SOUTH AMERICA. 
281 
country begin to repent of their bargain, and become 
envious of the riches which foreigners carry off, 
many a teasing law might be made, and many a 
vexatious enaction might be put in force, that would, 
in all probability, bring the speculators into trouble 
and disappointment. 
Besides this consideration, there is another cir¬ 
cumstance which ought not to be overlooked. I 
allude to the change of masters nearly throughout 
the whole of America. It is a curious subject for 
the European philosopher to moralize upon, and for 
the politician to examine. The more they consider 
it, the more they will be astonished. If we may 
judge by what has already taken place, we are 
entitled to predict, that in a very few years more, no 
European banner will be seen to ‘float in any part of 
the new world. Let us take a cursory view of it. 
England some years ago possessed a large portion 
of the present United States. France had Louisiana; 
Spain held the Floridas, Mexico, Darien, Terra 
Firma, Buenos Ayres, Paraguay, Chili, Peru, and 
California ; and Portugal ruled the whole of Brazil. 
All these immense regions are now independent 
states. England, to be sure, still has Canada, Nova 
Scotia, and a few creeks on the coast of Labrador ; 
also a small settlement in Honduras, and the wilds 
of Demerara and Essequibo; and these are all. 
France has not a foot of ground, except the forests 
of Cayenne. Portugal has lost every province; 
Spain is blockaded in nearly her last citadel; and 
the Dutch flag is only seen in Surinam. Nothing 
FOURTH 
JOURNEY. 
