xi^ PREFACE. 



candid account of the flourifhing ftate of the French 

 colonies in St. Domingo-, which, conlidering that the 

 gentleman from whom we have it is a Spaniard, and 

 confequently unexceptionable in his teftimony, will 

 fuffice to give us a juft idea of the prodigious advan- 

 tages derived to France from their colonies in that 

 ifland. He obferves, with great fairnefs and freedom, 

 that the French are well entitled to the riches they ac- 

 quire, from their induftry and oeconomy, (ince, though 

 they occupy the word part of the ifland, they are out 

 of all comparifon in a better condition than the Spanifh 

 inhabitants who pofTefs the better and more fertile 

 part. He takes notice likewife, that though all cor- 

 refpondenc.^ between the two nations is forbid under 

 the feverefl penalties, it is notwithftanding open al- 

 rnoft in the fame degree as if there was no fuch pro- 

 iiibicion •, the reafon is, becaufe the French could 

 fcarce fubfift, if they v/ere not fupplied with cattle from 

 the Spaniards ; and, on the other hand, the Spaniards 

 rnuft go naked, if they did not, by this means, obtain 

 European commodities from the French ; fo idle a 

 thing it is to think of making a law againft neceffity ! 

 By the balance of this trade the French acquire annu- 

 ally about two millions of pieces of eight, which re- 

 turns in hard filver, with fugar, indigo, and the other 

 commodities of the growth of their part of the ifland, 

 which is admirably cultivated, to the ports of France-, 

 and is a very confiderable addition to the value of 

 their otherwife rich cargoes. 



But the Portugueie and French are not the only 

 ftrangers into whofe circumftances, and management 

 pf a{fairs in America, our authors have enquired ; the 

 reader will find they took no lefs pains to make them- 

 felves well acquainted with the proceedings of the 

 E-ngliih. We have not only a full and diftind account: 

 of the taking of Louifbourg, and of the conqueft of the 

 ifland of Cape Breton in the war before tfee lafl; but we 



