si8 HISTORY OF THE [book in. 
Thus the island, though in itself certainly not 
so fertile as some others of less extent in its neigh¬ 
bourhood, was becoming very rapidly a colony of 
considerable importance; but, unfortunately, it 
wanted that protection which alone could give its 
possessions stability and value. 
To those who recollect the frantic rage with 
which all the faculties and means of Great Britain 
were directed towards, and applied in, the subju¬ 
gation of America, the utter disregard which was 
manifested by the then administration towards the 
security of this, and the other British islands in the 
West Indies, may not, perhaps, be matter of sur¬ 
prise ; but it will hereafter be scarcely believed, 
that the whole regular force allotted, during the 
height of the war, for the protection of Dominica, 
consisted of no more than six officers and ninety 
four privates! This shameful neglect was the more 
remarkable, as this island, from its local situation, 
between Martimco and Guadaloupe, is the best 
calculated of all the possessions of Great Britain in 
that part of the world, for securing to her the do¬ 
minion of the Charaibean sea. A few ships of 
war stationed at prince Rupert’s bay would effec¬ 
tually stop all intercourse of the French settlements 
with each other, as every vessel is liable to capture 
by ships cruizing off that bay, and to windward of 
the island. This indeed was discovered when it 
was too late. 
