L E T T E R II. 53 



and dreadful Eruption, when it might be a Vul- 

 cano for a while, like Mtna^ Vefuviiis^ or Strom- 

 bolo. Before thefe Illands were inhabited by Eu^ 

 ropeans^ the Charibees their ancient Natives were 

 entire ftrangers to all forts of Literature, and of 

 courfe muft want Annals to tranfmit down to 

 Pofterity fo memorable an Occurrence. And here, 

 a difficult Quaery does naturally arife, viz. What 

 Right had we to difpoifefs the honeil: Charibees 

 of it, who are now almoft extindl in race, and con- 

 fined to the forry Ifland of Domirtico ; nay, I late- 

 ly heard from a Surgeon aboard a Ship of Sir 

 Chaloner OgW% Squadron who touched there. That 

 the French have lately made a Settlement at Do- 

 minico \ fo that I fuppofe the poor Remains of 

 the Charibees^ muft foon pack up their alls, and 

 be gone to fome one of the uninhabited Iflands. 

 To deal plainly with you, I do not remember 

 any Chriftian rule that does in the loweft degree 

 countenance fuch cruel acSs, nor did I ever yet 

 meet with a Cafuift, who durfl: take up the Cud- 

 gels to defend them; and our Anceftors who dif- 

 poffeffed them are not juftifiable : Nay, to per- 

 petrate fuch Actions under the fpecious title or 

 pretence of civilizing them, does in my mind 

 valUy enhaunce the horrid Crime. But enough 

 upon that Topick for the prefent, becaufe I de- 

 fign to make it the bufinefs of my next Letter to 

 demoiiflrate, that we of this Century do tread in 



D 3 the 



