Ch.VIIL south AMERICA. 595 



naturally arife among perfons of difF(?rent perfuaGons* 

 Nor do the inhabitants, notwithflanding they are com- 

 pofed of fuch different kinds, as Europeans, Creoles, 

 Meftizos, and natives or Indians, the latter of which 

 are intradlable and ferocious, ever offer to difturb the 

 government ; but imitate, in this particular, the peace- 

 ful behaviour of the others. This fociable conformity 

 greatly contributes to the increafe of thefe colonies ; for 

 as many of the caufes of the decay of families do not 

 fubfift here, nor is there any thing to create private 

 differences, the repofe in which they live, naturally in- 

 duces young perfons to marry ; and the rather, as there 

 is no difficulty in providing a fubfiflence : a quantity 

 of fertile land being allotted to every one who petitions 

 for it. Thus the territories of the colony** increafe, and 

 as they increafe are cultivated. 



The marquis de la Maifon Forte having been car^ 

 ried to Boilon after he was made prifoner, drew up an 

 pxad account of this colony ; and was pleafed whilfl: 

 we were both prifoners at Fareham in England, to 

 communicate it to me : and it is from thence I have 

 chiefly extra6led the foregoing account. The marquis 

 is of opinion, that within a century, Bofton, in extent 

 and number of people, vv^ill form a kingdom fuperior 

 to that of England ; and will be able to give law to all 

 the neighbouring countries. This conjeflure he de- 

 duces, and not without probability, from its amazing 

 progrcfs fince the time of its firfl eftablifhment nor 

 can it well be doubted, v/hen at its commencement, as 

 I may fay, it had a fpirit fufficient to undertake the 

 conquefl of fuch a place as Louifbourg ; and a condu6t 

 to accomplifh it ; fo that it is reafonable to exped:, 

 that with the future increment of power and people, 

 it will exert the fame fpirit and conduct to remove by 

 force all obflacles to its greater aggrandizement : efpe- 

 cially as they can meet with little refiftance, tlie whole 

 country being, as it were, deilitute of inhabitanrs. 



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