of
3^2
492
TREATY BETWEEN
both parties fhall be allowed fuch advocates, folicitors, notaries,
agents, and fa£lors, as they judge proper, in all their affairs,
and in all their trials at law, in which they may be concerned
before the tribunal of the other party, and fuch agents ihall
have free accefs, to be prefent at the proceedings in fuch caufes,
and at the taking of examinations and evidence which may be
exhibited in the faid trials.
Art. VIII. In cafe the fubjefts and inhabitants of either
party, with their fhipping, whether public and of war, or pri-
vate and of merchants, be forced, through firels of weather,
purfuit of pirates or enemies, or any other urgent neceffity for
taking fhelter and harbour, to retreat and enter into any of the
rivers, bays, roads, or ports belonging to the other party, they
fliall be received and treated with all humanity, and enjoy all
favour, proteftion, and hf Ip, and they fhall be permitted to pro-
vide themfelves, at reafonable rates, with viftuals, and all things
needful for the fuftenance of their perions, or reparation of
their fhips, and prolecution of their voyage ; and they fhall np
■ways be hindered from returning out of the faid ports or roads,
but may remove and depart when and whither they pleafe, with-
out any let or hindrance.
Art. IX. All fliips and merchandize of whatever nature
foevcr, which fhall be refcued out of the hands of any pirates
or robbers on the high feas, fhall be brought into fome port of
either flate, and fhall be delivered to the cuftody of the ofHceis
of that port, in order to be taken care of, and reftored to the
true proprietor, as foon as due and fuf&cient proof fliall be made
concerning the property thereof.
Art. X. When any vefTel of either party fhall be wrecked,
foundered, or otharwife damaged on the coafls, or within thes
dominion of the other, their refpcftive iubje^ts and citizens
fhall receive, as well for themfelves as for their veiTcls and cr-
fetis, the fame afTi fiance which would be due to the inhabitants
of the country where the damage happens, and fliall pay the
fame charges and duties only as the faid inhabitants would be
fubjeft to pay ivi a like cale : and if the operation of repairs
would require that the whole, or any part of the cargo be ur»-
laden, they fliall pay no duties, charges, or fees on the part
which fhall relade and carry away.
Art. XI. The citizens and fubjefts of each party fhall have
power to difpofe of their perfonal goods within the jurifdiftion
■^f the ether, by teflaments, donations, or othei wile, and their
reprefentatives, being fubje£ls or citizens of the other party,
uiuil fucceed to their faid perlonal goods, whether by tsRamei^t
5 PA IN A ND A MER IC A. 49g
or al> intejlato, and thev may take pofTeffion thereof, either by
themlelves or others afting for them, and dilpole of the fame
at their will, paying fale duties only, as the inhabitants of the
country wherein the fame goods are, or fhail be lubjecl to pay
in like cafes. And in cafe of the abience of the rep^efentative,
fuch care fhall be taken of the laid goods, as of a native in like
cafe, until the lawful owner may take meafures for receiving
them; and if queftions fliould arife among ieveral claimants to
which of them the goods belong, the lame fhall be decided by
the laws and judges of the land wherein the faid goods are.
And where, on the death of any perlon holding real eftate within
the territories of the one party, luch real ellate would, by the
law of the land, -delcend on a citizen or fubjeft of the other,
were he not dilqualified by being an alien, luch fubje(Et fhall be
allowed a reafonable time to iell the fame, and to withdraw the
proceeds, without moleftation, and exempt from all right of
detention on the part of the, government of the relpe£tive
States.
Art. XII. The merchant fhips of either party which (hall be
making into ports, or into a port belonging to the enemy of the
other party, und c#»cerning whofc voyage, and the fpecies of
goods on board her, there fliall be juft grounds of fufpicion,
fhall be obliged to exhibit, as well upon the high feas as in the
ports and havens, not only her paffport, but likewife certifi-
cates, exprefsly fhewing that her goods are not of the number
of thoie which have been prohibited as contraband.
Art. XIII. For the better promoting of commerce on both
fides, it is agreed, that if a war fhall break out between the
two laid nations, one year after the proclamation of war fhall
be allowed to the merchants in the cities and towns where they
fhall live, for collefting and tranlporting their goods and mer-
chandizes, and if any thing be taken from them, or any injury
done them within that term, by either party, or the people or
fubjeds of either, full fatisfadlion fhall be made by the govern-
ment.
Art. XIV. No fubjea of his Catholic M;ijefly fhall apply
for, or take any commiflion or letters of marque, for arming
any fhip or fhips to aft as privateers againfl the United States,
or againfl the citizens, people, or inhabitants of the faid United
States, or againfl the property of any of the inhabitants of any
of them, from any Prince or State with which the United
States fhall be at war. Nor fliall any citizen, lubjeft, or inha-
bitant of the faid United States, apply for, or take any commif-
f>.ou. oi letters of ULuque, for arming any fliip or fliips, to ict
^54 TREATY BETIVSEN
3S privateers sgainft the fubjefts of his Catholic Majefty, or the
property of any of them, from any Prince or State with which
the faid King fhall be at war. And if any perfon of either na-
tion fhall take fuch commilTion or letters of marque, he fhall be
punilhed as a pirate.
Art. XV. It fhall be lawful for all and fingular the fubjefts
of his Catholic Majeft)', and the citizens, people, and inhabi-
tants of the United States, to fail with their fhips, with all
manner of liberty and fecurity, no difl.in£lion being made who
are the proprietors of the merchandizes laden therein, from any
port to the places of thofe who now are, or hereafter fhall be
at enmity with his Catholic Majefty or the United States, It
fhall be likewife lawful for the fubjefts and inhabitants aforefaid,
to fail with the fhips and merchandizes aforc-mentioned, and to
trade with the fam« liberty and fecurity, from the places, ports,
or havens of thofe who are enemies of both or either party,
without any oppolition or difturbance whatfoever, not only from
the places of the enemy afore-mentioned to neutral places, but
alfo from one place belonging to an enemy, to another place bc-
lonoing to an enemy, whether they be under the jurifdiftion of
the fame Prince, or under feveral ; and ilHis hereby flipulated
that free fliips (hall alfo give freedom to goods, and that every
thing fliall be deemed free and exempt which {hall be found on
board the (hips belonging to the fubjefts of either of the con-
trafting parties, although the whole lading, or any part thereof,
fhould appertain to the enemy of either; contraband goods be-
ing always excepted. It is alfo agreed, that the fame liberty be
granted to perfons who are on board a free fhip, fo that although
they be enemies to either party, they fhall not be made prilon-
ers, or taken out of that free fhip, unlefs they are foldiers, and
in aftual fervice of the dncmies.
Art. XVI. This liberty of navigation and commerce fh^U
extend to all kinds of merchandizes, excepting thofe only which
are diflinguifhed by the name of contraband ; and under this
name of contraband, or prohibited goody, fhall be comprehended
arms, great guns, bombs, with their fufes, and the other things
belonging to them, cannon balls, gunpowder, match, pikes,
fwordy, lances, fpears, halberls, mortars, petards, grenades,
falt-petie, njullcets, mufket balls, bucklers, helmets, breafl
plates, coats of mail, and the like kinds of arms, proper for
arming foldiers, mulliet rcfls, belts, horfes with their furniture,
and all other warlike inflruments whatever. Thefe merchan-
dizes which follow fhall not be reckoned among contraband or
prohibited goods i tliat is to fay, all forts of cloths, and ill
SPAIN AND AMERICA. 495
'Other manufatlures woven of any wool, flax, (ilk, cotton, or any
other materials whatever, all kinds of wearing apparel, together
with all fpecies whereof they are ufed to be made ; gold and
filver, as well coined as uncoined, tin, iron, I'atten, brafs, cop-
per, coals; as alio wheat, barley, and oats, and any other Jiind
of corn and pulfe ; tobacco, and likewife all manner of fpiccs,
faked and fmoaked flefh, falted filh, cheefe and butter, beer,
oils, wines, lugar, and all forts of fait ; and, in general, all
|)rovilions which lerve for the fuftenance of life : furthe^ore,
all kinds of cotton, hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, cables, fails,
fail cloths, anchors, or any part t>f anchofs, alfo Ihip mafts,
planks, and wood of all kinds, and all things proper cither
for building or repairing fnips, and all other goods whatever
which have not been worked into the form of any inftrumeht
prepared for war by land or by fca, fhall not be reputed contra-
band, much lefs fuch as have been already wrought and made
up for any other ufe ; all which fhall be wholly reckoned among
free goods ; as likewife all other merchandizes and things which
are not comprehended, and particularly mentioned in the fore-
going enumeration of contraband goods, fo that they may be
tranfported and carried in the freefl manner by the fubjefts of
both parties, even to places belonging to an enemy, luch towns
or places being only excepted as are at that time beheged, blocked
up, or invefted. And except the cafes in which any ihip of
war, or fquadron fhall, in confequence of floims or other acci-
dents at fea, be under the neceffity of taking the cargo of any
trading veffel or velTels, in which cafe they may flop the faid
veffel or veffcls, and furnifh themfelves with neceffarics, giv-
ing a receipt in order that the power to whom the faid fliip of
war belongs may pay for the articles fo taken, according to the
price thereof at the port to Vvfhich 4.hev may appear to have
been deftined by the Ihip's papers ; and the two contra£ting
parties engage, that the veflels ftiall not be detained longer than
may be abloluiely neceffary for their laid Ihips to lupply them-
fclves with necellaries ; that they will immediately p-iv the \'a-
lue of the receipts, and iudcmn^ify the proprietor for iiU iollca-
which he may have lullained in confequence of fuch tranfu-
tion.
Art, XVII. To the end that all manner of dififentions and
■quarrels may be avoided and prevented on one fide and on the
other, it is agreed, that in cafe either of the parties liereto
fliould be engaged in a war, the Ihips and vefTcls belonging :o
fubjefts or people of the other party, mull be furniibcd wiili
ica letters of pafTports, exprcfling the name, property and bulk
^o6 TREATY BETWEEN
of the fhip, as alfo the name and plice of habitation of tliis
mafter ori<:omin.ander of the faid fhip, that it may appear there-
by that the fliip really and tiuly belongs to the fubjefts of one
of the partiesj which paflport (hall be made 'out and granted
according to the form annexed to this treatyj They (hall like-
wife be recalled every year, that is, if the fhip happens to le-
turn heme within the fpace of a year.
It is likewife agreed, that fuch fhips being laden, arc to be
pro^yed not only with paffports as above-mentioned, but alio
with certificates, containing the feveral particulars of the cargo,
the place whence the ihip failed, that ib it may be known
\yhether any forbidden or contraband goods be on board the
fame ; which certificates fhall be nrade out bj' the officers of
the place whence the fhip failed, in the accuftomed form; and
if any one fhould think it fit or advifable to cxprefs in the faid
certificates the perfon to whom the goods on board belong, he
may do fo ; without which requifites they may be fent to one
of the ports of the other contrafting party, and adjudged by
the competent tribunal, according to what is above let forth,
that all the circumdances of this omifTion having been well
examined, they fliall be adjudged to be legal prizes, unlels they
fliall give legal fatisfatlion oi their property by teflimony
equally equivalent.
Art, XVIII. If the fhips of the faid fubjefts, people or
inhabitants of either of the parties fhall be met with, either
iailing along the coafls or on the high feas, by any fliips of war
of the other^ or by any privateer, the faid fhip of war or pii-
^'atccr, for avoiding any diforder, fliall remain out of cannon
fhot, and may fend their boats on board the merchant fhip
which they fliall fo meet with, and may enter her to the num-
ber of two or tlircc men only, to whom the mafler or com-
mander of fuch fliip or veiTel fliall exhibit his paiTports concern-
ing the property of the fliip niao'i out accorduig to the form
inlerted in this prcfcnt treaty-, and the fiiip, when flie fliall
have flicwn fucli paflport, fliall be free and at liberty to purfue
her voyage, fo as it fliall not be lawful to molefl or give her
chace in any manner, or force her to quit her intended courfe.
Art. XIX. Co'ifuls fhall be reciprocally eflabiifhed with the
privileges and power which thofe of the moTc favoured nations
erijoy in the poits where their confuls refide or are permitted
to be.
Art. XX. It i& alfo agreed tiiut the inhabitr-nts of the terri-
tories of each party fliall refpcftivcly have free accels to the
couits of julticc of the otlirr. ^nd th'-y fnall be permitted to
SPAIN AND AMERICA. 497
J^ro^ecute fuits for the recovery of their property, tVie pnyment
of their debts, and for obtaining fatisfaftion for the damages
which they have fudained, whether the perfons whom they may
fue be fubjefts or citizens of the country in wliich they m'.y be
found, or any other perfons whatever who may have taken
refuge therein ; and the proceedings and fentenccs of the faid
couits fhall be the fame as if the contending parties had been,
fubjefts or citizens of the fdid country.
Art. XXI. In order to terminate all difFerfcnces on account of
the lofles fuftained by the citizens of the United States, in con-
fequence of their veltels and cargoes having been taken by the
fubjefts of his Catholic Majefty during the late war between
Spain and France, it is agreed that all fuch cafes fhall be referred
to the final decifion of commiffioncrs to be appointed in the
following manner : His Catholic Majefly fhall appoint one com-
miffioner, and the Prefident of the United States, by and with
the advice and cbnfent of the Senate, fhall appoint another,
and the faid two commifiioners fhall agree on the choice of a
third, or if they cannot agree fo, they fhall each propofe one
perfon, and of the two names fo propofed, one fhall be drawn
by lot in the prefence of the two original commifTioners, and
the perfon whole name fhall be drawn fhall be the third com-
mifTioner ; and the three commifTioners fo appointed fhall be
fworn impartially to examine and decide the claims in queflion,
according to the merit of the feveral cafes, and to juflice, eaui-
ty, and the lav/s ©f nations. The laid commifTioners fhall meet
and fet at Philadelphia ; and in cafe of death, ficknefs or necef-
fary abfcnce of any fuch commifTioner, his place fhall be fupplied
in the fame manner as he was firft appointed, and the new com-
mifTioner fhall take the fame oaths, and do the fame duties.
They fliall receive all complaints and applicationSj authorized by
this article, during eighteen months from the day on which they
fhall aflemble. They fhall have power to examine all fuch per-
fons as come before them on oath or affirmation, touching the
complaints in queflion, and alfo to receive in evidence all writ-
ten teflimony, authenticated in fuch a manner as they fhall think,
proper to require or admit. The award of the faid commifTion-
ers, or of any two of them, fhall be final and conclufivc, both
as to the juflice of the claim and the amount of the fum to be
paid to the claimants ; and his Catholic Majefty undertakes to
caule the fame to be paid in fpecie, without deduftion, at fuch
time and places, and under fuch conditions as fhall be awarded
by the fame commifTioners.
3S
498 TREATY OF
Art. XXII. The two high contrafting parties hoping tha?
the good correfpondence and friendfhip which happily reigns
between them, will be further increafed by this treaty, and that
it will contribute to augment their profperity and opulence, will
in future give to their mutual commerce, all the extenfion and
favour which the advantages of both countries may require.
And in confeqiience of the ftipulations contained in the
fourth article, his Catholic Majefly will permit the citizens of
the United States, for the fpace of three years from this time,
to depofit their merchandizes and efFcfts in the port of New-
Orleans, and to export them from thence, without paying any
other duty than a fair price for the hire of the (lores ; and his
Majefty promifes, either to continue this permiflion, if he finds,
during that time, that it is not prejudicial to the interefts of
Spain ; or if he fhouki not agree to continue, he will affign to
them on another part of the banks of the Mifiiflippi, an equi-
valent eftablifhmenti
Art. XXIII. The prefent treaty fliall not be in force until
ratified by the contrafting parties ; and the ratifications fhall be
exchanged in fix months from this time, or fooner, if poflible.
In witncfs whereof we the underwritten Plenipotentiaries of
his Catholic Majefly, and of the United States of America, have
figned this treaty of friendfhip, limits, and navigation, and have
thereunto afRxed our feals refpeftively.
Done at San Lorenzo et Real, this feven and twentieth day
of OSlobcr, 1795.
THOMAS PINCKNEY, (l. s.)
PRINCE DE LA PAZ. (l. s.)
TREATY OF
AMITY AND COMMERCE,
C0NCI.U3ED BETWEEN
HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF SWEDEN, AND THE UNITED STATES
OF NORTH-AMERICA.
T
-L HE King of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals, &c. &c. &c*
and the Thirteen United States of North-America, to wit, New-
Hampfhire, MafTachufetts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland, Connefticut, New-
York, New-Jerfey, Pennfylvania, the counties of Newcaflle,
Kent and Suffex on Delaware. Maryland, Virginia, North-
AMITY AND COMMERCE, 455
Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia, dcfiring to eflablifii in a
ftable and permanent manner the rules which ought to be ob-
ferved relative to the correfpondence and commerce which the
two parties have judged neceflary to eftablifh between their re-
fpeftive countries, ftates and fubjtfts, his Majefty and the United
States have thought that they could not better accomplifh that
end than by taking for a balls of their arrangements the mutual
intereft and advantage of both nations, thereby avoiding all thofe
burthenfome preferences, which are ufuajly fources of debate,
embarraffment and difcontent, and by leaving each party at li-
berty to make, refpefting navigation and commerce, thofe inte-
rior regulations which fhall be moft convenient to itfelf.
With this view, his Majelly the King of Sweden has nomi-
nated and appointed for his plenipotentiary. Count Guftavus
Philip de Creutz, his ambaffador extraordinary to his Moft Chrif-
tian Majefty, and knight commander of his orders ; and the
United States, on their part have fully empowered Benjamin
Franklin, their minifler plenipotentiary to his Moft Chriftian
M:ijcfty : The faid plenipotentiaries, after exchanging their full
powers, and after mature deliberation in confequence thereof,
have agreed upon, concluded and figned the following articles :
Article I. There fhall be a firm, inviolable and univerfal peace
and a true and fincere friendfhip between the King of Sweden,
his heirs and fucceffors, and the United States of America, and
the fubjefts of his Majefty and thofe of the faid States, and be-
tween the countries, iflands, cities, and towns ntuated i>nder
the jurifdiftion of the King and of the faid United States, with-
out any exception of perfons or places ; and the conditions
agreed to in this prefent treaty, fh;ill be perpetual and permanent
between the King, his heirs and fuccelTors, and the faid United
States.
Art. II. The King and the United Stales engage mutually, not
to grant hereafter any particular favour to other nations in re-
fpeft to commerce and navigation, which fhall not immediately
become common to the other party, who fhall enjoy the lame fa-
vour freely, if the conceflion was freely made, or on allowing
the fame compcnfation, if the conceffion was conditional.
Art, III. The fubjecls of the King of Sweden ihM not pay in
the ports, havens, roads, countries, iUands, cities and towns of
the United States, or in any of them, any other nor greater du-
ties or impolls of what nature foever they may be, than thofe
vv'hich the moft favoured nations are or ftiall be obliged to pay :
3nd they Ihall enjoy all the'rights, liberties, privileges, immuni^
{ies and exemptions ia trade, navigation and commerce, whicl>
3 S 2
5CO
TREATY OF
the faid nations do or fhall enjoy, whether in paffing from one
port to another of the United States, or in going to or from the
fame, from or to any part of the world whatever.
Art. IV, The fubjefts and inhabitants of the faid United States
0iall not pay in the ports, havens, roads, ifiands, cities and
towns, under the dominion of the King of Sweden, any other
or greater duties or impofls of what nature foever they may be,
or by what name foever called, than thofe which the mod fa-
voured nations are or fhall be obliged to pay ; and they fhall en-
joy all the rights, liberties, privileges, immunities and exemp-
tions in trade, navigation and commerce, which the faid nations
do or ihall enjoy, whether in pafTing from one port to another
of the dominion of his faid Majefty, or in going to or from
the fame, from or to any part of the world whatever.
Art. V. There ftiall be granted a full, perfeft and entire li-
berty of conlcience to the inhabitants and fubje£is of each party,
and no perlon fliall be molefled on account of his wovfhip, pro-
vided hp fubmits fo far as regards the public demonftration of it
to the laws of the country. Moreover, liberty fliall be granted,
when any of the fubjefts or inhabitants of either party die in
the territory of the other, to bury them in convenient and de-
cent places, which fliall be afTigned for the purpole ; and the
two contrading parties will provide each in its jurifdiftion, that
the lubje£is and inhabitants refpcS;ively may obtain certificates of
the death, in cafe the deliveiy of them is required.
Aft. VI, The fubjetls of the contra^ing parties in the refpec-
tivc States, may freely difpofe of their goods and effe£ls either
by tellament, donation or othcrwife in favour of luch perfons as
they think proper ; and their heirs in whatever place they fhall
refide, fhall receive the fu(.ceflion even a!> inteftato either in pcr-
fon or by their attorney, without having occafion to take out
letters of naturalization. Thele inheritances, as weJl as the ca-
pitals and effefts, which the fubjc^s of the two parties, in chang-
ing their abode, fhall be defirous of removing from the place of
their abode, (hall be exempted from all duty called " dyoii d&
detraBion^" on the part of the government of the two ftates
jefpcftivcly. But it is at the fame time agreed, that nothing
coniamed in this article {hall in any manner dercg^te from tlie
ordinances publiftied in Sweden againll emigrations, or which
may hereafter be publiflicd, which iTiail remain in full force ajid
vigour. The United States on their part, or any of them, fhall
be at liberty to make rclpe^ling this matter, luch laws ai ih< y
think proper.
AMITY AI^D COMMERCE. 501
Art. VII. All and every the fubjefts and inhabitants of the
Kingdom of Sweden, as well as thofe of the United States, fhall bs
permitted to navigate with their veffels in all fafety and freedom,
and without any regard to thofe to whom the merchandize and
cargoes may belong, from any port whatever, and the fubjecls
and inhabitants of the two ftates Ihall likewiie be permitted to
fail and trade with their veflels, and with the fame liberty and
fafety to frequent the places, ports and havens of powers, ene-
mies to both or either of the contrafting parties, without being
in any wife molefted or troubled, and to carry on a commerce
not only direftly from the ports of an enemy to a neutral port, but
even from one port of an enemy, to another port of an enemy,
whether it be under the jurifdiftion of the fame or of different
princes. And as it is acknowledged by this treaty with refpeft
to (hips and merchandizes that free fhips fhall make the
inerchandizes free, and that every thing which (hall be oa
board of fhips belonging to fubjefts of the one or the other
of the contrafling parties, fhall be confidered as free, even
though the cargo or a part of it fhould belong to the enemies
of one or both j it is neverthelefs provided that contraband
goods fhall always be excepted ; which being intercepted, fhall
be proceeded againll according to the fpirit of the following
articles. It is likewife agreed, that the fkme liberty be extended
;o perfons who may be oa board a free fhip, with this effeft that
although they be enemies to both or either of the parties, they
^all not be taken out of the free fhip, unlefs they are foldiers
in the aftual fervice of the faid enemies.
Art. VIII. This liberty of navigation and commerce fhall ex-
tend to all kinds of merchandizes except thofe only which arc
expreffed in the following article and are diflinguifhed under
;he name of contraband goods.
Art. IX. Under the name of contraband or prohibited goods,
fhall be comprehended arms, great guns, cannon balls, arque^
bufes, mufquets, mortars, bombs, petards, grenadoes, faucilfes,
pitch, balls, carriages for ordnance, mufquet refts, bandoliers,
cannon powder, matches, falt-petre, fulpher, bullets, pikes, fabres,
fwords, morions, helmets, cuiraffes, halberds, javelins, piflols
and their holflers, belts, bayonets, hoffes with their harnefs,
and all other like kind of arms and inftruments of war for the
ufe of troops.
Art. X. Thefe which follow fliall not be reckoned in the
number of prohibited goods, that is to fay all forts of cloths,
and all othei manufaftures of wool, Hax, filk, cotton or any
other materials, all kinds of wearing apparel together with the
things of which they are tciKmonly made ; gold, filver coined
5oa TREATY OP
or uncoined, brafs, Iron, lead, copper, latten, coals, wheat
barley, and all forts of corn or pulfe, tobacco, all kinds of
fpices, fahed or fmoaked flefh, failed fifh, cheefe, butter, beer,
oil, wines, fugar, all forts of fait and provifions which ferve
for the nourifhment and luftenancc of man ; all kinds of cotton,
hemp, flax, tar, pitch, ropes, cables, fails, fail-cloth, anchors,
and any parts of anchors, fliip mafls, planks, boards, beams and
all forts of trees and other things proper for building or repair-
ing fhips; nor fhall any goods be confidered as contraband,
which have not been worked into the form of any inflrument
or thing for the purpofe of war by land or by fea, much lefs
fuch as have been prepared or wrought up for any other ufe.
All which fhall be reckoned free goods, as likewife all others
which are not comprehended and particularly mentioned* in the
fi)regoing aKticle ; fo that they fhall not by any pretended inter^
pretation be comprehended among prohibited or contraband
goods : on the contrary they may freely be tranfported by the
fuhjefts of the king and of the United States, even to places
belonging to an enemy, fuch places only excepted as are be-
fieged, blocked or inveflcd, and thofe places only fhall be con-
fidered as fuch, which are nearly furrounded by one of the
belligerent powers.
Art. XI. In order to avoid and prevent on both fides all dif-
putes and dilcord, it is agreed that in cafe one of the parties
Jhould be engaged in a war, the fhips and vefTels belonging to the
fjbjefts or inhabitants of the other fhall be furnifhed with fea-
Ictiers, or palTports expreffing the name, property and port of
the veffcl, and alfo ths name and place of abode of the mailer
or commander of the faid vcfTcl, in order that it may thereby
appear that the faid vefTel really and truly belongs to the fubjefts
of the one or the other party. — Thefe paffports which fhall be
drawn up in good and due form, fliiill be renewed every time
the velTel returns home in the courfe of the year. — -It is alfo
agreed that the faid velTcls when loaded fniiU be provided not
only with fea-letters but aifo with certificates containing a par-
ticular account of the cargo, the place from which the vefl'el
failed and that of her dcflination, in order that it may be known
v/hcther they carry any of the prohibited or contraband mer-
chandizes mentioned tn the ninth ariicle of the prelcnt trcnty;
which certificates fliall be made out by the officers of the place
from which the veffel fhull depart.
Art. XII. Although the velTels of the cv^z and tlie other
party may navigate freely and with all lafety, as is explained in
the Icveuth article, tliey fhall ncverthelefs be bound at all time^
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 503
Wlien required to exhibit as well on the high feas as in port, their
paffports and certificates above mentioned. And not having con-
Jraband merchandizes on board for an enemy's port, they may
freely and without hindrance purfue their voyage to the place
of their deftination. Neverthelefs the exhibition of papers
fKall not be demanded of merchant fhips under convoy of veffels
of war, but credit fhall be given to the word of the officer com-
manding the convoy.
Art. XIII. If on producing the faid certificates, it be difco-
vered that the veffel carries fome of the goods which are declared
to be prohibited or contraband, and which are configned to an
enemy's port, it fhall not however, be lawful to break up the
hatches of fuch fhips, nor to open any cheft, coffers, packs, cafks
or veffe'.s, nor to remove or difplace the fmallell part of the mer-
chandizes, until the cargo has been landed in the prefence of
officers appointed for the purpoie, and until an inventory thereof
has been taken ; nor fhall it be lawful to fell, exchange or alienate
the cargo or any part thereof, until legal procefs fhall have been
had againft the prohibited merchandizes, and fentence fhall have
{)afred declaring them liable to confifcation, faving neverthelefs
as well the fhips themfelves as the other merchandizes which
fhall have been found therein, which by virtue of this prefent
treaty are to be eftcemed free, and which arc not to be detained
on pretence of their having been loaded with prohibited mer-
chandize, and much lefs confifcated as lawful prize. And in
cafe the contraband merchandize be only a part of the cargo,
and the mafter of the veffel agrees, confents and offers to deliv'er
them to the veffel that has dilcovered them, in that cafe the lat-
terj after receiving the merchandizes which are good prize, fhall
immediately let the veffel go, and fhall not by any means hinder
her from purfuing her voyage to the place of her deftinatior.
When a veffel is taken and brought into any of the ports of the
contrafting parties, if upon examination fhe be found to be loaded
only with merchandizes declared to be free, the owner or he
who has made the prize, fhall be bound to pay all cofts and da-
mages to the mafler of the veffel unjuftly detained.
Art. XIV. It is likewife agreed, that whatever fhall be found
to be laden by the fubjefts of either of the two contrafting par-
ties, on a fhip belonging to the enemies of the other party, the
xvhole effeft?, although not of the number of thofe declared
contraband fhall be confifcated as if they belonged to the enemy,
excepting neverthelefs fuch goods and merchandizes as were
put on board before the declaration of war, and even fix
months after the declaration, after which term none fhall be
504
TREA TY 0 F
prefumed to be ignorant of it, which merchandizes fhall riot iri
any manner be fubjeft to confifcation, but fhiU be faithfully and
fpecifically delivered to the owners, who fhall claim or caufe
them to be claimed before confifcation and fale, as alfo their pro-
ceeds, if the claim be made within eight months, and could not
be made fooner after the fale, which is to be public : Provided
neverthelefs, that if the faid merchandizes be contraband, it
fh^ill not be in any wife lawful to carry them afterwards to a porfc
belonging to the enemy.
Art. XV. And that more effeftual care may be taken for ther
fecurity of the two contrafting parties, that they fuffer no pre-
judice by the men of war of the other party or by privateers, all
captains and commanders of fhips of his Swedifh Majcfly and of
the United States, and all their fubjcfts, fliall be forbidden to do*
any injury or damage to thofe of the other party, and if they
aft to the contrarj', having been found guilty on examination, by
their proper judges, they fhall be bound to make fatisfaftiori
for all damages and the interefis thereof, and to make them good
under pain and obligation of their perfons and goods.
Art. XVI. For this caufe, every individual who is dcfirous of
fitting out a privateer, fhall before he receives letters patent, or
fpecial commifTion, be obliged t6 give bond with fuffecient fure-
tiesj before a competent judge, for a fufficient fum to anfwer all
damages and wrongs which the owner of the privateer, his offi-
cers or others in his employ, may commit during the cruife,
contrary to the tenor of this treaty, and contrary to the edifts
publiflied by either party, whether by the King of Sweden, or
by the United States, in virtue of this fame treaty, and alfo un-
der the penalty of having the faid letters patent and fpecial
commifTion revoked and made void.
Art. XVII. One of the contrafting parties being at war, and
the other remaining neuter, if it fhould happen that a merchant
" Ihip of the neutral poWer be taken by the enemy of the other
party and be afterwards retaken by a fhip of war or privateer
of the power at war, alfo fliips and merchandises of what nature
foever they may be, when recovered from a pirate or fea rover,
fhall be brought into a port of one of the two powers, and fhall
be committed to the cullody of the officers of the faid port, that
they may be reflored entire to the tfue proprietor as foon as h«
fhall have produced full proof of the property. Merchants,
tnafters and owners of fhips, feamen, people of all forts, fhips
and vefTels, and in general all merchandizes and effefts of one of
the allies or their fubjt£l;s, fliall not be lubjcft to any embargo,
nor detained in any of the countries, territories, iflands, cities,
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 505
towns, ports, rivers, or domains whatever, of the other ally,
on account of any military expedition, or any public or private
purpofe whatever, by leizure, by force, or by any fuch man-
ner; much lefs ftiall it be lawful for the fubjefts of one of the
parties to feize or take any thing by force, from the fubjefts
of the other party, without the eonlent of the owner. This
however is not to be underftood to comprehend feizures, deten*-
tions and arrefts, made by order and by the authority of jufticcj
and according to the ordinary courfe for debts or faults of the
fubjeft; for which procels Ihall be had in the way of right ac-
cording to the forms of juftice.
Art. XVIIl. If it fhould happen that the two contrafting
parties fliould be engaged in a war at the fame time, with 9.
common enemy, the following points (hall be obferved on both
fides.
ift. If the fhips of one of the two nations re-taken by the
privateers of the other, have not been in the power of the
enemy more than twenty-four hours, they fhall be reftored to
the original owner on payment of one third of the Value of the
fhip and cargo. If on the contrary, the vefTel re-taken has been
more than twenty-four hours in the power of the enemy, it
ihall belong wholly to him whcf has re-taken it.
2d. In cafe during the interval of twenty-four hours, a vef-
iel be re-taken by a man of warj of either of the two parties,
it {hall be reftored to the original owner on payment of a thir*
tieth part of the value of the vefTel and cargo, and a tenth part
of it has been re-taken after the twenty-four hours, which iums
Iliall be diftributed as a gratification among -.he crew of the men
of war, that Ihall have made the re-capture.
3d. The prizes made in manner above mentioned, fhall be
reftored to the owners after proof made of the property, upon
giving fecurity for the part coming to him who has recovered
the vefTel from the hands of the enemy.
4th. The men of war and privateers of the two nations fhall
reciprocally be admitted with their prizes into each others povts.j
but the prizes fhall not be unloaded or fold there until the lega-
lity of a prize made by Swedilli fhips fhall have been determined
according to the laws and regulations eftablifhed in Sweden, as
alio that of the prizes made by American velfels, fhall have beea
determined according to the laws and regulations eftabUIhed by
the United States of America.
,5.th. Moreover the King of Sweden, and the United State?-
of America, (hall be at liberty to make fuch regulations as they
{hill judge necefliry refpe6ling the coiidu£l which their men of
3T
5o6 T RE ATY 0 P
war and privateers refpeftively fhall be bound to obferve tvittt
regard to vcffels which they fhall take and carry into the ports
of the two powers.
Art. XIX. The fnips of war of his Swedifh Majefty and
thofe of the United States, and alfo thofe which their fubjeft*
fhall have armed for war may with all freedom conduft th«
prizes which they (liall have made from their enemies into the
ports which are open in time of war to other friendly nations ;
and the faid prizes upon entering the faid ports, fhall not be
fubjeft to arreft or feizure, nor fhall the of&cers of the place
take cognizance of the validity of the faid prizes which may
depart and be condufled freely and with all liberty to the places
pointed out in their commiffiofts, which the captains of the laid
veffels fhall be obliged to fhew.
Art. XX. In csrfc any vefvcl belonging to either of the two
States, or to their fubjefts, fhall be ftranded, fhipwreeked, or
lufFer any other damage on the coafts or under the dominion of
either of the parties, all aid and affiftance fhall be given to the
perfons fhipwreeked, or who may be in danger thereof, and
paffports fhall be granted to them to fecure their return to their
p\>*n country. The fliips and merchandizes wrecked, or their
p/oceeds, if the efFefts have been fold, being claimed in a year
and a day, by the owners or their attorney, fhall be reftored,
on their paying the eofhs of falvage, conforn>able to the laws
and cuftoms of the two nations.
Art. XXI, When the fubjeds and inhabitants of the two
parties, with their veffels, whether they be public and equipped
for war, or private r.r employed in commerce, fhall be forced
by tempefl, by purfuit of prii^ateers and of enemies, or by any
T)lher urgent necefTity, to retire and enter any of the rivers,
bays, roads or ports of either of the two parties, they fhall be
received and treated with all humanity and politenefs, and they
•fliall enjoy nil fiiendrnip, prote£tIon and afTiftance, and they
fhall be at liberty to fupply themfelves with refrefhmeats, pro-
viTions and every thing necefTary for their fuftenance, for liic
repair of their vefTcls, and for continuing their voyage ; pro-
vided always, that they pay a reafonable price : And they fhall
not in ijny manner be detained or hindered from failing out of
the laid ports or roads, but they may retire and depart when
and as they pleafe, without any obftacle or hindrance.
.Art. XXII. In order to favour commerce on both fides as
T^uch as pofiible, it is agreed, that in cafe a war fhould break
cut between the faid two nations, which God forbid, the term
of nine months after the declaration of war, fhall be allowed
AMITY AND COMMERCE. 507
to the merchants and fubjefts refpeftively on one fide and the
other, in order that they may withdraw with their effefts and
moveables, which they {hall be at liberty to carry off or to lell
where they pleafe, without the leaft obftacle; nor fhall ijiy
{die their efFefts, and much lefs their per Ions, during the. faid
nine months ; but on the contrary, paffports which fhall be va-
lid for a time neceffary for their return, Ihall be given them for
their veffels, and the effefts which they fliail be willing to carry
with them. And if any thing is taken from them, or if any
injury is done to them by one of the parties, their people and
fubjefts, during the term above-prefcribed, full and entire la-
tisfaftion fhall be made to them on that account. The above-
mentioned paffports fhall alfo ferve as i fafe conduft againft all
infults or prizes which privateers may attempt againft their per-
fons and efFefts.
Art. XXIII. No fubjeft of the King of Sweden fhall take a
commifTion or letters of marque for arming any veffel to aft as
a privateer againft the United States of America, or any of
them, or againfl the fubjefls, people or inhabitants of the faid
United States, or any of them, or againft the property of the
inhabitants of the faid States, from any prince or State what-
ever, with whom the faid United States fhall be at war. Nor
fiiall any citizen, fubje£t or inhabitant of the faid UnitM States,
or any of them, apply for or take any commifTion or letters of
marque for arming any vciTel to cruife againft the fuhjefts of his
Swedifh Majefly, or any of them, or their property, from any
prince or State whatever with whom his faid Majefly Ihall be
at war. And if any perfon of either nation fhall take fucK
commiffions or letters of marque, he fhall be punifhed as a pirate.
Art, XXIV. The veffels of the fubjefts of either of the
parties coming upon any of the coafls belonging to the other,
but not willing to enter into port, or being entered into port
and not willing to unload their cargoes or to break bulk, fhall not
be obliged to do it, but on the contrary fhall enjoy all the fran-
chifes and exemptions which are granted by the rules fubfifl-
ing with refpeft to that objeft.
Art. XXV. When a veffel belonging to the fubjcfls and in-
habitants of either of the parties, failing on the high fea, fli^U
be met by a fhip of war or privateer of the other, the faid fhip
of war or privateer, to avoid all diiordei', fhali lemain out of
cannon fliot, but may always fend their boat to the merchant
fhip, and caufe two or three men to go on board of her, to whom
the mailer or commander of the faid veffel fhall exhibit his paff-
port, ftating the property of the veflcl ; and when the laid veffel
3 T a
5o8 TREATY OF
fhall have exliibited her pafTport, (hc^ fhall be at liberty to con-
tinue her voyage, and it fhaii not be lawful to moled or fearch;
her in any manner, or to give her chace or force her to quit her,
intended courfe.
Art. XXVI. The two contrafting parties grant mutually the
liberty of having each in the ports of the other, confuls, vice-
coniuls, agents and commiffaries, whole funftions fhall be regu-
lated by a particular agreement.
Art. XXVII. The prefent treaty fhall be ratified on both
fides, and tlie ratifications fhall be exchanged in the fpace of
eight months, or fooner if pofTible, counting from the day of
the fignature.
In faith whereof, the refpeftive Plenipotentiaries have figncd
the above articles, and have thereunto affixed their feals.
Done at Paris, the third day of April, in the year of our
Lord one thoufand feven hundred and eighty. three.
G. PHILIP Comte de CREUTZ, (L. S.)
B. FRANKLIN. (L. S.)
SEPARATE ARTICLE,
The King of Sweden and the United States of North-Ame-
rica, agree that the prefent treaty fhall have its full effeft for
the fpace of fifteen years, counting from the day of the ratifi-
cation, and the two contrafting parties referve to themfelves
the liberty of renewing it at the end of that term.
Done at Paris, the third of April, in the year of our Lord,
one thoufand feven hundred and eighty-three.
G. PHILIP Comte de CREUTZ, (L. S.)
B. FRANKLIN. (L. S.>
SEPARATE ARTICLES.
Art. I. His Sv/edifh Majefly fliall ufe all the means in his
pov/er to proteft and defend the vefTels and effects belonging
to citizens or inhabitants of the United States of North-Ame-
rica, and every of them which fliall be in the ports, havens,
roads, or on the ieas near the countries, iflands, cities and towns,
of his faid Majefly, and fhall ufe his utmoft endeavours to re-
cover and reflore to the right owners, all fuch velfels and
elfefts, which fhall be taken from them within his jurif-
diftion.
Art. II. In like manner, the United States of North- America.
Ciall proteft ar.d defend the velTels and effefts belonging to the
AMITY AND COMMERCE.
509
fubjefts of his Swedifh Majefty, which fhall be in the ports,
havens or roads, or on the feas near to the countries, iflands,
cities and towns of the faid States, and fhall ufe their utmoft
efforts to recover and reftore to the riglit owners all iuch vef-
fels and efFe>i<4* ^ >•• > • >•• >■■
GEORGE WASHINGTON,
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Of AMERICA.
To all whom tkefz txejmts Jliall come, greeting.
HEREAS a Treaty of Peace and Amity has been con-?
eluded la the manner herein-after-mentioned, by the Plenipo-
tentiary of the United States of America, and the Dey and Re-
gency of Algiers ; which Treaty, written in the Arabic lan-
guage, being tranflated into the language of the United States,
is in the words following, to wit ;
A Treaty of Peace and Acuity concluded this prcfent day lima artaft^
the twenty -jirji of the Luna Safer year oj the Hegira 1210, cor-
refponding zoith Saturday the fifth of Septeviber, one thoufand
feuen hundred and ninety five, between Haffan BafJiaw, Dey of
Algiers, his Divan andfubjects, and George IVafhington, Prefi-
dent of the United States of North- America, and the citizens of
the f aid United States,
Article I. From the date of the prefent Treaty, there fliall
fubfift a firm and fincere peace and amity between the^ Prefident
and citizens of the United States of North-Amerrc3,'ahd Haifan
Bafhaw, Dey of Algiers, his Divan ar.d iubjetls ; the valfals;
and fubjcfls of both nations reciprocally treating each btltcr with
civility, honour, jSnd relpeft.
PEACE AND AMITY. 511
Art. II. All veffels belonging to the citizens of the United
States of North-America, (hall be permitted to enter the dif-
ferent ports of the Regency, to trade with our fubjefts, or any
other perfons refiding within our jurifdiftion, on paying the
Ufual duties at our cuftom-houfe that is paid by all nations at
peace with this Regency ; obferving, that all goods difembarked,
and not fold here, fliall be permitted to be re-embarked, with-
out paying any duty whatever, either for difembarking or em-
barking. All naval and military (lores, fuch as gun -powder,
lead, iron, plank, fulphur, timber for building, tar, pitch, rofin,
turpentine, and any other goods denominated naval and military
(lores, (hall be permitted to be fold in this Regency, without
paying any duties whatever at the cuftom-houfe of this Regency.
Art. Ill, The veffels of both nations to pafs each other with-
out any impediment or moleftation ; and all goods, monies or
paffengers, of whatfoever nation, that may be on board of the
veffels belonging to either party, (hall be confidered as inviola-
ble, and fhall be ailo'.ved to pafs unmolefled.
Art. IV. All fhips of war, belonging to the Regency, on
meeting with merchant veffels belonging to citizens of the United
States, fhall be allowed to viftt them with two perfons only be-
fide the rowers ; thefe two only permitted to go on board faid
veffel, without obtaining exprefs leax'e from tlie commander of
faid veflTel, who fhall compare the paffport, and immediately per-
mit faid vefTel to proceed on her voyage unmolefled. All fhips
of war belonging to the United States of North-America, on
meeting with an Algerine cruifer, and fliall have feen her pafT-
port and certificate from the Conful of the United States of
North-America, refiding in this Regency, (hall be permitted to
proceed on her cruife unmolefled : no paffport to be ifTued to
any fliips but fuch as are abfolutely the property of citizens of
the United States ; and eighteen months flvall be the term al-
lowed for furnifhing the (hips of the United States with pafl-
ports.
Art, V. No commander of any cruifer belonging to this' Re-
gency, fhall be allowed to take any perfon, of whatever nation
or denomination, out of any veffel belonging to the United States
of North-America, in order to examine them, or under pretence
of making them confefs any thing defired ; neither fhall they
inflift any corporal punifbment or any way el fe moled them.
Art^ yi., If any veffel belonging to the United States of
North-America,, fhall be ftranded on the coaft of this Regency,
they (hall receive every pofHble afTiflance from the iubjefts of
this Regency : all goods faved from the v» reck foallbe perjtnitted
g42 TREATY OF
to be re-embarked on board of any other veffel, without paying
any duties at the cuflom-houfe.
Art. VII. The Algerines are not, on any pretence what-
ever, to give or fell any vcflel of war to any nation at war with
the United States of North-America, or any veffel capable of
cruifins to the detriment of the commerce of the United States.
Art. VIII. Any citizen of the United States of North-
America, having bought any prize condemned by the Algerines,
fhail not be ag^in captured by the cruifers of the Regency then
at feS, although they have not a palTport ; a certificate from the
Conful refident being deemed lufficient, until fuch time as they
can procure fuch palTport.
Art. IX. If any of the Barbary dates at war with the United
States of North-America, fhall capture any American 'veffel,
and bring her into any of the ports of this Regency, they fhall
not be permitted to fell her, but fhall depart the port on pro-
curing the requiftte fupplies of provifion.
Art. X. Any vefful belonging to the Uoitcd States of North-
America, when at war with any other nation, fliall be permitted
to fend their prizes into the ports of the Regency, and have
leave to difpole of them, without paying any duties on fale
thereof. All vefTels wanting provifions or refrelhments, fhall be
permitted to buy them at market price.
Art. XI. All (hips of war belonging to the United States of
North-America, on anchoring in the ports of this Regency, (hall
receive the ufual prefents of provifions and refrefhments, gratis.
Should any of the flaves of this Regency make their efcape on
board faid veffels, they Ihall be immediately returned : No ex-
cufc Ihall be made that they have hid themlelves amongft the
people and cannot be found, or any other equivocation.
Art. XII, No citizen of the United States of America fhall
beobligcd to redeem any (lave againil his will, even fhould he
be his brother: neither fliall the ov/ner of a flave be forced to
iell him againft his will : but all fuch ngreements muft be .made
by conlcnt of parties. Should any American citizen be tdken
on board an enemy's fhip, by the cruifers of this Regency, hav-
ing a regular paCTport, fpecifying they are citizens of the United
Slates, they fhall be immediately let at liberty. On the con-
trarv, if they have no palfport, they and their property fhall be
conhdered lawful prize, as this Regency know their friends by
their palTports.
Art. XIII. Should any of the citizens of the United States
of North-America, die within the limits of this Regency, the
.Dey and his fubjefts fliall not interfere with the property of
PEACE AND AMITY, 513
the deceafed ; but it fhall be under the immediate direftion of
the Conful, unlefs otherwife difpofed of by will. Should there
be no Conful. the effefts fhall be depofited in the hands of fome
perfon worthy of truft, until the party fhull zppear who has a
right to demand ihem, when they {hall render an account of the
property: neither fhall the Dey or Divan give hindrance in the
execution of any will that may appear.
Art. XIV. No citizen of the United States of North- America
fhall be obliged to purchafe any goods againft his will ; but on
the contrary, fhall be allowed to purchafe whatever it plealetli
him. The Conful of the United States of North-America, or
any other citizen, fhall not be amendable for debts contr?£tcd by
any one of their own nation, unlefs previoufly they have given
a written obligation (o to do. Should the Dey want to freight
any American veflel that may be in the Regency, or Turkey,
faid veffcl not being engaged ; in confequence of the fiiendHiip
fubfifting between the two nations, he expefts to have the pre-
ference given him, on his paying the fame freight offered by any
other nation.
Art. XV. Any difpute or fuits at law, that may lake place be'
tween the fubjefts of the Regency and the citizens of the United
States of North- America, fhall be decided by the Dey in pericn,
and no other. Any difputes that may arife between thecitizens
of the United States, fhall be decided by the Conful ; as they
are in fuch cafes not fubjeft to the laws of this Regency.
Art. XVI. Should any citizen of the United States of North-
America kill, wound, or ftrike a fubjcft of this Regency, he
fhall be punifhed in the fame manner as a Turk, and not v^^ith
more feverity. Should any citizen of the United States of
North-America, in the above predicament, efcape prifon, the
Conful fhall not become anfvverable for him.
Art. XVII. The Conful of the United States of North-Ame-
rica fhall have every perfonal fecurity given him and his houfe-
hold ; he fhall have liberty to exercife his religion in his own
houfe. All flaves of the fame religion fhall not be impeded in
going to faid Conful's houfe, at hours of prayer. The Conful
fhall have liberty and perfonal fecurity given him to travel when-
ever he pleafes, within the Regency ; he fhall have free licence
to go on board any veffel lying in our roads, whenever he flrili
think fit. The Conful fhall have leave to appoint his own
Drogaman and Broker.
U
5*4
TREATY OF
Art. XVIII. Should a war break out between the two na-
tions, the Conful of the United States of North-America, and
all citizens of faid States, fhall have leave to embark themfelves
and property untnolelled, on board of what veflfel or yeffels they
fliall think proper.
Art. XIX. Should the cruifers of Algiers capture any vefTels
having citizens of the United States of America on board!, they
having papers to prove they are really fo, they and their property
Ihall be inirnediately difcharged. And fliouid the veffels of the
United States capture any vcflfeU of nations at war with them,
having lubjefts of this Regency on board, they fliall be treated
in like, manner.
Art. XX. On a vefifel of war belonging to the United States
of North-America, anchoring in our ports, the Conful is to in-
form the Dey of her arrival, and fhe fliall be fnluted. with
twenty-one guns ; which fhe is to return in the fame quantity
or number. And the Dey will fend frefh provifions on board,
as is cuffcomary, gratis.
Art. XXI. The Conful of the United States of North-Ame-
rica fhall not be required to pay duty for any thing he brings
from a foreign country for theufe of his houfe and family.
Art. XXII. Should any difturbancc take place betv/een citi-
zens of the United States and the fubjefts of this Regency, or
Jareak any article ot this treaty, war fhall not be declared imme-
diately ; but every thing fliall be fearched into regularly, fo that
the party injured fliall be made reparation.
On the sifl: of the Luna of S.ifer, 1210, correfponding with
the 5th of September, 1795, Jofeph Donaldfon, jun. on the part
of the United States of North-America, agreed with Haffan Ba-
fhaw, Dey of Algiers, to keep the articles contained in this
treaty facred and inviolable ; which we, the Dey and Divar,,
promife to oblerve, on confjdeiation of the United States paying
annually the value of twelve thoufand Algerine fequins in mari-
time {lores. Should the United States forward a larger quantity,
the overplus fhall be paid for in money, by the Dey and Re-
gency. Any vefTel that may be captured from the date of this
treaty of peace and amity, fliall immediately be delivered up on
her arrival in Algiers.
(Sic^ncf!) \ Seal of Algiers Jlaviped
VIZIR HASSAN BASHAW. \ at the foot of the ori-
' ""■^■-^^ DONALDSON, jun. I ginal treaty in Arabic,
PEACE AND AMITY. 515
To all to whom thffd prefents JJiall come, or be made known,
Whereas the underwritten David Humphreys, hath been duly
appointed CommifiTioner Plenipotentiary, by letters patent, un-
der the fignature of the Prefident and feal of the United States
of America, dated the 30th of March, 1795, for negociating
and concluding a treaty of peace with the Dey and Governor of
Algiers ; whereas, by inftruftions given to him on the part of
the Executive, dated the 28th of March and 4th of April, 1795,
he had been further authorized to employ Joleph Donaldlon,
jun. on an agency in the faid buftnefs; and whereas, by a writ-
ing under his hand and feal, dated the 21ft of May, 1795, he
did conftitute and appoint Jofeph Donaldfon, junior, agent in
the bufincfs aforefaid ; and the faid Jofeph Donaldfon, junior,
did on the 5th of September, 1795, agree wiih Hafian Bafhaw,
Pey of Algiers, to keep the articles of the preceding treaty fa-
cred and inviolable.
Now KNOW YE, That I David Humphreys, Commiflioner
Plenipotentiary ■ aforefaid, do approve and conclude the faid
treaty and every article and clauie therein contained ; referving
the fame, ncverthelefs, for the final ratification of the Prefident
of the United States of America, by and with the advice and
cohfent of the Senate of the faid United States.
"In tedimony whereof I have figned the fame with my hand
and feal, at the city of Lifbon, the 28th of November, 1795.
DAVID HUMPHREYS.
Now BE IT KNOWN, That I George Wafnington, Prefident
ef the United States of America, having feen and confideredt
the treaty^ do, by and with the advice and cbnfent of the Senate,
accept, ratify, and confirm the fame, and every claufe and article
thereof. And to the end that the faid treaty may be obferved
and performed with good faith on the part of the United States,
I have ordered the premifes to be made public ; and I do hereby
enjoin and require all perfons bearing office, civil or military,
within the United States, and all otlicr citizens or inhabitants
thereof, faithfully to obferve and fulfil the laid treaty, and every
claufe and article thereof.
In teftimcny whereof I have caufed the feal of the United
States of America to be affixed to theie prefents, and figned the
lame with my hand.
5i6 TREATY OF AMITY, &c.
Done at the city of Philadelphia, the feventh day of March,
one thoufand feven hundred and ninety-fix, and of the
independence of the United States of America the
twentieth,
G°. WASHINGTON.
By the Prefident,
TIMOTHY PICKERING,
Secretary of State,
HE END
GEOGRAPHY OF AMERICA.
Index.
.<, .<..<....>..>.>..,
tftite.— The Roman Numerals refer to the Volume, and the Tlgures to the .Page.
A,
A.
.BINGDON, town of, defcribcdj
iii. 232.
/H'Otiginal America, defcribed, iv. 221.
AcadeiififU Colleges, and Univeifilies : —
American Academy of Arts and Sci-
ences, ii. 173. Dunmore Academy^
178. Phillips's Academy, ih. Lei-
cefter Academy, 179. Havard uni-
verfity, 180. Rhode-Ifiand collegej
237. Yale college, in Connefticut,
272. King's or Columbia college,
New- York, 3J1. Clinton acadsmy,
343. College at Princeton, New-Jer-
fey, 383. Queen's college, at Brunf-
wick, New-Jerfey, 384. Univerfjty
of Pennfylvania, 443. College and
Academy of Philadelphia, ib. Dick-
infau's college in Pennfylvania, ib.
Franklin's college at Lancailer, in
Pennfylvania, 444. Walhington col- .
lege in Maryland, iii. 44. St. John's
college at Annapolis, ib. Cokelbury
college, Maryland, 45. College of
William and Mary, in Virginia, 114.
Univerfity of North-Carolina, 213.
College at Charlefton, 256. College
atWinfborough,257. College at Cam-
bridge, ib. Univeriity of Georgia,
Advantages which the United States pof-
fefs over Europe pointed out, iii.
281
Agamentkus, a mountain in New-Hamp-
fhire, defcribed, ii. 63
Alatmniika river, defcribed, iii 264
Aban\, city of, defcribed, ii. 320
Alexandria, town of, defcribed, iii. 97
A'govquin woman, anecdote of, i. 1O7
Allegany mountains, defcribed, i. 200
— river, defcribed, i. 191
Allum, found in New-Hamplhire, ii. 90
Amazonia, country of, defcribed, iv.
221
America^ continent of, fuppofed to be
imperfeftly known to the ancinnis, i.
1. Pretenfions of ths Welch to the
firft difcovery of, examined, ?/'. Firfl
difcovcred b Y Chriftopher Columbus,
_55. General defcription of, 79.
Boundaries and extent, divided into
North iuid South continent, ib. Cli-
mate, ib. Why fo materially differ-
ent from that of the old continent
accounted for,8o- Extreme malignity
of, inferred by de Paw and Buffon,
83. The contrary demonflrated by
i^iavigero, ib. & feq. Aborigins of,
defcribed by Ulioa, 89, Bfeq. Ex'
tremely fond of painting their bo-
dies, oO. Their infenfibility to bo-
dily pditi inllanced, 92. Thrir drefs,
93. Singular manner of trying the
fortitude of their young chiefs, ib.
Manners and cuftoms, 94. Govf-ra-
ment, 95. Manner of conducing'
their public bufmefs, 06. Belts of
Wampum, ufe of, >.b. Vv'ar and hunt-
ing their principal employment, 97.
Their wars, how conduced, ib.
Their military enfigns, drefs, &c.
98. Their extraordmary vigilance
in war, og- Difcover aflonilhing
acutenefs in tracing an enemy, ib.
The ferocity with which they con-
duft their, battles, ib. Their llrong
paflinn for liberty, 105. Their con-
troverfies, how decided, ib. Murder,
how punifhed, jb. Their longevity,
106. Reflsflions call upon them by
de Paw and others, examined and re-
futed, 107, i3 feq. Kow firft peo-
pled, 144. Produtljons of, 156.
Animals of, enumerated, 124. Com-
pared with ihofc of the old conti-
nent, 125, S feq.
Amtrku, North, when firft difcovered, \,
157. And fettled, ib. & jeq. It,'}
boundaries, extent, bays, founds,
firaits, and iflands, 172. Divifrjnsj
^«i';t(7, South, view of, iv. 117
America, United States of, tlieir fi-
tuation, extent and boundarii-s, \.
175. Grand divifioiis, ii. i. Lake*
and rivers, i. :78- Bays, 194. Face
of the country, 158. Mountains,
199. Soil and vegetable produc-
tions, 20i. Population, 202. Cha-
xafter and manners of its inhabitants,
204. Government, 20g. Conllu.u-
tion, 21O. Public expenditure, 239.
Finances, 252. Society of the Cin-
cinnati, 260. Agriculture, 265 -
Commerce, 266. Exports, 270. —
Duties, 276. Manufaflures, 293. —
Bank, 363. Military ftYengtii, 3^.4.
Naval ftrength, 365. Religion, 3bb.
Revolution, hittory of its rife, pro-
grefs and eftablifhment, 393. Sket;'h
of events which preceded the revo-
laiirffj, 395, ^ feq. S'.amp aft, 428.
Difturbaace at Bofton and Rhode- Hl-
and, 435. Congrefs chofen, 438- —
Stamp aft repealed, 4 ji. Tea leiz-
ed at Bofton, 458. Fisft meeting o.f
X
t -N t> Z X.
Congrefs, 463. PaSliHi a declara-
lion of riglits, w. Bofton neck for-
tified by Gen. Gage, 469. Aftion
at Lexington and Concord, 473. —
Batt'.e of Butik'-r's hill, 483. Wafh-
inqton appointed commander in
cl^iief of the American army, 493. —
Exp'-dition into Canada, ik Ame-
ricans defeat Gen. Carleton, 494. —
Unfuccefsful attack on Quebec, 496.
Death of Montgomery, il). Bolton
rvacuated by the Britifh, 500. —
Americans declare themfelves inde-
tiendent, 504. Declaration, if>. Un-
fuccefsful attack hy the Britifh, 513.
Arrival of CommiiTioners from En-
gland, 513. Americans defeated at
Staten ifland, 5r4. Battle of the
White plains, 517. Philadelphia ta-
ken by the Britifh, 523. A£Vion at
Germanto^vn, 524. Capture of Bur-
j^oyne and his army at Saratoga, 531.
Treaty of alliance between France
ajid the Americans, 532. PhiladeU
phia evacuated by the Britifh, 535.
French fleet arrives on the coall of
Vir.i^inia, 536. Charlefton taken by
the Britifli, 548. Reinforcements o-f
fiiips and troops arrive from France,-
553. Arnold betrays and deferts the
Americans, 556. Execution of \Ja-
jor Andre, ib. Americans defeated
at Guildford, 563. Aftion between
the Britifli and French fleets, 570.
Surrender of Cornw'alh's and his ar-
my at York-town. 57J- Treaty of
peace between England and the
United States, 573-. Termination of
the war, 573. Tranfaclions after the
peace, 574. Conllitution of the Unit-
ed States ratified by a large majori-
■ ty of the States, 587-^ New Congrcfs
eleft^d, 'h. General W'afhington cho-
fefi Preiident of the United Statesy
JfjTtric^iyff Federal, character and man-
ners of, i- 204
A'ntrtgo Vtfpucci publifliestlie firft writ-
ten account of the new v»'orld, and
hence gave nante to America, i. 61
Aii{>vfc-'gii,in -Wver, defcrib^d, ii. 9
Ammah of .America, con>pared with
thofe of Europe, i. 25
A'inapolis, city of, iii. 3!^
Antigua, ifl'and of, defcribcd, iv. 2^t
Abbiimat'ox river, dcfcribed, iii. 79
Augujia, town of, defcribrd, iii. 271
A. ore^, thofe iflands firlf. difcovcrcd by
the P'ortugiiefe, i. 5.
' B. ' ■
B.h.ima Ifiands, dcfcribed, iv. 291
Bu/tmore, in Maryland, dcfcribed, iii. 38
fiaptifti, account of, i. 373
£,iibadocs, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 212
Barbuda, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 282
Beivijort, town of, iii. 248
Belknap, Mr. his defcription of the
White mountains, ii. 66
Bermudas, or Sommer's iflands, defcrib-*
ed, iv. 284
Bethliktm, town of, ii. 434
Betterivg-koufe, or Quaker's hofpital,
account of, ii. 419
Birds of America, enumerated, iv. 381
BUck river, defcribed, ii. 300
Bones, fuppofed to be thofe of the
mammoth, found, iii. 137
lioquet river, defcribed, it 30O
Bojion, city of, defcribed, ii. 140
Brcndytuinc, corn mills at, defcribed, ii*
466 _ _
Brafil, defcribed, iv, 203
Bridge, natural, a Angular one defcrib-
■ ed, ii. 172
Brijlt, M. his account of the Bettcr-
■ mg-hoafe at Philadelphia, ii 419
Brijlol, town of, defcribed, ii. 230
Britifh fettlemcnts in America, hiftory
of the, iv. 1
Pritijk We!l-lndies, defcribed, iv. 233
Brunfmck, city of,' defcribed, iii. 372
————town of, defcribed, ib.
Burlington, city of. defcribed, ii-371
C.
Cabot, John, fent on a voyage of difco-
very by Henry VII. i.' 157
Sebaftian, explores the coaft o-f
Brafii, i. 158.
Cabral, Alverez, a Fortuguefe comman-
der,difcovers the coail of Brafil, i. 63
Cahjornia, defcribed, iv. 1O7.
Calvinilis,- account of, i. 383'
Qambridgt, ia MafTachafctts, defcribed^
Camdtn, defcribed,- Iii. 249.
Canada, upper and lower provinces of,
defcribed, vi. 4. Situation, extent
and boundaries, ib. Air and climate,
3. Hiftory of its fettlement, ib
Face of the country, produce, &c. 5,
Principal towns, 7. Population, re-
ligion aiid trade, 8. Government, lO
Cape Breton, iHand of, defcribed, iv. 12
Cape Cod, defcribed, ii. 129
Carey, Mr. his account of the malignant,
fever at Philade!|>hia, ii. 425
Cdrlflf, in Fennfylvania, defcribed, ii.
CarthagenSf province of, defcribed, iv.
Carolina J Morth and South. See North
and Houth CaroUtia,
Cavern, remarkable in New-IIampfhire.
defcribed, ii. 87
Cayenn-, defcribed, iv. 213
Charlcjloum, in Malfachufetts, defcrib-
ed^ ii. 245
— — ^South-Carolina, defcribed, iii. 247
Qktfafecik bay, defcription of, iii. 35-
Chickabee, mountain, defcribed, ii; 5
(kiti.h'xiiary of, iv. 16 1
Chrypiuls, found in New-Hampfhire, ii.
90
Cincinnati, fociety of, i. 260
Clavigcro, Abbe, his refutation of the
INDEX.
mifreprefentations of dc Paw con-
cerning the Americans, i. 113, &Jeq.
Climate of America, i. 79
of the United States. Sec the dif-
ferent States
Codjijiicry, how carried on, ii. ii6
Columbia, territory of, iii. 67
' town of, iii. 249
CoIuml'Ui, Chriiloplier, birth and educa-
tion of, i. 4 — His early voyages, it.
marries and fettles at Lifoon, 5. His
geographical rcfle£fions, ib. Con-
■ceLves the idea of making difcove-
vies to the weflward, 7. Offers his
fervices to the Genoefe fenate, who
rejeft them, 8. Caufe of his over-
lures being rfjefted in Portugal, 9.
Applies to the courts of Caftile and
England, 10. His propofal, how
treated by the Spanifh geographers,
11. Is patronifed by Juan Perez,
13. His propo{aIs again rcjecled,
14. Is invited by Ifabella, and en-
gaged in tlie Spanifh fervice, 15. —
Preparations for his voyage, id...—
The amount of his equipment, 17.
. Sails from Spain, 18. His vigilant
attention to all circumftances during
his voyage, 19. Apprehenfions of his
crew, SI. His addrels in quieting
their cabals, 22. Indications of their
approaching land, 23. An iiland dif-
covered, ib. He lands, 24. His in-
terview with the natives, ?^. Names
the idand Ssin Salvador, 25. Profe-
cutes his difcoverics fouthward, 26.
Difcovers and lands on the iihind of
Cuba, ib. Difcovers Hifpaniola, 28.
Suffers fliip wreck, but is laved by
the Indians, 29. Builds a fort, 32.
Returns to Europe, 33. His expe-
dient to preiervc the memory of his
difcoveries during a ftorra, 34. Ar-
rives at the Azores, 35. Arrives at
Lifbon, 36. Kis reception in Spain,
ib. His audience with Ferdinand
and Ilabella, 37. ■ His equipment
for a ffcond voyage, 39. Difcovers
the Caribbee iflands, 40. Finds his
colony an Hifpaniola dellroyed, 41.
Builds a city, which he calls Ifabella,
42. Vifits the interior part of the
country, 43. His men difcontcnted
and factious, 44. Difcovnrs the
ifland of Jamaica, 45. Meets his
brother Bartholomew at Ifabella, ih.
The natives ill-uled by his men, and
begin to be alarmed, 46. He defeats
the Indians. 48. Exafcls tribute from
thera, ib. Returns to Spain to juftify
his cooduft, 5:. Is furnifhed writh
a more regular plan of colonization,
52. His third voyage, 54. Difco-
vers the iiland of Trinidad, ib. Dif-
covers tVie continent of Ainciica, 56.
State of Hifpaniola on his arrival, ib.
Compofcs tUc mutiny cf P..'jldanand
3 X
his adherents, 58. Is diftreffed by
the faftious behaviour ot his men,
(34. Complaints carried to Spaiu
againit him, ib. Is fent home la
irons, 66. Clears his conduit, but
is not reflored to his autliority, 67.
His foliciiations neglefted, 69. Forms
new ichemes of difcovcry, 70- En-
gages in a fourtli voyage, 71. His
treaiment at Hifpaniola, ih. Searches
after a paffage to the Indian ocean,
72. Is fliip wrecked on the coaft of
Jamaica, 73. His artifice to fecure
the friendlhip of the Indians, 75.
Is delivered, 76. And arrives at
Hifpaniola, 77. Returns to Spcin,
//). His death, 78
Columbns. Bartholomew, is fent by liis
brother Chriifopher to iiegociatc
with Henry VII. King of England,
i. 10. The mislortuncs of his voy-
age, 12. Follows his brother 10
Hifpaniola, 45. Is veftfd with the
adminiflration of affairs there by his
brotf f-r on his return to Spain, 51. ■
Founds the town of St. Domingo, _f()
Cammcree of the United States, i. 266
Concoid., town of, in Ncw-Hampfhire,
ii. 92
town of, in Maffachufctts, ii. 145
CuiigregalioiialiJIs, zccoMvxoi, i. 367.
tcnncciicut. State of, its fituation, ex-
tent and boundaries, ii. 2,55. Air
and climate, ib. Face of the coun-
try, fca-coafts, &c. 256. Soil and
produftions, 258. Civil divifions,
259. Chief towns and curiofuies,
ib. Population, 265. Religion nnd
charaiicr, 267. Trade and manu-
factures, 270. Learning and litera-
ture, 271. Inventions and improve-
ments, 274. Conftitutions and courts
of jufticc, 275. Prartice of law,
278. Mode of levying taxes, 279
Comudicut x\ycT, Ac{ciihtd,, ii. n
Ccnji'lution of the United States, i. 21O
Conftitutioni of the different States.
Sec the different States
Convention between France and Ame-
rica, iv. 426
Cipl'er minc-^i New-BrunTyvick, account
of, ii. 368
Cuba, ifland of, difcovercd by Colum-
bus, i. 26. Dcfcribed, iv. 297
CuitiJ/ou, iPijnd of, dcfcribed, iv. 327
D.
Djiii/h Wcji-lnd>es, defcribed, iv. 329
Daiun, iilhmus of, dcfcribed, iv. nq.
Attempted to be fettled by the Scotch
under Paterfon, i^O
Dw jnouik college, ii. 121
Dilaivare State of, its iituation, extent
and boundaries, ii. 461. Face of
t!ie country, foil and produdions, i*.
Civil diviaoDS, 463. Chief towns, i.b.
Population, 465. Religion, ;/'. —
Trade Bcd manufaaurcE, ^SS,' Pub-
I r/ D E
l/c impro«ments, 468. Conftitu-
tion, ib.
J)e!au:are river, <3pfcribed, ii. 301
• '.. i — bay, defcribed, i. 195
Defenda, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 319
Dick's river, defcribed, iii. 1 28
D'feafes prevalent in the United States,
iii. 371
Deningo. See St. Domingo
Dominica, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 266
Dover, town of, defcribed, ii. 463
Drowned lands, defcribed, ii. 304
Dutcii WclV-Indies, defcribed, iv. 329
-^ Pofreffions in South-America, de-
fcribed, iv 21,5
■ Reformed cliurch, i. 372
Duties on goods imported into the
United States, enumerated, i. 276
E.
Ed:ntcn, town of, defcribed, iii. 203
f.tlton. town of, defcribed, iii. 40
E khorn river, defcribed, iii. 128
J.mrgratwn, motives to, iii. 295
£nigriitnrs, what clafs of, likely to
find it iheir intpyeil to fix tHeir re-
fidence in t!ie United Spates, iii. 327
J.xpo'U from Mafrachufetts. See Mal-
fachufetts
ExJcr. tov^'n of, defcribed, ii. 93
F.
f.i!h of St. Anthony, i. 188
of Niag;ira, i. 183
of Ohicpyle, ii- 397
Jayettevi/le, town of, d-l'-ribed, iii. 204
Teve , maiigiiant, at Philadelphia, ac-
count of, ii. 425
T'ax, oh the culiur'^ of, iii. 439
ELnda, Eaft and Weft, defcribed, iv.
64
Eiozurnni^ Uer,, enumerated, iii. 391
Eoyejl trees, enumerated, iii. 380
fia'-k/in, Dr. his anecdotes of the In-
dians, i. 134
Indcri' kfiurgh, town of, defcribed,
E'edenck town, defcribed, iii- 40
Jrederica, town of, defcribed, iii. 272
JFitnck pofTeflions in South-America,
delcribed, iv. 212
Weft-Indies, defcribed, iv. 308
Iiutts, exotic, enumerated, iii. 396
• nut, enumerated, iii. 396
G.
Ci'O'-gi to'.cn, in Mi;ryland, defcribed,
ii:. 39
— in South-Carolina, de-
fcribed, iii. 248
Gwr^ii', State of, us fitwaticn, extent
".nd bound:rics, iii. 262. Climate,
I'l.' Face of the country, 263. Soil,
]-r!>ductions, iScc. 267. Remarkable
frrii'g, 276. Civil divifions, it.—
Chief towns, 27a. Population, 273.
K.el:j,!on aii.d clisraftcr, 274. Trade
L'f.d ir.BnufiiClures, 276. Stale of
^iterviiure, 277. Conilitution, 27S.
iiidiiiUS. !.*.
German Lutheranj, account of, i. 384,
Grajfes, cultivated, lift of, iii. 396
native, lift of, il/.
Greriijda and the Grenadines, iftandv
of, defcribed, iv. 254
X New. See New-Grenada
Giecvland, Weft, defcribed, iv. 46
< Eaft, defcribed, iv. 60
Green river, defcribed, iii. 128
Gtctnvillc, town of, defcribed, iii. 205
Grottos, three remarkable ones in Penn-
fylvania, defcri-bed, ii. ^02
Guadaloupe, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 313
H.
Ha^ar's town, defcribed, iii. 40
Hal'fax, town of, defcribed, iii. 204
Hiirrifburgk, town of, defcribed, ii. 437
Harijord, city «f, defcribed, ii. 260
Hell Gale, ftraits fo called, i. 194
Hemp, the culture of; iii. 440
Hi'lpjorougk town of, defcribed, iii. 204
Hifianiola. ifland of, defcribed, iv. 319.
See St. Domingo
Hovf touick river, defcribed, ii. 256
Hu fan's river, defcribed, ii. 298
city of, defcribed, ii. 322
I.
Jmla\, Mr. his account of Kentucky,
iii- 159
Indiana, defcribed, iii. 124
Indians. See the titles of the refpcflive
States
Ind go, on the culture of, iii. 428
J Jwiih town of, defcribed, ii. 144
Jfiug glafs, found in New-Hampfhire,
Jro^'
found in New-Hampfhire,
11. 90
Jamaica, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 23a.
Exports from, 238
James river, defcribed, iii. 7g
jf:'fey. S'e Nev.'-Jerfey
Jcu:s, account of, i. 394
K.
Ka7ihizua, great, river, defcribed, iii. 83
little, river, defcribed, ill.
Kevnebeck river, defcribed, ii. 8
Kentucky, State of, its fituation, extent
and boundaries, iii. 126. Climate,!^.
Face of the country, foil "and pro-
ductions, 127. Curiofilies, 137. Ci-
vil divificns and chief towhs, \\\.
Pcpulation, 149. Religion and ch;:-
racicr, 150. Commerce, 151. Lite-
rature, 156. Rights of Lnd, 157,
Conftitntion, 158
^ river, defciibed, iii. 128
Kv.-'fion, town of, defcribed, ii. 324
L.
/ ;c Superior, dffcrib.'-d, i. 179
of t'ne Woods, defcribrid, ib.
Hi'.ron, defcribed, i. 181
■ Michigan, defcribed, i. 182
. St. Clair, defcribed, ih.
Eric, riefciilicd, i. 183
Ontario, defcribed. i. 18^
INDEX.
tah Champtain, defcribed, i. 184
George, defcribed, i. 185
Rainy, or Long lake, defcribed,
Lancajio, town of, defcribed, ii. 432
lavdi, new, method of cultivating and
clearing, iii. 415
Lanijbuyg, town of, defcribed, ii. 323
Letters, poftage of, in the United States,
Lexington, 'm JECentucky, account ot, 111.
142
Lees, town of, defcribed, iii. 142
Leziiis, town of, defcribed, ii. 4^4
Lima, a province of Peru, defcribed,
iv. 147
Litiz, town of, defcribed, ii. 436
Little Compten, tov/n of, defcribed, ii.
230 ..
Logan, an Indian chief, his eloquent
fpeech to Lord Dunmore, i. 134
Long-IJland, defcribed, ii. 311
LouifvilU, town'of, in Kentucky, de-
fcribed, iii. 142
> in Georgia, defcribed,
iii- -273
Lyjira, town of, defcribed, iii. 142
M.
•Mjiine, diftrifl of, fituation, extent and
boundaries, ii. 211. Air and climate,
a 12. Face of the country, ii. Soil
and produftions, 214. Civil divi-
fions and chief towns, 216. Popu-
lation, 21 8. Religion and charafter,
221. Trade and manufaftures, il>.
Learning and literature, 222. Con-
ilituiion, iL Indians, ii.
Maple fugar, how made, iii. 494
MarHehead, town of, defcribed, ii. 143
Martha's, vii^eyard, ifland of, defcribed,
MaJJachufetts, State of, its fituation, ex*
tent and boundaries, ii. 124. Face of
the country, fea coafts and illands,
131. Soil and produftions, 139 —
Civil divifions and chief towns, 140.
Population, 147. Military ftrength,
158. Commerce and raanufaftures,
abo. Exports, ii. Banks, 168 — ■
Public improvements, 169. Natu-
ral curiofities, 172. Public focie-
ties, 173. Conftitution, 182.
Marigaluiile, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 319
Martinico, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 308
Marylar.d, State of, its fituation, extent
and boundaries, iii. 34. Air and cli-
mate, ib. Face of the country, ih.
Soil and prodatlions, 37. Civil di-
vifions and chief towns, 38. Po-
pulation, 40. Religion and charac-
ter, 41. Trade and manufaftures,
43. Seminaries of learning, 44 —
Conftiiutron, 4(1
Mfa'?c7'/j«/fprings. at Saratoga, defcribed,
ii. 307. Experiments on, 308
'•i'^ fprings at New-Lebanon, Dr.
^.tiicheU's experiments on, ii. ;^iig.
Medicinal fprings, in Virginia, accouat
of, iii. 90
AUhnomJls, account of, i. 386
Merrimack river, defcribed, li. g. 153
Meihodijis, account of, i. 382
M:teorvlcgical inquiries, fuggefted, iii.
Mexican morality, fpecimen of, 1. 123
McKico, or New-Spain, defcribed, iv. 77
Government, commerce, &c. iiO
Mexico, Old, defcribed, iv. 77
Middle Stutes, their fituation, extent and
boundaries, ii. 282. Rivers and
bays, ib. Climate, ib.
Middkton, town of, defcribed, ii. 261
Mijijfippi river, defcribed, i. 85
Mchuuik river, defcribed, ii. 300
Monongahela river, defcribed, 1. igi —
i'- 394-
Meiitferrat, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 280
Moraviarii, account of, i. 383
Mountains of America. See America
and the different States
Mount Vernon, defcribed, iii. 97
Moutit Wajhir.gten, defcribed, li, 67
N.
Nanejmatd river, defcribed, iii. 79
Nantucket, ifland of, defcribed, ii. 131
Aa/kvil/e, town of, defcribed, 232
ttat.hci, an Indian nation, their plot
for maifacreing the French in Loui-
fiana-, i. 108
Natural Hijlui), inquiries in, fuggefl;ed,
iii. 513
Nevis, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 278
Nazareth, town of, defcribed, ii. 436
Neus river, defcribed, iii. 104
Nea:ark, town of, defcribed, ii. 373
Ncui-Erita-n, defcribed, iv. 16. Cli-
mate, -lb. Face of the country, foil,
&c. 17. Inhabitants, cuftoms, &c.
20. Animals, 24. Difcovery and
commerce, 25
Neuikury pori,iO'wn of, defcribed, ii. 144
Newcajlle, town of, defcribed, ii. 463
New -En gland, or northern, or eaftrrii
States, their divifions, ii. 1. Their
fituation, extent and boundaries, 2.
Face of the country, m.ountains, &c.
4. Soil and productions, 5. Rivers,
8. Population, charafter and diver-
fions, 13. Hillory, 17
KeiL'joundl.Md, ifland of, defcribed, iv.
Neio-Grenada, province of, defcnbed,
/v. 134
Ncw-hampjliire, State of, its fituation,
extent and bouKdaries, ii. 57. Face
of the country, fea coaft and moun-
tains, 61. Soil and produftions, 81.
Caverns, Hones, foflils and minerals,
87. Civil divifions and chief towns,
91. Populdtion, 93. Religion, cha-
rafter and genius, 100. Trade and
manufaftures, 105. Bank, 119. Edu-
cation and hleratifre, ili. Conftitu-
tioii, 123
3: N D E X.
ye^-Haven, t'swn of, defcribed, ii. 260
J^'ew-Jerfey, State of, its fituation, ex-
tent and boundaries, ii. 362. Face of
the country, fea coaft, &c. ii. Soil
and produftions, 366. Civil divifions
and chief towns, 370. Population,
373. Iveligion and charafter, 379.
ManufaftuiPs, trade, &c. 380- Li-
terature, iniprovements, &c. 383.
Conftitution, 385. Courts of juf-
tice, laws, &c. ^gi. Military ftrenjih,
•393 ,
^'cu-Loi>do», town of, defer ibed, ii. 261
l\ew-Yu>k, State of, its fituation, ex-
tent and boundaries, ii. 297. Face
of the country, fea coail, &:c. ih.
Soil and produftions, 30J. Roads
and bridges, 306. Medicinal fprings,
307. Iflands, 311. Civil divifions,
313. Chief towns, 314.. Population,
325. Curiofities, 331. Religion and
charadter, 333. Agriculture, ma-
Eufatlures and trade, 336. Societies,
339. Literature, 341. Conftitution,
343. Finances, 356. Military
itrength, 357. Indians, 358
/t'cOi York, city of, defcribed, li. 314
Nicigdra, falls of, defcribed, i. 183
S'orth-Carilina., State of, its fituation, ex-
tent and boundaries, iii. 192. Cli-
inate, 193. Face of the country, fea
coaft, &c. 194. Soil and produ6t!ons,
199. Civil diviiions, 201. Chiet
towns, 202. Population, 2O5. Re^
ligion and charafter, 210: Tradeand
manufaftures, 213. Colleges znd aca^
demies, it. Conftitution, 214.
Noixukk town of; defcribed, ii. 261
KovaSctilia province of, its fituatioq
and boundaries, iv. 38. Soil and
produttions, 39. Rivers and bays,
:i. Civil diviiions, 40. Principal
towns, forts and trade, 42.
O.
Clfervaliotis on the government, trade,
&c. of the Spanifti colonies, iv. 171
Ogcedm river, defcribed, iii. 264
r/f'tf river, defcribed, iii. 127
<' /I'Opwmitip^v, town of,defcribed, iii. 148
Ohiopvi'c, fall, defcribed, ii. 39
Onunda^o^ river, d-fcribed, ii. 300
P.
Paw/ZiTO, or Tar river, defcribed, iii. 194
purflgauy, or La Plata, province of. de-
fcribed, iv. 167
Paria, province of, defcribed, iv. 133
Fa.f..atc\qua.^ port of, exports from. ii. 107
— Liiports into, lOB. Entries and
clearances, 1O9. Prices currenlat, no
Pajfack river, defcribed. ii. 364
Pala,i'>ma, country of, defcribed, iv. 2?.4
Pstcrfuii, Mr. his gre.it but unforiunate
attei'ppt to cltabiil!:i a colony on the
ifthmus of Darien. related, iv. 120
Pafu^inl river, defrribrd. iii. 35
Favkatuch river, defcribed. ii. 2-7
Fedu river, iii. 24:
Penn, William, receives a grant of lands
in America from Charles IL ii. 289.
Publifhes a form of government for
Pennfylvania, 29O. Recai\'es a grant
of lands from the Duke of York, ib.
Arrives on the banks of the Dela-
ware, ib. Departs for Eilglahd, 293.
Returns to America, 294
Fenrifykania State of, its fituation and
boundaries, 394. Face of the coun-
try, ib Soil, produftions, trade anci
manufaftures, 403. Civil divifions,
410. Chief towns, 411. Population,
437. Religion and charafter, 438.
Literary, humane and other focie-
ties, 440. Colleges, academies and
fchoois, 443. New inventions, 444,
Conftitution, 445
Pawhfcol river, defcribed, ii. 8
Fetik Ambuy, city of, defcribed, ii. 37S
Peru, hiftory of, iv. 136
Fetnjb/ir^h, town of, "defcribed, iii. 99
PhiJddelpkia. city of, defcribed, ii. 4ii
Piunkatdhk river, defcribed, iii. 81
Pijcataqua river, defcribed, ii. 10
Fittjburgh: town of, defcribed, ii. 433
Plants., medicinal, account of, iii. 397
• foreign, lift of, iii. 403
■ poifonous, account of, iii. 395
Plaltfliurghi town of, defcribed, ii. 324
Plymouth, town of, defcribed, ii. 92
Po7tland, town of, defcribed, ii. 217
Potto Rico, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 30a
Poitfmoulk, tov.n of, defcribed, ii. 92
portuguffe. fettlements in South-Ame-
rica, defcribed, iv. 203
Potornack river, defcribed, i. qa.'iii. 81
P!ejh)ici .uHi. account of, i.'sag
Ptiiice-ioxun, defcribed, ii. 373
ProduBiuyu of the United States. See
the dilferent States
Prolejiant epifcopal church, account of>
i- 37,3
Profjjeds a«d advantages of an Euro-
pean fettler in the United States
pointed out, iii. 295
Providence, in Rhodc-Hland, town of,
defcribed, ii. 229
Proiiifoin, prices of, in the United
States, iii. 360
Puriy^iir^"/^. town of, defcribed, iii 249
i vtnam General, his remarkable ad-
venture in a cave, ii. 262
^. ...
Quadiubcdi of America, defcribed, iv,
33»
Qjiakerf, account of, i. 378
Ouiti, provi.",ce of. defcribed, iv. 137
R.
R'lri'an river, dcfv ribed, ii. 365
Ri'dr\vi;r, defcribed, iii. 127
Rfptiies of Aiii'-rica, account of, iv. 40a
Jic/iddice in AtncriLa, where and how
to be chofci,, iii. 3O9
RtvenuiS of the feparaic Slates. See fe-.
parale States
Pi.:.iide .'i'.ir.d t'.nd Frovidcnce plui.:;-
1 N D E J^.
♦Jons, State of, fititatidri, extent and
boundaries, ii. 224. Air and cli-
mate, ib. Face of the country and
iea coaft, f.^. Soil and productions,
£35. Civil divifions and chief towns,
227. Population, 231. Trade and
Tnaiiufaftures, 233. Religion and
charafter, 235. Learning and litera-
ture, 237. Societies and improve-
ments, 239. Conftitution and char-
ter, 240 .«j.,
Rkt, on the culture of, iir? 434
Richmond, town of, defcribed, lii. 98
Mivanna river, defcribed, iii. 80
Riven of New-England, remarks on,
ii. 77
Roanoke river, defcribed, iii. 79
Rock, remarkable one in the ^tate of
New- York, defcribed, ii. 33,1
Roman Catholics, account of, i. 382
Rural (Economy, inquiries relative
thereto, iii. cpo
S.
Sable river, defcribed, ii. 299
Saco river, defcribed, ii. g. 74
Salem, town of, defcribed, ii. 142
Salijbuiy, town of, defcribed, iii. 204
Sfl/< riVer^ defcribed, iii. 128
f-anta Cruz, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 329
5(2;;?,i'f river, defcribed, iii. 241
Saranac river, defcribed, ii. 290
Savannah river, defcribed, iii. 264
town of, defcribed, iii. 271
Schuylkill Tiyitr, defcribed, ii. 395
Seneca river, defcribed, ii. J02
Shakers, account of, i. 392
Shenandoah river, defcribed, iii. 82
Sheiucktt river, deicribed, ii. 257
Shrubs, enumerated, iii. 3Qt
Societies. Maffachufetts charitable fo-
ciety, Ii, 174. Boflon epifcopal cha-
ritable fociety, ib. Mallachufetts
medicinal fociety, ib. Bofton hu-
mane fociety, 175. Society for pro-
pagating the gofpel, ib. MafTachu-
letts fociety for promoting agricul-
ture, 176. Maffachufctt? hiftorical
fociety, ib. Marine fociety at New-
port, Rhode-Ifland, 239. Society
for promoting tlie abolition of the
Have trade, 239. Do. in New- York,
339. Do. at Pniladelphia, 441. So-
ciety for promoting ufeful know-
ledge at New-York, 3,39. Society
for afufting emigrants at New-York,
ii. American philofophical fociety,
440. Society for promoting politi-
cal inquiries, 4^1. College of phy-
sicians at Philadelphia, ib. Phi!ad"l-
phia difpenfary, ib South-Carolina
fociety, iii. 257. Mount Sion li-
brary, and St. Cecilia focieties, 257.
Charitable and medicinal focieties at
Charlelton, ib.
South-Carolina, Slate of, its Tituation, ex-
tent and boundarie.s, iii. 5?.38. Cli-
mate, ib. face of the country, fei
coafl, &c. 23(J. Soil and produc-
tions, 243. Civil divifions, 245 —
Chief towns, 247. Population, 249.
Military ftrcngtb, 252. Religion and
charafter, ib. Trade and manufac-
tures, 255. State of literature, 256.
Charitable and other focieties. 257.
Public revenue and expenditure, ik.
Conftitution, 250. Laws 259. Prac-
tice of law, courts of juitice, 260.
Damage by the laie war, nbn In-
dians, lb.
Southern States, defcription of, iii. 1.
Hiftory of, 2
Spanijh Well-Indies, defcribed, iv, 207
dominions in South-America,
defcribed, iv. n8
dominions in North-AracricSj
defcribed. Hiftory of, iv. 64
Staten illand, defcribed, ii. 313
St. Bar'lioLmetu, ifland of, defcribcdj
iv. 319
5/. Chrjlopker's, ifland of, defcribed,
iv. 248
St. Doraingo, ifland of, defcribed, iv.
"98 . .
St. Eujlatms, iiland of, defcnbed, iv.
326
St. Jfohn^ ifland of, defcribed, iv. 44
St. Lucia, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 317
St. Lazurence, idjnd oi, defcribed, i. igat
ii. Martha, province of, defcribed, iv.
132
St. Vincent, ifland of. defcribed, iv. 271
Swetara river, def.:ribed, ii. 396
Su:^ar maple, on the culture of, iii. 402.
Sunbury, town of, defcribed, iii, 272
Sufquehanndi river", defcribed, ii.- 301
Surinam, or Dutch Guiana, defcribed,
iv. 215
T.
Tahle of duties, &c. iii. 344
of the value of filver currency of
New-Hampfliire, ii. 111
— of coins, iii. 340
of the value of cents, iir. 242
of Weft-India exports, &c. iv. 2q5^
TarborQ'jgh, town of, defcribed, iii. 2D5
Taunton rlve.r, defcribed, ii. 126
Taxes, fee' different States
Tc'inejfie government. See Territer-y
fouik of the Ch'o .
river defcribed, iii. 22S
Terra Firma, or Caftile del Oro, de-
fcribed, iv. 118
Territory north zuefl of ike Ohio, ics fitua-
tion, extent and boundaries, ii. 479.
. Face of the country, foil and produc-
tions, 4*5"). Civil divifions, 486 —
Antiquities, curiofities, &c. ib. — -
Population, 487 Government, 48?^
-fouth of tiic Qfiio, or the Tennelfee
government, its fituation, extent and
boundaries, iii. 225. Climate, ib.
Face of the country, &c. 526. Soil
and produttions, 229. Civil divifions
and chief towns, 232. Population,
index:.
233. Rdigion and cliarafler, 234.
Comm-rce, 235. Le.-'.riiing and li-
terature, 236. Indians, ih.
Themes river, defcribcd, ii. 256
Thombfon, Mr. C his remarks on the
pafldg-n oi the Potomack, ii. 400
Tobacco, on the culture of, iii. 427
Tobai^o, ifland of, defcribed, iv. 318
T)eit\, between France and the United
States, iv. 410
— between the United States and
Holland, iv. 439
between Portugal and the United
States, iv. 452
. between the United States and
Pruflia, iv. 453
between Great-Britain and the
United States, iv. 463
between the United States and
Morocco, iv. 482
~ between Spain and the United
States, iv. 489
. between the United States and
Sweden, iv. 498
between Algiers and the United
States, iv. 510
jTrenton, town of, defcribed, ii. 371
Trent river, defcribed, iii. 195
TriniiUd, iiland of, defcribed, iv. 304
Tunkert, account of. i. 388
Tyoga river, defcribed, ii. 302
U.
Unitariivs, account of, i. 373
Univafdlijh, account of, i. 387
V.
Vermont. State of. its fituation, extent,
air and climate, ii. 40. Face ot the
country, 41. Soil, productions, &c.
42. Civil divifions, 43. C'lief towns
and curiofities, ib. Population, 45.
Religion and charafter, 52. Trade
and manufaflures, 23. Litrratureatii
improvements, 53. Conflitution, 54
Vine, on the cultivation of the, iii. 453
Virgima, State of, its fituation and ex-
tent, iii. 73. Climate, 74. Face of
the country, mountains, rivers, foil
and produtlions, 76. Medicinal
fprings, 90. Caverns and curiofities,
92. Civil divifions, 95. Chief towns,
96. Population, lOi. Militia, 104.
Religion apd charafter, 1O5. Trade
and manufaftures, 112. Colleges,
academies, and literature, 114. Con-
flitution, 118. Laws, 122
W.
Warren, town of, defcribed, ii. 230
Wt'JIiingtov, George, appointed com-
mander in chief of the American ar-
my, i. 493. His various operations
throughout the war, i. 494, et. feq.
Elefted prefident of the United States
Wiijlitngton, city of, defcribed, iii. 67
— — — — town of, in Kentucky, de-
l.;ribed, iii. 142
— — — town of, in North-Caro-
lina, defcribed, iii. 2O5
• — — — town of, in Pennfylvania^
deicribed, ii. 437
Weft-Lidm iflands, defcribed, iv. 227
Wcih'.rsfic'd, tov/n of, d;fcribed, ii. 262
Whi'e mountains, defcribed, ii. 66
IVilliamJburgh, town of, defcribed, iii.
100
Witmhgton, town of, dsfcribed, iii. 204
Worcejler, town of, defcribed, ii. 146
Y.
York, town of, defcribed, ii. 217
York-town, defcribed, iii. 102
York river, defcribed, iii. 80
Youghiogany river, defcribed, ii. 397
SUBSCRIBERS
N A M E S.
,.<..^..^..<^*>..> »..>.—*
A.
A,
.BRAHAM I. Adriance, N. York.
Benjamin Atkinfon
William Andrews
Gi*orge Andrews
William Allen
Archibald Allen
William Alexander
John Allger
George Arnold
Alexander Anderfon
Jeornemus Alftyne
Mrs. Aftor
Dr. Charles Arding
Nicholas Anthony
Henry Abuclc
Hyacinth Agnel
Jofeph Aftiton
Peter Angevifor
Richard L. Algate
Nicholas Arrowfmith, Efq. Somerfet
County, New-Jerfey
John Randolph Archer, Richmond
Thomas Allan, Norfolk.
John Abbot do.
Janies Abbot do.
£^
John Bleccker, jun<
— — Branun
Alexander Brown
John Blagge
O. & George W. Barber
Abraham Baudouine
Thomas Butler
Richard Blydenburgh
John Bogart
Andrew Brc>difh
Thomas Bagley
Daniel Berrian
William Bryar
Dr. Samuel Borrowe, 2 copies
Thomas H. Brantingham
Laban Bronfon
Cornelius BrinkerhofF
John Bragg
Silvain Bijotat
William Bleecker
G. N. Bleecker
N. York
Peter Banner
Samuel Bowne
David Brit^i^s
Philender Brafher
Reuben Bunn
Thomas Barrow
William Brouwer, jun.
Charles Bremneyfon, fen,
Charles Buxton, M. D.
Ded. Con. Brauer
Archibald Bruce
Jofeph Bailey
Jofhua BarkT
Gerard G. Berkman
Dr. Abraham Brower
William Boyd
Samuel Boyd
James Bleecker
Thomas Bufhfield
William Bache
Gafherie Brafher
Samuel Beebee
Eleazor Bell
Jofeph Board
Samuel Bonfall
John Boerum
John Black, 2 copies
William Buchanan
. Baillie
Walter Bicker
John B. Brooks
David Burgf-r, jun.
Andrew D. Barcl.Ty
John Burgler, jun.
Peter Burtfell
William Bay
Abraham Buffing
Jacob Bradford
John Batchelor
John Britton
Thomas Birt
Benedidt Bergman
Robert Bryfon
William Barton
John Bean
Thomas Blackman
Alexander Brown
Benjamin Benfon
Uriah Burdge
Nathaniel Brown
William Buckle
N. Birdfall
Y
N. York
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
I)?.niel Bache
JnVn P. Barney
Tliomas Ernfon
Charles Eridgen,
E'canor Bryfon
John Benfon
\Villiam Bogg?
James Bntterworth
S-imucl Brailford
Abraham Brinkcrlioff
Abel Buckley
Jofcph Bf'ines
Jncob Bennet
\\'illiam B^ntford
Andrew Brown
Gcorg'^ Bowne, jiin.
Matbanicl Bell, 7 copi(
Gardiner Baker
Nathaniel Bloodgcod
John Bloodgood
Charles Brov.-nc
Cornelius Bogcrt
John Blunt,
T. W. Bacot,
jolin Bourgneuf
Morton Brailsford
George Buift
Jolin H. Bcnnet
John Bering
Henrv Beiibridgc,-
Wiilirm Buriilv
N. York Daniel Byars
Jolir
C.
Flat Bufli
Charlcfton, S. C.
do.
do.
do.
do.
do.
Philadelphia
Alexandria
Burgefs B<<11, London Coun'y, Vir
Tlieodorich Bland, Fairfax Connty, do
do.
do.
Albany
do.
Richmond
do.
do.
do.
do.
Norfolk
do.
do.
do.
do.
John Bi'll,
Rev. John EafFetf,
Svhrant Bleeckcr,
Wm. Berkely,
Henry Banks
Jrim^s Brovn
Thomas Erend, 56 copies,
Edwin Burwell
"James Burnet,
Srooks and Warrock
Tofhua Buntin
Robert BoiiHi
John Bnrcher, 28 copies
Bernard Brown, Albemarle County
Robert S. Burrough, Providence, R. I.
Oiivcr Bowen, jun. do.
Cbadiah Brown do.
Mrs. Avis Brown, 2 copies do.
Bue! and Collier, 3 copies, Litchfield
Samuel Buckley, Ulftcr County
Louis Blr.ife, New-Brunfwick
■fobn Baker do.
Nat. Bacon, Woodbury, Connefticut
Major BarnsSmock. Middletown,M.C.
Simeon Butler, Northampton, N. E.
Thomas Blencch. Bergen, N. Jerfey
Jnmci Bruyn, Kingfton, Ulfter County
Alex. Blifs, Spriugfir'ld, Maflachufetts
Jchoiakim Bergh, Dutchcfs County,
Clinton Town
ITaac Beers, 7 copies, New-Haven
Jo.hn Bennie, Newburgh
in Crawford,
Jacob Conklin
Daniel Cornock
William Craig
Robert Cocks
John A. Chapman
Peter T. Curtenius
Jofeph Covecheche
John ChiJds
Thomas CUrk
H, Carital
Richard Cockrell
Cornelius Cooper
John Colles
Patrick Cochran
Ck^rkfon and Crofs
Nicholas G. Garmer
John Cumberland
Henry Cruger
Catharine Cox
Rich?rd Chalk
James Carr
Barnct Cowan, M. D-
James Cuyler
James dealer
Dewilt Clinton
George Codwife
George Codv/if'e, jun.
Thomas Candell
John Conrey
John Cafen*H'e
Dr. Chapman
John Connor
James Craven
William Carver
Silas Callerlinc
Elifna Coit
Peter Conrey
Mitchell Cutter
James Chatham
John Chatham
Benjamin Chatham
Alexander Crom
Luther Cafe
Ciiarles Craft
Amos Corning
Alexander Cutliill
James Cock
Ifaac Cock
Ephraim Cock
Stephen Cock
Richard Crofby
John H. Currie
James Currie
Michael Currie
Peter Crighton
Clarkfon Crolius
PctT Cole
Daniel Coe
James Clark
Willet Cole.s
Newburgh
N. York
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES,
Jofeph Crook N. York
George Clinton, Efij. Greenwich
John Clark Flat Bufh
J. B. Cbufel Richmond
John Cringan do.
Robert Campbell do.
Richard Chicefter, Alexandria
George Cl'^mentfon do.
Stephen Cook, M. D. do.
Lanty Crowe do.
Gurden Chapin do.
Andrew Carper Norfolk
Quintin Clark do
James Crawford do.
Cufhers and Thomas, 6 cop. Charlefton
Robert Campbell, 1^ cop Philadcl.
Ifrael Canfteld, New-Jerfey
Benjamin Cafe, Newburgh
James Cameron, Tioga County
Daniel Cruger do.
Emanuel Coryell do.
Wm. Crawford, jun. Amherft
Robert Carrington, Cumberland Co.
Samuel Clark, Providence, R. I.
Rev. Abraham L Clark do.
Benjamin Craggin do.
Carter and Wilkinfon, 21 copies, do,
D,
Peter Duftan, 7 copies N- York
Gilchrift Dickiftfon
John De Peyfler
Ifaac Delamater
Gerardus Duyckink
Ephraim Daniels
James Daniels
Cary Dunn, fen.
Richard Dunn
Thomas Dunn
William Dougal
John Darbe, M. D.
Peter Duryee
Charles Duryee
Sam.uel Dendy
Robert Dowle
Donald M'Donald
Chriftopher Duyckinck, jun,
Daniel Duyckinck
John Dyckman
Daniel Dodge
Peter Deall
Francis Dominkk
John De Lancey
John Durell
Dr. Amafa Dingley
David Dunham
Joel Davis
Jacob Doty
Daniel Dunfcomb
William Dc Foreft
Putnam Durfee
James Davidfon
Ifrael Diifofway
Dr. Benjaanin De La Vergae, Pough.
keepfie
Leven D'>rfey, 28 copies, Norfolk
Henry D^y do.
William Dick do.
William Davis, 9 copies do.
William Dunn do.
William Dow do.
Lewis E. Durant do.
William Dabney, jun. Richinon4
James Douglas, Falls Potomac
Benjamin Dawfon, Alcxaadria
Ralph Dodfworth, Charleilon, S. C.
John Diemond ^ do.
Thomas Dollaghar do,
James Doughs do.
Godfrey D -cburd do.
John D ■rb'-y do.
Mungo Dykes do.
Edward Dickens, Providence, R. I.
Martin Dakin, Albany
George Duryee, Bufhwick, L. I.
Garrit Dannes, Spotfwood, N. ,J.
Capi. Eiias Dayton, Elizabeth-Tow'ii
Rev. John Duulap, Cambridge
JPavid ^ Garland, AmhcrU Countj"-
E.
N, York
Thomas Eaghs
John Elting
Peter Elting
Thomas EUifon
William Edgar
Robert Elliot
Gad Ely
Mofes Ely
William t. Elfworth
Peter Erben
Lewis Evans
John Eaftmond, of Efperanzee, Stat6
of New-York
John Earhart, Spotfwood, N. J^rffy
John Elmendorf, Raratan, N. Jerfey
Benjamin Eaton On-cario Country
James Chriflic Eftsn, Bermuda
Charles Ellis, Richm.ond
John P. Epperfon, Buckingham
F.
Walter Franklin
Anthony Franklin
Thomas Franklir.
Michael Fullam
Lewis D- Flinn.
Thomas Foot
John Field
Jacob Froft
Gabriel Furmati
Richard Furmaij,
Thomas Fardon
Jofeph Fay
J>;remiah Foley
N. York
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Samuel Falkenhan N. York
E.oyal Flin;
Rev. Dr. Fofter
Nailianicl Fanning
William Fellows
Pelariah Ficch
John Fuller
Jofrph Fuller
Roberi F.nr Charlefton
■Jrred Fordham do.
U'illi^m B. Fields do.
Jam'^s Fogsrtie do.
Gile.-. Fitzhugh, Fairfax County, Vir-
ginia
Joh-i Francis Providence, R. I.
Abijali Fowler Sing Sing
Vincort Faure, Albany-
James Fletcher, Alexandria
Abiaiiim Faw, do.
Joel Fr.jnklin, Amlierft
yinlay Fcrgufon, Norfolk
G.
Graves and Crane,
Jioonen Graves
James Gough
Charles Goodrich
Il'aac Gouverneur
Alexander Gibfon
George Gallaher
Thomas Greenleaf, 7 copies
John Goold
KTnry Gritfen
Gaine and Ten Eyck, 7 copies
Thoniis I. Gallon
John Greinger
Archibald Gracie
John G. Glover
John Godwin
Archibald Gatfiel(i
David Grim
Philip Grim
liobert Gofman
John Gilmore
Hugh U. Griffith ■]
Timothy Green
James Greig
Eenjjmui Gallahar
Thomas Glentworth
Nathaniel Gardiner
Williani Griffiths
L. H. Gnerlain
Doftor Gaubert
James Gofman
■ ■ ■ Gauvein
John Grenell
John Goodeve
Charles Goold
John Garrifon
Michael Grant,
John Gcrdon,
David Gaurlay,
Daniel \J-Graih,
George Gibbs,
N. York
Brooklyn
Charleilown
do.
Charlefton, S. C.
do.
Willliam Gillilaad, Efq. Lanfmgbwr^
Robert Gilmor, Baltimore
William Gray, Mount Vernon
William Graham, Alexandria
Erafmus Gill, Peterfburgh
James Gardner, Norfolk
Tildfey Grdham do.
Philip Q. Grymes, Middlefex
Edward Garland, Hanover County
David Gardiner, Efq. Queen's County
George Gardner, Netv -Burgh
H.
John Harriffon, 28 copic;, New-York
Thomas Hicks
George F. Hopkins
James Hewitt
Abijah Hart
Jofeph Hallett
A. S. HdilDrOuck
Monfon Hayt
Alexandf-r J. Hamilton
Ifrjel Havilind
Sylvefter L'Hommedieu
Abraham Herring
James Hunt
John R. Harrington
James Hays
Walter Heyer, fen,
John P. Haff
Robert Hag'ey
Jonathan Harned
Elias Hicks
Lewis Hartman
W^m. Humphreys
Jofiah Ogden Hoffman, Efq,
Henry Hays
William Hammerfley, M. D.
Robert Hunter
Abijah Hammond
Richard Harrifon, Efq,
John Hooper
John Henry
Adrian B. Hicks
George Hunter
James Hubbard
Jfrael Hunt
Joffiua Hunt
William Hyer
Elias Haines -
William M. Hitchcock
Henry Brevoort Henry
John Hurtin
Henry Hufar
Chrlftian Heyle
William Humphreys
Martin M. Keyligu
John T!iomas Halitcd
William Hud Ton
Benjamin F. HafKins
J. Harmer
James Harland
Mrs. Haifield '
David Heckle
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Robert Hart N. York
Danie! Hulett
John Holland
iacob Hycr
►r. Peter Huggeford
William Hogsaefli
— Haydock
Thomas Hutf
Ebenezcr Haviland
Timothy Herbert
James Harland
Patrick Houftoun
Capt. James Hague
John Hutell
John W. Holly
David Halftid
iohn Harriott, N. Jerfey
uthet Holly, Pawling Town, Duich-
efs Courtly
William Hyer, Efq. South Amboy
^ Hoffman, Rhynebeck
Stephen Hedges, Troy
Patrick Hofan, Philadelphia
Charles Hurft, Charlfton
Thomas Hutchinfon, do.
Benjamin Heigcr, Efq do.
William Hartfhorne, Alexandria
Martin Hagner, do
William I. Hall, do.
William Holley, do.
William I. Hodgfon, Franklin
William Hay, Richmond
William W. Hening, Charlottefville
John Hicks, Richinond
Col. James Harper, Norfolk
Robert Hines, WiUiamfburgh
Tliomas Hill N. Brunfwick
John Haflett, Charlefton, S. C.
Chriftian and Timothy Hutton, Troy
I.
Kendel Iflep N. York
John Innes
J. Ireland
Thomas Ibbetfon
Naptali Judab, 7 copies N. York
Bernard S. Judah
Tredwell Jackfon
Robert Johnfon
John A. Johnfon
John I. Johnfon
Richard Johnfon
David Johnfon
John Johnfon
James Jarvis
Melanaon B. Jarvis
Ifaac Jones
Samuel Jones
Jofliua Jones
Antoiiie Jay, M. D.
pcorge Jenkins
Neil Jamaifon N. York
Jonathan O. Johnfon
Rev. John B. Johnfon, Albany
Cornf^lius Janfen Kingfton
Cornelius Johnfon, Spotfwood, N. J.
Jabez Withen Johnfon, Charleilown
Thomas Jones, do.
Henry Jackfon, Savannah Georgia
Alexander Jordan, Norfolk
Peter Jenkins, do.
Jeremiah F. Jenkins, Providence, R. S.
K..
New-Yoirk
Kip and Dubois,
John J. Ketchum
John Kane
Capt. John Keaquicly
Ifaac Kip, Jun.
Ifaac L. Kip, Efq.
Dani"! Kember
Elbert Kip
R'-v. Jolm C. Kunze, D. D.
Ebenez- r C. Kilborn
Leonard Kip, jun.
William Knox
Thom^ife Lorillard
Thomas C. Lang
V/ilIiam Lupton, jun.
Richard Lay, 2 copies
Wftiiodift Library
Ji-remiah Lot, El'q. Flat Rufli
King Wiiliam Lamfon, Woodbury, Con
Jo'.ii Loiigden, Alexandria
BTijamin LanftoH do.
ThoT! 13 G. Langlcy, Riclimond
I). P. Lyndon, Providence, R. I.
pr. Wiiiiam Leifh, Porifmouth, Virg.
Chriliian Loop, Tioga County
M.
Edward Mitchell, 7 copies N- Yorl;
Robert M'Cullm
John M'Gili
Joieph Mallenbrey
John Ming
William Edward I. Mai)
Willie m Moore
Thomas M'Gary
Pel'^r A. Meher, 7 copie? \
William Mayole
John M'Kelj^on, jun.
Myer Myers
Wm. Marlett
Mofes L. Mofes
Francis Marfchalk.
|ohn B. Murray
Benjamin Moore
William Manderuell
John Marrenner
Nicholas Miller
John M'Carr
John Murray
Archibald M-Cu!lum
John N. Macomb
Edward Marreniicr
William M-Kenny
William Marrenner
Richard Morfis
John Mains
Hazacl Myers
M^illiam Milns
L >t Merkel
Rev. Samuel Miller
James Miller
Ji)ha Marllon
Wm. G Miller
Ciiarles Morfe
Rev. John M. Mafoa
David Martin
I >hn M'Leod
"j uMi Minufe
I'eter M-Eacban
Archibald M'Intyre
L'*ouard Mmule
Walter M- Bride
Hugh .M'Dougall
Hiigli Robert Murray
William Iklooney
Rev. Dr. John M'Knight N. York
William Mott
Robert Mount
John Mount
John M'Vickar
John Main
Jacob M'Connel
Andrew Mather
John M'Guire
George Meffcrve
Samuel Mitchell
James Grant M'Kindacluc
John Midwinter
Jofeph Marlhall
Thomas Mackie
Chriftophcr Mufgrave
Guy Maxwell, Tioga County
Ezekiel Mulford, Ontario do.
William Miller, Ulller do.
Ichabod Marlliall, A. M Hudfon
Alexander Murray, Bahamas
Charles Marr, N. Jerfey
William Miller, New-Burgh
Jofeph S. Mabbett, Lanfmgburgh
John M 'Carter, Mendham, N. Jerfey
Henry Mackeijfufs, Charleftowii
James Mylne, do.
Philip Moore, do.
James Miller, Alexandria
John M-Leod, do.
James Muir, D. D. do.
Thomfon Mafon, Fairfax County, Vir,
Daniel M'Carty, do do.
Daniel Martin, Alexandria
George M'Munn, do.
James Drew M-Caw, Richmond
Dabney Minor, do.
William Minor, Hanover County
T. Boiling Manlovc, Richmond
John Mayo, do.
John Mortimer, frederickfburg
John Marfden, Norfolk.
Robert Morton, do.
George Mitchell, Stantown, Virginia
John Mitchell, Norfolk
John M'Niell, ' do.
Daniel Mandell Portfmouth
Lewis Marfhall, Norfolk
pdward Mitchell, Eftj. Chariefton,
South-Carolina
N.
N York
William Neilfon, jun.
John Normar.d
Simon Nathan
Jofeph Norman
John Nichols
Dr. Samuel NicoU
William Nexfen
John .'ibm. De Normandc
Thomas Nufurn
Thomas Nicholfon, Richmond
Capt. Ifaac Nichols, Hackinfack
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
Alexander Ogfijury, jun. N. York
David B. Ogden
James Oiam
Henry Ortley
Charles G. Ofwald
JofeJ)h 1. Oaterbridgfe
P. B. Oram Rictimond
James Ogilvie Frederickfburgh
William Ofwald, Charlefton, S. C.
Andrew Onderdonk, Hcmpftead Har-
bour, Long-Ifland
"William M. Pluymert, New- York
Francis Panton,jun.
Benjamin Pell
Thomas Potter
Jotliam Poft, M. D.
Antbony Pell
John Patrick
William Pierfon
Richard Pettenger
James Pray
Henry Pope
Jonathan Piercy
fohn Pearfon
William B. Poft
H. H. Poft
Ifaac Pierfon
Stephen Purdy
Thomas Philips
Jofhua Powcl
Jafper Parfon
Archibald Philips
Samuel H. Purdy, 13 copies
Allan Pollock
Robert Pcarfall
George Peck,
James Purvis
A. Pilfbury, Charlefton, 30 copies.
W. Pritchard Richmond 7 do.
Right reverend Samuel Provoft, D.D.
bifhop of the cpifcopal church in the
ftate of New-York.
Zephaniah Pla:t, Efq. Poughkecpfie,
D. C.
Arnold Potter, Efq. Canadarquc, On-
tario County.
Ifaac Proftor, Baltimore
Jofhua Player, Charleftown
Col. William Payne, Alexandria
Levea Powell, jun. do.
Benjamin Packard, Albany
Char'.es Pinckney, Pvichmond
Robert Pettok, Wanchefter
Robert Pollard, Richmond
Samuel Pitfield Bradduck, do.
David Pattrrfon, Norfolk
Robert S. Packard, Providence, R. I.
Jacob Purdy, Wliite Plains
John Peas, New-Brunfwick
David Powers, Tioga County
Brinton Pine, Tioga Count'/
Amos Park, Jo.
John Parkhurft, Onondago County
Q
John Quigly, Elizabeth Town
R.
Robert Rattoone N. York
Richard Robcrtfon
J. A. B. Roizer, Conful 01 the French
Republic
Albert Ryckman
John Ro-bertfon
John Read
Jofeph Rofe, jun.
Charles G. Robertfon
Frederick Raufch
John Sigifmund Roulct
John Raftey
Rev. Dr. John Rodgers
Ricbarcd Rogers
Henry Roome
William Renwick
John I. Richey
John Reins
B. Romaine
John P. Ritter
Gerard Rutgers
Henry RiJtgets
John Renimey
John Rodman
John Robertfon
Daniel Reed
George Ralfton, Charlefton, 28 copies
David Richon do.
John Rice, Baltimore, 28 do.
'i'hcodorick B. Ruffin, Peterftiurgh
Robert Rofe, Alexandria
Jofeph Riddle, do.
William Riddle, Martinfburgh, Virg.
Oliver Ruggles, Dutchefs County,
John Radcliffe do.
John Rofe, Amherft
Andrew Ronald, Richmond
Thomas Boiling Robertfon, do.
John Rofe, jun. Amherft County
i-.dward I. Rofs, Norfolk
Thomas Ridley, do.
Thomas Ritfon, do.
George Rcid, Ciiarlfton, S. Carolina
S.
Charles Smith, 6 copies. New- York
T. & J. Swords, 7 copies
Thomas Smith
Ifaac Seaman
John Smith
Francis S.dius
Jolidh Shippey
George Stanley
Andrew Simonds
SUBSCRIBERS NAMES.
G-srrit Schenck N. York
James S^ainan
George Sinrlaire
B?iijainiii Strong
Don Thomas S:oughton, Spanifh Con-
ful
John Shaw
Charl-s Simpfon
Petf-r Schermcrhorn
Benjamin B Smith
William Sing
Willet Seaman
Frederick Scriba
John SidfU
John J. Staples, jun.'
George Scriba
James Seton
Thomas Slidell
Manaffah Salter
William Strachan
Cornelius Sleight
John Stoutenburgh
Samuel Smith
George E. Saliment
L.)u;s Sands
H -nry Sands
Peter A. Schenck
Cl.-.rk ShurtlilT
W'illiam Sickles
Capt. John H. Shackerly
John Scoles
John Siriker
William S. Smith
James Sinker
James Snow
Boufvintin*" Sice
Doftor HiU.er Spnrta
Joleph S.iotweil
Capt. Sn^-ll
Thomas Stagg
Thomas St:'>utenburgh
Thomas R Smith
William Smitli
Daniel Stanlbury
Ivldthew Stowby
Thomas Smilh
Ledyard Seymour
Simon Skilling
Ifaac Sharpljfs
Koranian Society
Edward SuUiv'^bV
Benjamin S-ixa^Mr
H-'tlor Steven TotT
William Scuddtr
C. T. Scheive
Jonathan Sturges
George Shirne^U
Hu ;V. Stocker'
Tofeph Barb'-r Slipper
Peter Scl-uy'i-r
Noa'i Scoveli Say Brook
E. Sirifvdor, Charlllon, Suuth-Carolina
Abel Smith, Poughkeepfie
Bcezaleel S'ely, Tioga County
Jedcdiah Sanger, Efc[. \VhiLeftowii,
' Kcw-York
Corl S^th, Marvin Oxford, Grange
Coii.:'.ty, Xew-York
Z^dock Snuthwork, Dutchefs County
Peter S.TMth, New-feter{burgh, Her-
kf m'r CquT\ty
Thomas Stephens, Philadcl. aOO copies.
Jam-$ Scott Smith, - Red Hook
H-f.ry Stanton, Brooklyn, L. I.
Mi>feo Sproule, Englilh Town Mon-
nioth County
Philip Smith, Eaftdtt
Jof'ph Sharp, Suff-x county, N. J.
Sol. Sutherland, Dutchefs county
David Smith, Fairfield, Connefticut
John Sterry, Norwalk
Vv'm C. Shaekford, Charieftoii, S. C.
Charles Simms, Alexandria
Thomas Stewart do.
Thomas Simm do.
C. W. Stephenfon, City of WalViington
Abel Sarjent. Allegheny county, Mar.
Samuel Slaughter, Culpepper
Thomas Swepfon, Suffolk
Francis Smith, - Norfolk
John Seambel, do.
John S.iellerman, do.
William Sattelreil, Northampton
Rev. William Smith, Newport, R. I.
Thomas Screven, Providence, do.
Major Cyprian Srerry, do.
Capt. Richard Sprauge, do.
Francis C. Titus N. York
Ten Eyck
Samuel Tallman
William .Tliom Ton '
Tieboiit and O'Brien
Peter Thurfton
Ifaiah Townfeiid
]of"ph Thorp
Samuel D. Taylor
Hu^chins Tilton
Thomas Thompfon
Jonathan Tho.npfoi:
Nicholas Teii Eyxk
James Thorr.pfou
Mofps Toulon
Wiili.;m Tbompfon
Val'-niine Tyrrell .
Andrew Tunibull ..
Benj-imiii Tanner
Ciarl-s Ti!lii.^,heft
R .bert Taylor
Jofeph Thsbaud
Jonathan Thorn pfon —
Ancirew Taylor, Little Corapton, R. I.
Timothy Tuide, Paris, Hate of N.'Y.
Abraham Twiggs, ;- Flatbuni
Claude Carantin Faugiiy, Philadelphia
Jol-iiThompfon:Efq..Middletown.NtJ.
Capf. Jacob Ticr, do. .'
John T. Telle*-, Dutchefs 'county
Peter Taulman, Orange Town, Orange
county.
SuBSCRTBERS NAMES.
Edwrard Ta(h, darlefton
Stacey Tijrljr, London caunty, Vir^.
Ja n-s P. r-ller, Si.igS 115
P-:-r P. r-a Bro?ck, R,iagil)n
Hsiiry r > vvr^r, Tioga county
Ifathaa T-all, do.
Joha N. Thomas, Alexandria, 49 cop.
John Utt
Thoma* Uftick
N, York
Abraham Van Bufkirk, Jun.
Divid Van C >tts, jun.
William Vdn Wyck
Doftor Van Beur'^n
Gulidii Verplanck
Petf r VaiidTlioef
HTiry Van HsrlingeCi
Richard V^irick. ETq.
Abraham Van Bulkirk
Herman Volhur^h
Samu?l Van S; enbergh
Jamps Van Dyck
William Vdii W.igener
Mr. Van B-rckel
— V.m P')lanen
Cornelius C. Van Alen
John Van Dyck
John Van R-fd, Philadelphia
Minimus Van Dtjorninck, L. L. D. fe-
coad rivr, New-Jerley
Jacob Van Nefs, Rhincbfck
D^vid Vinton, _^ Providcncf, R I.
Peter Van Kleeck, * PoughkeepQe
W.
J. W'-Aen
Ch.Tl'^s V/atkins
Lewis Wali?r
John W.rd-U
Hf-nry Williams
William Wych?, Efc,
Johfj Wylie
Jacob Wood
William W-jds
Timothy F. Wetmora
James Wolf"
Archibald Whaites
Abraiam WiUfon
John Williams
William Vv'hite
Thomas Willet
Mannus Willet, Efq.
Rcfolve Vv'dldron
John Watts, Efq.
Samuel Walker
Alexander Wyman
Jofeph Watkins
New-York
John G. Warren
Jonathan Weedert
Jimes Woods
S.3p!ien Wcndover
Tunis WortiTian
George Warner
Wlliam Ward
William Willefs
Cornelius Wyakoop
John Wolhauptor
Benjamin Walker ,
C. C. Weftphal
Thomas Wuttemore
Roger Worden
William Willcocka
Jofeph' D. Webb
Hins Widerfon
Peter Walker
Abner Woodruff
T 'onias Walton
James W^lford
John Wood
William Walton, juri,
Gerard Walton
Jacob W.lfe
David Williamfon, Nurferyman
Peter Wintl-rop
C. R. '^ G. Webfter, 7 copies, Albany
Jo^n Weft, 56 do. Bofton
George Woolfey, Albany county
John Wann, Elizabeth-Town
Cornelius C. Wynkoop, Ulfler county
Ndchan White, Orange county
Simu-l Wilber, ETq. Columbia county
J ^hn Woods, 7 copies, Newark
Charles Witticb, Charlcfton, S. C.
Arnold Wells do.
Jam-'s Wiikie, Alexandria
Rich.ird Weightman do.
Philip Wanton do.
Jofepn Watkins, Goochland
Rd'ph Worm-ley, Rofegil],Middlefc>c
Ar.drew Woodrow, Hainpfhire
CharWW.llett, Norfolk
Jo'-n Warner, do,
Olney Winfor, Efq. Providence, R. I.
John Window, do.
JEzekiel Winflow, do.
R. & L. Yntes
George Youle
J. Young
John Young;
Timothy Youlc
Georgp Yoer
John Young,
Doftor Z-ifs,
Andrew Zobriftcie,
N. York
Norfolk
N. York
Scheneftddy
DIRECTIONS TO rnz BINDER.
••4'>4"4>4<|>4>>'^>''^"^
VOL. FIRST.
Pags
HEAD of General Wafhington, to face the Title
Falls of St. Anthony . . , ^ 183
VOL. SECOND.
Jieid ct Penn, to Face the Title
Ohioyyle Falls , . , , * 397
VOL. THIRD.
!Head of franklin, to face the Title
Plan of Wafnington . . » i €j
JBones of the Mammoth t • • • J38
Plan of Lyftra . . , , . 14s
«.■- ■ Franklinville . » . » ^A5
Tobacco Plant • . • • • 427
VOL. FOURTH.
Head of Winterbotham to Face the Title
Lama and Tapiir . . . • • 333
Buffalo, ...... 334
American Elk and Bifon . • . * 335
Wolverene, &c. . . • « • 34a
Jaguar, &.c, ..... 344
Cabiai, &c. • • . . » 360
Armadillo, &c. • . • • • 365
Coaita Monkey, &c. . • • . 371
Mico Monkey, &c. .... 373
Baltimore Oriole • « • . 383
Hooping Crane . . • • . 394
Avolet , , , . . • 397
Alligator ...••. 403
Rattle-fnake . * . . • 404
Elack-lnake , « « * • 406