284- 



ANNUAL REGISTER, J794. 



the maroons, or original inhabitants 

 living in the mountains, commen- 

 ced a war of unexampled barbarity, 

 putting prisoners to death with the 

 most excruciating toitures; and 

 when reduced to extremities, cut- 

 ting the throats of their own wives 

 and childien. By the vigilant and 

 active poh'cy of Lord Balcarras, and 

 the military skill of General Wal- 

 pole, they were at last surrounded 

 in the woods and fortresses, and 

 reduced to the necessity of sur- 

 rendering at discretion. ' 



By the British conquests in the 

 West Indies, large additions were 

 made to private fortunes by cap- 

 tures or plunder, which did not 

 escape the boldest change of un- 

 feeling rapacity ; and, what was of 

 more importance, the national re- 

 venue of Britain was prodigiously 

 increased by duties levied on im- 

 ported sugar, rum, coffi-e, indigo, 

 and cotton. A new source of re- 

 venue was also opened in the East 

 Indies, by that participation of the 

 trade of lii,d!a, under certain limi- 

 tations and restrictions, which was 

 granted to individual traders of this 

 country, bv the lately renewed 

 ijharter of the East India company : 

 a wise and important measure, of 

 which we shall have occasicr. to 



take more particniar notice when 

 we come to mark its effects, and 

 the progress of its operation, in our 

 future volumes. 



On thewhoh-,tlie affairs of Great 

 Britain in 17(74, though unfortu- 

 nate on the continent, flourished 

 on her natural eleiient. War was 

 evaded witli America ; our govern- 

 ment and possessions in the East 

 lately enlarged, were now, by ne\V 

 and jvidicious regulations, impro- 

 ved, and our commerce everywhere 

 prosperous. - 



But this splendid horizon waS 

 clouded by an apprehension that, if 

 the French should retain p''ssetsion 

 of maritine Flanders, make peace 

 with tlie continental powers, and 

 bend all her efforts to the con- 

 struction of a navy, the commerce 

 of Great Britain would, at some 

 future period, be diminislied ; that 

 of France proportionably exalted 

 on its ruin ; and the political princi- 

 ples of the French prevail with 

 th. ir ]~irevailing jXTwer over Evarope. 

 All the advantage, therefore, of a 

 present good, and indeed infinitely 

 more in the anticipation of national 

 lesonrces, was absorbed in plans 

 for tiie prevention of contingent, 

 but what were deemed but toe 

 probable evils. 



CHRONICLE, 



