276 



humboldt's cuba. 



least productive in agricultural products. An 

 event which was apparently a misfortune, the 

 capture of Havana by the English, awakened the 

 public mind. The city was evacuated by them on 

 the 6th July, 1763, and from that time we trace the 

 first efforts of a new-born industry. 1 



The construction of new fortifications on a gigan- 

 tic scale, 2 placed large sums of money in immediate 

 circulation, and the slave-trade, which was subse- 

 quently thrown open, 3 increased the number of 

 hands on the sugar plantations. The freedom of 

 commerce with all the ports of Spain, and occasion- 

 ally with the neutral powers ; the wise administra- 



1 The city of Havana surrendered to the British forces, under 

 Count Albemarle and Admiral Sir George Pocock, on the 12th 

 August, 1762, after a siege of two months and six days. The 

 amount of booty divided equally between the army and navy was 

 £736,185 35. The English forces also occupied Matanzas and 

 Mariel, but the greater portion of the island never recognized their 

 government. It was returned to Spain by the treaty of Paris, and 

 formally given up on the 6th July, 1763, the English having 

 remained in possession ten months and twenty-four days. During 

 this time new life was given to agriculture in Cuba by England's 

 commercial activity, and by the desire of opening a new mart for 

 her African slave-traders. (See Pezuela's Ensayo Historico de la 

 Made Cuba). 



2 It is stated that in the construction of the Cabanas fortress 

 alone, fourteen millions of dollars were expended. — H. 



3 By royal decree, of 28th February, 1789. — H. 



