FRENCH AMERICA. 



THE possessions of the French on the continent of America are at 

 present inconsiderable. They were masters of Canada and Louisiana; 

 but they have now lost all footing in North America; though in the 

 southern continent they have still a settlement, which is called 



CAYENNE, OR EQUINOXIAL FRANCE. 



IT is situate between the equator and 5th degree of north latitude, 

 and between the 50th and 55th of west longitude. It extends 240 

 miles along the coast of Guiana, and nearly 300 miles within land; 

 it is bounded by Surinam, on the north ; by the Atlantic Ocean, east; 

 by Amazonia, south ; and by Guiana, west. The chief town is Caen. 

 All the coast is very low, but within land there are fine hills very pro- 

 per for settlements : the French have, however, not yet extended 

 them so far as they might; but they raise the same commodities 

 which they have from the West India islands, and in no inconsidera- 

 ble quantity. They have also taken possession of the island of Cay- 

 enne, on this coast, at the mouth of the river of that name, which is 

 about 45 miles in circumference. The island is very unhealthy ; but, 

 having some good harbours, the French have here some settlements, 

 which raise sugar and coffee. 



FRENCH ISLANDS IN AMERICA. 



THE French were among the last nations who made settlements 

 in the West Indies ; but they made ample amends by the vigour 

 with which they pursued them, and by that chain of judicious and 

 admirable measures which they used in drawing from them every 

 advantage that the nature of the climate would yield ; and in contend- 

 ing against the difficulties which it threw in their way. 



ST. DOMINGO, or HISPANIOLA....This island was at first pos- 

 sessed by the Spaniards alone ; but by far the most considerable part 

 was long in the hands of the French, to whom the Spanish part was 

 likewise ceded by the treaty of peace between the two nations in 1795. 



Itis situate between the 17th and 21st degrees north latitude, and 

 the 67th and 74th of west longitude, lying in the middle between Cuba 

 and Porto Rico, and is 450 miles long and 150 broad. When Hispa- 

 niola was first discovered by Columbus, the number of its inhabitants 

 was computed to be at least a million. But such was the cruelty of 

 the Spaniards, and to so infamous a height did they carry their op- 

 pression of the poor natives, that they were reduced to sixty thou- 



