. * 
I 
i 
576 The Discoveries and Settlements, ^c. Book I. 
■^^ifions, their Wants often putting them entirely in- 
to the Power of their Neighbours, and render- 
ing,' not their Trade only, but their very Subfiftance 
^precarious. In SL Domingo^ indeed, they have more 
Room, but, perhaps, there may be Reafons why, un- 
lefs they can procure the entire Pofleffion of the Ifland, 
they may be unwilling to fend more People there, than 
they have in it already. Upon the River MiJJiJfippi they 
might certainly eftablifh twenty times the Number of 
People they have there, but this they will be hardly able 
to do, if they cannot give them better Encouragement 
than thofe Planters have had they have fent thither al- 
ready ; fo that take it altogether, the French have confi- 
derable DifEculties to ftruggle under, but more efpecially 
thefe three : The firft is, the great Diftance of their Co- 
lonies from each other, and their being fituated in fuch 
a Manner, as to have their Correfpondence eafily inter- 
rupted by an Enemy more powerful than themfelves at 
Sea. The fecond is, the Dangers and Inconveniencies 
that attend their Navigation, from their refpedtive Co- 
lonies to each other ^ fo^ that even in Time of Peace, 
they are very far from being either fafe, regular, or 
expeditious. Thirdly, their Want of proper Commodi- 
ties in their moft Northern, and moft Southern, Colo- 
nies, to create, or to continue, fuch a Commerce i which 
therefore is fcarce to be apprehended, notwithftanding 
the Power and Policy of the French will be always bent 
to promote it. As for the Dutch and Danes ^ they are 
at their Ne Plus ultra ; they may, indeed, increafe their 
Traffic occafionally, and by Intervals ; but it is impoffi- 
ble they ffiould extend, their Dominions, or, confequent* 
ly, that their future Power, in thofe Parts, ffiould ever 
become much greater than we now fee it. And though 
it may inrich themfelves, it can give their Neighbours no 
Umbrage. 
Thus in parting with the Subjed, I have endeavoured 
to give the Reader a Profped of the future Condition, as 
in the foregoing Sedions I have endeavoured to exhibit 
the prefent State, of this great Country, the Difeovery of < 
which gave Chriftians an Opportunity of propagating 
their Religion, which they miferably abufed. If any thing 
that is faid herein could contribute to the redreffino" this 
and other Evils, and infpire Men with free^ and 
generous Sentiments of promoting Virtue, Induftry, 
and Peace, it will fully anfwer the Author’s Intention, 
and, which is of far greater Confequence, tend to the 
Welfare and Benefit of the Human Species *, which it is 
our Intereft, our Duty, and our Glory, to promote, the 
only good Thing we can defire here, or hope to be re- 
warded tor hereafter, • 
BOOK 
/ 
