33 HISTORY OF THE [book iii. 
some smaller articles, as aloes, sweetmeats, &c. 
of which the quantities are not ascertained. 
That the dreadful succession of hurricanes, with 
Which it has pleased the Almighty to visit this, 
and the other West Indian islands, within the last 
twelve years, has contributed to this great defalca¬ 
tion, cannot be doubted. The capital of this island 
was scarce risen from the ashes to which it had 
been reduced by two dreadful fires, when it was 
torn from its foundations, and the whole country 
made a scene of desolation, by the storm of the 
10 th of October 1780, in which no less than four 
thousand three hundred and twenty-six of the inha¬ 
bitants (blacks and whites) miserably perished ; and 
the damage to the country was computed at 
<£.1,320,564 15s. sterling. 
It might have been presumed, however, from 
the favourable seasons which have been experien¬ 
ced for the last three or four years, that the pros¬ 
pect was at length beginning to brighten; but al¬ 
though, since the failure of their sugar plantations, 
the inhabitants have found some resource in the 
cultivation of cotton, it does not seem probable, 
that any encouragement is capable of ever restoring 
this island to its ancient splendor and opulence; 
unless it be relieved from the heavy imposition of 
four and a half per cent, on their exported pro¬ 
duce, of the origin of which I have so largely 
treated. It is to be hoped, that an enlightened mi¬ 
nister will one day arise, who will have the cou- 
