328 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA. 



absolutely part of their own soil, and which necessity 

 (necessity has no law) forced them to barter away in their 

 hour of need? Now, if it should so happen that the 

 masters of the country begin to repent of their bargain, 

 and become envious of the riches which foreigners carry 

 off, many a teasing law might be made, and many a vexa- 

 tious enaction might be put in force, that would, in all 

 probability, bring the speculators into trouble and 

 disappointment. 



Besides this consideration, there is another circumstance 

 which ought not to be overlooked. I allude to the change 

 of masters nearly tliroughout the whole of America. It 

 is a curious subject for the European philosopher to 

 moralize upon, and for the politician to examine. Tlie 

 more they consider it, the more they will be astonished. 

 If we may judge by what has already taken place, we are 

 entitled to predict, that in a very few years more, no 

 European banner will be seen to float in any part of the 

 new world. Let us take a cursory view of it, 



England some years ago possessed a large portion of 

 the present United States. France had Louisiana ; Sj)ain 

 held the Floridas, Mexico, Darien, Terra Eirma, Buenos 

 Ayres, Paraguay, Chili, Peru, and California ; and Portugal 

 ruled the whole of Brazil. All these immense regions are 

 now independent states. England, to be sure, still has 

 Canada, iNova Scotia, and a few creeks on the coast of 

 Labrador ; also a small settlement in Honduras, and the 

 wilds of Demerara and Essequibo ; and these are alL 

 France has not a foot of ground except the forests of 

 Cayenne. Portugal has lost every province ; Spain is 

 blockaded in nearly her last citadel ; and the Dutch flag 

 is only seen in Surinam. ISTothing more now remains to 

 Europe of this immense continent, v.'here, but a very few 

 years ago, she reigned triumphant. 



