508 



C XJ R A C O A. 



Curwjna. 



prevent the ships of adventurers frorrt entering into 

 their ports, and to refuse purchasing the booty which 

 those determined pirates drew from the Spanish na- 

 tion. This apparent misunderstanding with the free- 

 booters, was not, however, in any respect really preju- 

 dicial to the interests of the merchants of the island ; for 

 when an opportunity offered, the vessels of the pirates 

 were dispatched to St Thomas's, a Danish settlement, 

 ".hither they were followed by ships provided with 

 money or goods, with which to purchase, or to receive 

 in way of barter, their illicit cargoes. 



Curacoa has been accustomed, especially in times of 

 war between Great Britain and France, to supply all 

 the southern coast of St Domingo with provisions. It 

 at the same time took oft' the produce of that island^ 

 which, even at the state of improvement to which the 

 colony, while in possession of the French, had advan- 

 ced, could not but be very considerable. French armed 

 vessels from the windward islands, regardless of the 

 length of the passage, went thither in crowds during 

 the continuance of war, because they could there find 

 every thing necessary for the equipment of their vessels, 

 often the commodities of the Spanish main, always 

 those of Europe, which are in these parts in universal 

 use. English privateers but rarely appeal- in those 

 seas. 



The trade between Curacoa and St Domingo after- 

 wards fell greatly offj in consequence as well of the 

 supplies which the latter island obtained from other 

 parts, as of the commotions which arose in it. Every 

 commodity, without exception, landed at Curacoa, while 

 it remained in possession of the Dutch, paid one per 

 cent, port duty. Dutch goods were never taxed higher, 

 but those shipped from other European ports paid nine 

 per cent. more. Foreign coffee was subjected to the 

 same tax, with the view of promoting the sale of that 

 of Surinam. Every other American product was sub- 

 ject only to the payment of three percent, but with 

 the express stipulation, that it was to be conveyed di- 

 rectly to some part of the republic. The Dutch Com- 

 pany trading to the Indies never itself engaged in any 

 commerce at Curacoa, but was contented with the du- 

 ties accruing from whatever was brought into the island. 

 The caprice of those appointed to the collection of these 

 taxes, was too much made the measure of their amount, 

 foreigners of course being always those who were 

 most molested. The various civil officers whom, for 

 this or other purposes, the company maintained here, 

 were very ill organised in respect to the maintenance 

 of the interests of individuals, but they were specially 

 charged to look after those of their employers. The 

 principal, and the highest in credit of these officers, was 

 the fiscal, who at the same time was sole notary of the 

 island, and registered all public acts.' 



It lias been of much consequence for the commerce 

 of Curacoa, that it has an excellent harbour. Indeed it 

 has two considerable ports, one on the south part of 

 the island and at its western extremity, called St Bar- 

 bara, the other, and the principal one, three leagues to 

 the south-east of its most northern parts. To this large 

 and excellent harbour the access is, indeed, somewhat 

 difficult, but when once it has been entered its spacious 

 basin affords every convenience and security. It is 

 capable of containing and protecting against all winds, 

 as well as against any hostile force, upwards of 300 

 ships of the largest size. Any repairs can be conveni- 

 ently made in it, so that a fleet defeated at sea may 

 find here at once a safe asylum and conveniences for 



refitting. In the time of war, it is well adapted to ^ura^n*. 

 serve as a rendezvous for merchant vessels bound to •—-y-«" , » 

 Europe, which, from its situation to windward, may al- 

 ways take refuge in it. It is an excellent station for 

 provisions. In the war of 1780, cruisers from this 

 island greatly annoyed the English West India trade, 

 and with such advantage to themselves, that there was 

 a balance accounted for by the treasury of about 

 ] 90,000 francs (about £17,275 sterling,) arising from 

 the dirties on the prize-cargoes. Those proceeds had 

 been invested on mortgage for the benefit of the com- 

 pany. The port last mentioned is defended by a for- 

 tress, skilfully constructed and constantly upheld in 

 proper condition. 



Curacoa, offering in some respects but little temp- 

 tation to enemies, has been sufficiently exempt from 

 hostile attacks. In 1673, the French having cor- 

 rupted the commandant of the island, landed on it 

 to the amount of 500 or 600 men. The treason, 

 however, having been discovered, and the traitors 

 punished, the invading troops were obliged to reim- 

 bark, without having met with the success that they 

 expected. About five years afterwards, Louis XIV. 

 whose pride had been hurt by this check to his con- 

 quering arms, sent out D'Estrees with 18 ships of war 

 and 12 buccaneering vessels to wipe off the stain. But, 

 from the rashness and obstinacy of the admiral, these 

 vessels, when not far from their place of destination, 

 were run aground on Davis's island ; and the shattered 

 remains of the fleet having been collected, returned in 

 very bad condition to Brest, without having effected 

 any tiring. For a long time after that period, neither 

 Curacoa, nor the little islands of Aruba and Bonaire, 

 dependant on it, suffered any disturbance. 



It was necessary, as a traveller remarks, that one 

 should have been a Dutchman, to think of settling 

 there. Through the industry of the Dutch, however, 

 not only were the advantages indicated which this place 

 might afford in respect of trade, but the face of the 

 country itself was so much improved as to make it, 

 even in that point of view, not altogether undesirable. 

 Through their exertions, the pastures, which formerly 

 furnished a great number of cattle, were converted into 

 plantations for sugar and tobacco ; and a soil naturally 

 barren, rendered in a variety of respects productive. 

 In these circumstances, it has, at periods comparatively 

 recent, again attracted the notice of enemies. It was 

 captured by the English in 1798, and afterwards in 

 1 806, by Captain Brisbane, who had upon the occasion 

 three frigates only under his command. The official value 

 of the imports and exports of the island under its new 

 masters was, in 1809, imports L. 241,675, exports 

 L. 316,696; in 1810, L.236,181 imports, and exports 

 L. 263,996. The principal articles imported from, or 

 by way of, it into Great Britain, were coffee, sugar, 

 rum, and cotton-wool. The following Table contains 

 a list of the principal articles imported into Great 

 Britain during the years 1809 and 1810. 



Cofiee. 



Sugar. 



Rum. 



Cotton 

 Wool. 



British 

 Plant. 



Foreign 

 Plant. 



British 

 Plant. 



Foreign 

 Plant 



Cwt. 



1809 205 



1810 700 



Cwt. 

 24,481 

 29,466 



Cwt. 

 2 



— 



Gallons. 



106 

 24 



lbs. 

 427,268 

 230,770 



