.chap, hi.] WEST INDIES. ,107 
them into possession of the lands which they had 
bought, without any regard to the claims of the 
Charaibes, which in truth the purchasers seem to 
have considered as of no consequence or validity. 
Of the measures which the British ministers af¬ 
terwards adopted with regard to these people, I 
have spoken in the former editions .of this work 
harshly and incorrectly; and I feel no disgrace in 
retracting involuntary error. The representation 
which I gave, had, however, the good effect, of 
calling forth an historical account of those mea¬ 
sures, from my most respectable friend Sir William 
Young, Bart, founded .on official papers and origi¬ 
nal documents in his possession, and drawn up with 
all that candour and perspicuity which were to have 
been expected from its author’s distinguished cha¬ 
racter and talents. 
As the subject is no longer interesting to the 
public, I need only observe, that if the claim of 
the British crown to the sovereignty of this coun¬ 
try was originally just and valid, then I do readily 
acknowledge, that the measures pursued by the 
British administration to enforce tbaT claim, were 
as lenient and considerate as the case could possi¬ 
bly allow; and I was misinformed when I gave a 
different representation. Nevertheless, I will not 
sacrifice, even on the shrine of friendship, the dig¬ 
nity of historical narration, by asserting that my 
friend has entirely convinced me, that the preten¬ 
sions of Great Britian were originally founded on 
