124 
HISTORY OF THE [book. m. 
it was sent in neutral bottoms to the Dutch island 
of St. Eustatius, before its capture by Admiral Rod¬ 
ney, and from thence it was exported to England, 
under the most extravagant expenses and loss to the 
proprietors. 
Other parts of their produce were sent in Dutch 
vessels, which were engaged for the purpose in 
England, to Rotterdam ; and after the breaking out 
of the war with the Dutch, the produce of Domi¬ 
nica was sent under imperial colours to Ostend, 
where the sugar sold from six to eight pounds ster¬ 
ling the hogshead. 
These accumulated distresses ended in the abso¬ 
lute ruin of many of the planters, and no less than 
thirty sugar plantations were in consequence there¬ 
of, thrown up and abandoned by the proprietors. 
At length, however, the day of deliverance arrived; 
for, in the month of January 1783, Dominica was 
restored to the government of England. The joy 
which on this event, animated the bosom, and en¬ 
lightened the countenance of every man, whom 
painful experience, under an arbitrary government, 
had taught to set a right value on the British 
constitution, may be conceived, but cannot be de¬ 
scribed. The inhabitants were now restored to the 
full enjoyment of their former privileges, under a 
civil establishment, similar to those of the other 
British colonies in the West Indies, which being- 
hereafter to be described at length, it is unneces¬ 
sary to enlarge upon in this place, except to ob- 
