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LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, AND GREEN,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

71621

Sy v.3.

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IN January, the island of Dominica was restored to the English. Some weeks before the restoration of it, an English regiment arrived from St. Lucia, at Roseau, to take possession of the island, which Du Beaupe, the French governor, refused to deliver up, and ordered the British troops to depart. This their commander refused to do; and he was at last permitted to land at Point Michael, to wait until the French governor had further instructions. Upon this Point the English fortified themselves; and in answer to orders from Beaupe, to haul down the English colours, their commander replied, that the country was his master's, whose flag he would defend to the last moment.

On the morning of the evacuation, the English entered the town amidst rejoicing multitudes. Between one and two o'clock, the artillery took possession of the principal fort, marching in as the French marched out, who immediately embarked in boats that were waiting for them. The standard of England was hoisted, and the new governor, John Ord, Esq. landed under a salute from the vessel and fort, amidst shouts of joy and congratulation.

During the government of Duchilleau, sixty out of every hundred head of cattle were destroyed. He established an ordinance, that every English planter should send a beast in his turn to the military hospital; and if, from bad weather, and the distance, the cattle were not there in time, a party of soldiers were sent out to kill the first beast that fell in their way. Many of the inhabitants' milch

Atwood's History of Dominica, pp. 160, 161. 164. 167, 168.

cows were thus destroyed; for which they were, after a long interval, paid as ordinary beasts. The French destroyed all the fortifications they had built; and, contrary to the eighth article of the treaty of peace, blew up several that were there before they took the island.

No trade had been permitted, except to the island of St. Eustatia; and no less than thirty sugar plantations were abandoned by the proprietors.

Mr. Joshua Steele, of Barbadoes, succeeded in obtaining the labour of his Negroes thus:-He gave premiums to any twenty-five Negroes who would undertake to "hole for canes an acre per day, at about 96 holes for each Negro to the acre. All were glad to undertake it, at about three-halfpence sterling a day, and the system of task-work, or the voluntary system, became the general practice of the estate.

France entered into a convention with Sweden, in virtue of which the French were to be admitted to the rights and privileges of the natives in the city and port of Gottenburg, being permitted to build and establish warehouses, for the storing of all manner of goods imported, either from France or America, in the bottoms of either nation, without their being subject to any duties or impositions whatever; with the farther liberty to the merchants or proprietors, to export all such goods at pleasure, either in French or Swedish bottoms, and upon the same free terms. In return for the advantages expected from these favourable stipulations, France ceded to Sweden, in perpetuity, the full propriety and sovereignty of the island of St. Bartholemew, in the West Indies. The King of Sweden, in order to convert this island to the best account, declared it a free port.

A Liverpool merchant, of the name of Dawson, contracted with the Spanish government to deliver from 3000 to 4000 slaves at Trinidad, La Guira, and the Havaña, at 150 dollars a head. There was no stipulated proportion of males, females, or children.

Upon the 11th of March, some gentlemen in London, interested in the West India islands which had been taken by the French, voted an address of thanks and a piece of plate to the Marquis de Bouille, as a public testimony of their "veneration and esteem,” for the "humanity, justice, and generosity so exemplarily displayed by him, in his several conquests and chief command" of the conquered islands.

The exports from Essequibo and Demerary employed twentyfour ships, and consisted of 3980 hhds. of sugar, 703 tierces and 28,078 bags of coffee, and 1883 bales of cotton.

Atwood's History of Dominica, p. 167. Colquhoun's British Empire, p. 361.
Clarkson's Thoughts on Emancipation, 1823.
Annual Register, 1784, p. 183. - - 1786, p. 28.

Report of the Lords of the Committee, 1789, Part VI. Spain.

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