HISTORICAL SKETCH. 435 



Grenada in particular — had suffered from the ravages of a most 

 destructive ant (the Parasol ant?), and discouragement every- 

 where prevailed. 



There lived then in Grenada a colonist of good birth, married 

 to an English lady, one Philip Rose Roume de Saint Laurent. 

 On hearing favourable reports of Trinidad, Saint Laurent decided 

 on trying his fortune in that island. Before doing this, how- 

 ever, he thought it prudent to visit the island, and have an inter- 

 view with the Governor. Saint Laurent might have led a quiet 

 and honoured life in his native land ; but his noble heart had 

 bled at the sight of his countrymen's sufferings, and he came to 

 the determination of attempting something for their relief. 



Roume de Saint Laurent landed in Trinidad May, 1777, 

 and began at once the visit of the island. He was highly pleased 

 with all that he saw — with the fertility of the soil and the many 

 natural advantages it possessed. He, therefore, entered into 

 relations with Governor Falquez, and endeavoured to persuade 

 him that, however encouraging the cedula of Charles III., it 

 could not have for its effects to induce foreigners to migrate in 

 any numbers. He then insisted on the prospects of a large 

 immigration from the French islands, if sufficient inducements 

 were proffered; otherwise they would emigrate to the United 

 States. Falquez listened to him with interest, and advised him 

 to address a memorial embodying his views to the Court of 

 Madrid. Before leaving the island, and as a token of his earnest- 

 ness, Saint Laurent bought some land in the valley of Diego- 

 Martin. 



On his return to Grenada he depicted Trinidad as a most 

 desirable country, and urged his countrymen to cast their lot in 

 that colony. Luckily the memoir of Saint Laurent has been 

 preserved, and may be read in Mr. Borders " Histoire de la 

 Trinidad/' Governor Falquez died in Port-of-Spain about this 

 time, July, 1797. 



Roume de Saint Laurent had submitted his memoir to 

 Falquez before forwarding the same to the Court of Spain ; the 

 Governor had approved and endorsed it. Lieutenant-Colonel 

 Don Martin de Salaverria was then sent to Trinidad from 

 Caracas, with instructions to adopt such measures as could 

 advance agriculture, increase the population, and develop com- 

 merce. 



