370 THE COLONIES. 



It was impossible to blockade a continent ; but it 

 was easy to inspect estates. Tbe negroes were pur- 

 chased as plantation bands ; a contraband labourer 

 was not a tbing to be concealed. There were laws 

 in Cuba and Brazil against negro importation, but 

 these existed only for the benefit of the officials. The 

 bribery practice was put an end to in Brazil about 

 1852; that great market was for ever closed : slavers 

 were ruined; African chiefs became destitute of rum; 

 and this branch of commerce began to look forlorn. 

 Yet still Cuba cried, More ! Give me more ! still 

 the profits were so large that the squadron was defeated 

 and the man-supply obtained. Half a million of 

 money a year, and no small amount of men, did that 

 one island cost Great Britain. Yet still it might be 

 hoped that even Cuba would be filled full in time ; 

 that the public opinion of Europe would act upon 

 Madrid; that in time it would imitate Brazil. But in 

 1861 there happened an event which made the Cubans 

 turn their back on Spain, and look with longing eyes 

 the other way; and a beautiful vision uprose before 

 their minds. They dreamt of a New Empire to which 

 Cuba would belong, and to which slavery in a state of 

 mediaeval beauty would be restored. It was only a 

 dream ; it was quickly dispelled ; they awoke to find 

 Liberty standing at their doors ; and there now she 

 stands waiting for her time to come. 



"When Great Britain was teasing the colonies into 

 resistance, it was often predicted that they would not 

 unite. There was little community of feeling between 

 the old Dutch families of New York, tbe Quakers 

 of Pennsylvania, the yeomen of New England, who 

 were descended from Roundheads, and the country 

 gentlemen of Virginia, who were descended from 



