EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. !}]( 



of which were burnt or funk, and the Dutch only 4 ; but 

 there was fcarcely a fhip which did not lofe her marts ii; 

 whole, or in part. Nine thoufand men, nearly, pcrifhed 

 on both fides. The Hiflorians of each Nation, as ufual, 

 exalted the glory of their own fleet up to the (kies. One 

 thing is certain, that nine thoufand human bodies, mutilated 

 and half burnt, given up to Iharks and fea-dogs, prefented, 

 to the monfters of the deep, the fpe6tacle of a ferocity which 

 has no example, except in the annals of the Human Race ; 

 and that this prodigious number of round-tops, fail-yards, 

 and marts, floating about, mixed with flags bearing red 

 crofles and white crolfes, muft have conveyed fome infor- 

 mation to the Barbarians of all the Southern regions of the 

 Atlantic Ocean, in what manner the Powers, who pretend 

 to be fubjefted to the laws of Jesus Christ, fettle their 

 quarrels *. 



Thefè 



* Thefe wrecks were, undoubtedly, carried farther than the Azores. 

 It is probable that, at this fealbn, a confiderable part of them floated as 

 far as the coafts, and the wellern iilands of Africa. Now the ground of 

 this quarrel between England and Holland was precifely the Africai\ 

 Slave-Trade. Thofe Powers had commenced hoftilities the year before, 

 on the coafts of Guinea, and at the Cape-de-Vtrd Iflands, to the ruin of 

 thefp Countries. I fuppole, therefore, that thoi'e awful monuments, of 

 the battle off Oftend, muft have paflçd through the Cape-de-Verd 

 Iflands, ar\d near to that of St. John, which is fo little frequented by 

 Europeans, that the Portugueze call it Brave, or favage. It's good 

 and hofpitable inhabitants, according to an Englifh Navigator, of the 

 tiarne oï Roberts, who had a moft delightful opportunity of putting thefe 

 amiable qualities to the teft, are fo humble, that they look on men of 

 their own colour as fubjefted, by the authority of Gon himfelf, to the 

 yoke ot white men. In this opinion they are confirmed l)y oblerviiio- 

 the balance of European commerce, one of the beams of which prelcnts 

 to Europe benefits only, while the other, weighed dov/n by calamities, 

 continually preflcs on wretched Africa. 



But 



