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But the phenomenon appears, according to Abbé Raynal, to depend more on the sea than on the land; although Father Gumilla, who seems to have examined this singular effect with great attention, is of a contrary opinion, and asserts that it is the rainy season that determines the increase.

Thirst of knowledge, or more properly speaking, thirst of gold, led the enterprizing Raleigh again to the neighbourhood of this river in the year 1616, but extreme sickness preventing his attempt to discover the mines in person, which, he was told, were somewhere on the banks of the Oronoko, he deputed the no less gallant Captain Keymis to that service, with five ships. Three weeks afterwards, landing by night, nearer a Spanish town than they expected, they were annoyed by the Spanish troops, who were prepared for their reception. The English, as usual, behaved gallantly, but the obstacles they encoun tered, with the loss of many a brave fellow, among whom was Sir Walter's eldest son, obliged them to abandon the resolution of exploring the mines. Captain Keymis, to mitigate his ill success, and to induce further hopes, produced two ingots of gold, together with the Spanish governor's papers, among which were found four letters, developing Sir Walter's enterprize to have been betrayed by his enemies at the English court, and the preparation made by the Spaniards to receive him.

"To the just indignation which he conceived on this occasion," says his biographers, "was added the mortification of finding that Keymnis had not proceeded to the mines. He reproached that captain with having undone him, and wounded his credit with the king past recovery. This effected Keymis so sensibly, that he retired to his cabin, where he shot himself; but finding the wound

not mortal, he dispatched himself with a knife, which he thrust into his heart."

The ill state of Sir Walter's health would not suffer him to repair Keymis's neglect. He was incapable of such a voyage, and, at the same time, was in continual apprehension of being attacked by the Spanish armada, sent out on purpose to lay wait for and destroy him; but the enemy missed him by staying in the wrong place.

To the eternal dishonor of James I. let it be recorded, that to his shameful duplicity, and dastardly fears, the honor of the nation, the success of the expedition, the lives of many brave men, and the military reputation of Raleigh were sacrificed. For while he encouraged Raleigh, by granting him a special commission for the enterprise, he not only disavowed it by his ministers to the Spanish ambassadors, but, as a proof that he did not wish well to the design, he suffered them to give the ambassadors the particulars of Raleigh's force and destination; which being forwarded to the court of Spain, occasioned the vast preparations that he found ready on his arrival to oppose him.

Sir Walter Raleigh could not forbear reproaching the court for this infamous conduct, in a letter from St. Christopher to the secretary of state; and this determined the ministry to take him off, as the only method of extinguishing the hopes of the people, who wished for a war with Spain. Thus you see, by the duplicity of a weak, hypocritical monarch, and his execrable and wicked ministry, in frustrating the progressive prosperity of England, that we did not gain an early footing and possession of the rich banks of the Oronoko. Probably it is not yet too late to think of the grand design, which, when undertaken, may be easily accomplished.

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Much, my dear Sir, has been anticipated from the proximity of this island to the Oronoko, that the indirect commerce would prove importantly beneficial to Great Britain. I am one of those who affirm that it would, if means had been adopted to cherish it, without the smallest interruption either in peace or war, provided Trinidad were blessed with a wise and prudent governor, having the prosperity of the country at heart more than his own interest. But instead of that, there has been one whose conduct makes me shudder at the first attempt of its delineation. But the sacred course of truth, and the honor and interest of my country demand the task of some one I wish to God it had fallen to the lot of one whose feelings are not so acute as mine; notwith standing, I am impelled to proceed, inviting justice to aid my endeavours.

After looking over history from the modern days of WALL, to the more antient ones of Nimrod, I cannot find his exact prototype. The nearest assimilation is Dejezzar, described by Baron de Tott in Part iv. of his Memoirs, with this exception only, instead of comparing him to so noble an animal as a lion, he ought to be compared to the bear and wolf, for his cruelty in destroying some of the Spaniards who carried on the indirect commerce, which put a total stop to that beneficial branch.

It is impossible to calculate the injury sustained by his sanguinary measures, not only to individuals, but to the country that employed him. Like Dejezzar, he regarded nothing but making money, though to raise it, he did not proceed to the length of pounding people in mortars, or smothering them in sacks. It is to this barbarity of his talents, and the sordidness of his views alone, that Great Britain did not realize considerable advantages from this

colony during the time it has been under her protection. Under her protection did I say? Suffer me to substitute some other word. Ask the wretched inhabitants; ask the plundered merchants of Port of Spain, how they have been protected from the iron rod of oppression,and then we shall understand the meaning of British protection, in a British colony, with the Spanish Inquisition, in the successful tide of experiment, instead of the influencial blessings of the English laws:-It is enough to say, that neither commerce nor confidence will ever approach the colony so long as the former is continually at the nod of any wicked governor, to make use of it as an instrument for the realizing his own fortune, and that of his confederates. Believe me, I wish myself in Old England again, for my life is not for a moment safe in this colony, at least so long as the horrid instrument is in the hands of

Vale.

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LETTER VIII,

Colonial Strength-How improved, and the Advantages that might be derived from it-BONAPARTE's speculative Views with regard to South America—Surinam, his Military Depot-Hints which might lead to counteract them—Jamaica, why may it not follow the Fate of St. Domingo-Roome's Plot-General Christophe's extraordinary Proposal to the Author, which he declined -An Account of the Mutiny of the 8th West India Regiment-Settling the Island of Trinidad with Africans, and the Danger attending the Increase of Negro Troops reprobated, &c.

DEAR SIR,

Head-Quarters, PUERTO DE ESPANA, March 1803.

IT has been remarked by some judicious writers, that "colonial strength consists in the number of whites." The observation is as forcible as it is true, but that strength must be made up of what we call small planters! The advantages which would emanate from a white population in this island, are, in my opinion, various; the local ones derived from their industry, are already understood. Let me now consider it in a belligerent point of view. The recent treaty which has been so much reprobated, and in some instances, very properly conp . .

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