%6 *A M E %l C A. Chap. XV. 



Before we conclude the Dcfcription of Cuba, it will be material to add fomc 

 Paflages of a Letter from Major Smith, Governor of the Iflc of Providence, who was 

 taken there in the Year 1665. which will give light to the knowledge of the pre- 

 fent State, not oncly of Cuba, butoffome other parts of America, belonging to the 

 Spaniards j which is as followeth : 



Ma}, Smith 

 Lctc.r con 

 certung Cub* 

 and other 

 Parts. 



f' $ f^Uba is a very good Iftand, and in it is generally the beft Land, for fo large a 

 * V~^ Countrey, as I have feen in America, although I have traveled the main Conti- 

 nent in feveral places, and have crofs'd from the North Sea to the South Sea, as 

 alfo the North fide of Hifpaniola, and moft parrs of Jamaica. 



This great Ifland is eafie to be conquered, and would make the bed Plantation, 

 befides the prejudice it would be to the Spaniard, and the great advantage to our 

 Nation ; for inftance, Had we the Port and City of Havana, which might in all 

 probability be redue'd with two Regiments of good Soldiers from Jamaica, carry- 

 ing with them two or three Sloops or Shallops for Landing Men, fitted with good 

 Arms and other NeceiTaries for an Affault, prefently after their Armado hath pafs'd 

 out of the Indies, which is once in two years, towards the latter part of the Summer. 

 There is good Landing on the Weft fide of the City, where it lies open ; and you 

 need fear no Ambufcado's : but not on the Eaft fide on the Harbor, for there you 

 will be gawl'd by the ftrong Caftle of the Moare , until the City be fecur'd ; but 

 whervthat is once taken, you may eafily reduce that Caftle alfo, there being ho 

 danger of their re-taking it, until the n*xt Armado arrives there, which will be al- 

 moft two years, againft which time you will have Planters enough from other of 

 our Iflands, to Manure the Land, and affift the Soldiers in defence thereof : This 

 once effe<fted, would utterly ruine the Spaniards, for thefe Rcafons : Our Ships lying 

 both here and at Jamaica, would be at all times ready to gather up their ftragling 

 Fleet, which it is difficult to keep imbodied without the help of that Port of Ha* 

 Vana, it being impoflible for their great unruly Ships to turn up to Windward from 

 the Bay of Mexico, or Puerto $ello, without feparation ; and on the other fide, to 

 pafs the Gulf of Florida, is for them as impoflible, where they always Rendezvouz, 

 Virtual, Water, and provide all things neceflary for their Return into Spain ; after 

 all which they diligently wait for a convenient Seafon of Winds and Weather (be- 

 ing much obferv'd from the Changes of the Moon) when to pafs that dangerous 

 Straight : for to fay truly, the Spaniards are neither very fit for Sea nor Land-Service, 

 excepting fome Officers and Soldiers bred in Flanders for Land-Service, and a few 

 Sifcainers for Sea-Affairs. They are fo fenfible of their Weaknefs, and jealous of 

 their Riches in thofe Parts, that it is very difficult for any ingenious Man to get his 

 Liberty, being once taken, fearing he might givefuch Intelligence, as to be thereby 

 the caufe of their ruine, witnefs their blind-folding of all Strangers, when they pafs 

 their CitUs and Caftlcs ; for they much dread an old Prophecy amongft them, vi^. 

 Tliaftoithin a frort time the Englifh villas freely m>alk the Streets of Havana, as the Spa- 

 niards now do ; which indeed had been eafily performed with a third part of the 

 Englifh Army fent to Jamaica, and a far geater advantage to the Nation : for I efteem 

 that Port and Harbor of Havana in the WefiJndies, equivalent (againft that Nation) 

 to Tangier in the Straights of Gibraltar ; and if we were at once Maftersof both, it 

 would without doubt fo ftraitcn the Spaniards, as abfolutely to admit us a free 

 Trade into their Ports of America, where they impart our Commodities, and fell 

 them for ten times more than they firft coft in Spain, by reafon of the great plenty 

 of Silver : which Trade would not onely be of infinite advantage to us, but alfo 

 prevent them of their future enflaving of our Nation in Chains as now they do,- 



for 



