Retrofpe& of Domeftic Literature—Hiftory. | 635 
Negroes of Jamaica: to this paper are 
afixed Appendices relative to the Sugar 
A& of the Ifland of Grenada, by John 
Caftles, efq. and on the cultivation of the 
clove-tree, in the Ifland of Dominica, by 
William Hobfon Buée, efq. together with 
a poftcript to the Hiftorical Survey of St. 
Domingo, containing a brief and melan- 
choly review of the tranfactions and con- 
ditions of the Britifh army there, during 
the year 1795, 6, 7, and 8, until the 
final evacuation of the country. The 
influence of the climate of St. Domingo 
on European conftitution is {carcely cre- 
dible; but the authority of Mr. Edwards 
on this point is, we prefume, indifputa- 
ble: our readers will judge of the lot 
which thofe poor fellows have to antici- 
pate, or have already experienced, who 
have been fent from France to oppofe the 
dominion of Toufflaint, from the follow- 
ing ftatement —Between the latter end of 
April, 1795, and April, 1796, 9,800 
troops had landed in St. Domingo: within 
the fpace of a few following months a 
further reinforcement had arrived of about 
7900. * But what avails,”* toufe Mr. Ed- 
wards’s own words, “ but what avails the 
beft concerted fchemes of human _ policy 
againft the difpenfations of Divine Provi- 
dence? A great part of thefe gallant 
troops, molt of them in the bloom of 
youth, were conveyed, with little inter- 
miflion, from the fhips to the hofpital— 
from the hofpital tothe grave! Of the 82d 
regiment, nolefs than 630 became victims 
to the climate, within the fhort fpace of 
ten weeks after their landing. Jn one of 
its companies, no more than three rank 
and file were fit for duty. Hompefch’s 
regiment of huflars were reduced’, in little 
more than two months, from 1000 to 
300; and the y6th regiment perifhed to a 
man! By the 30th of September, 1795, 
the regifters of mortality difplayed a 
mournful diminution of no lefs than 7530 
of the Britifh forces only; and towards 
the latter end of 1797, out of the whole 
number of troops, Britifh and foreign, 
which had landed and were detained in 
this devoted country, during that and the 
two preceding years (certainly not far 
fhort of 15,000 men) I am afllured that 
not more than 3coo were le!t alive and in 
a condition for fervice.”* This volume, 
which is embellifhed with plates and 
maps, together with a portrait of its au- 
thor, concludes with an unfinifhed hiftory 
* The lofs of feamen inthe fhips employed 
on the coaft is not included. It may be 
ftated very moderately at 5coo men ! 
of the war in the Weft Indies, from its 
commencement in February, 1793, tothe 
cruelties of Victor Hughes in 1794. 
The following traé&t has jut made its 
appearance .—‘* A Memoir of {ranf- 
actions that took place in St. Domingo in 
the Spring of 17993 affording an Idea of 
the prefent State of that Country, the 
real Charaéter of its Black Governor, 
Touffaint L’Overture, and the Safety of 
our Welt India Iflands from Attack or 
Revolt, &c. by Captain RaiNSFORD, 
twenty four Years an Officer in his Ma- 
jefty’s Army.” The Captain was taken 
prifoner in his paflage to join his regiment 
at Martinique, was civilly treated by 
Touffaint, who faved him from death, to 
which he had been fentenced on fulpicion 
of being a fpy. The author {peaks with 
gratitude on the interference of Touffaint 
in his behalf, and reprefents him as being 
a man of general humanity and much 
fuavity of demeanor—and as being pof- 
fefled of uncommon dilcernment. He 
{miles, with but little reafon, asthe event 
‘has proved, at the attempt of France to 
fubjugate St. Domingo: -** United as are 
the Blacks and Mulattoes, fifty thoufand 
mea would eve long be diffipated in fuch 
an attempt.’’ Captain Rainsford afferts, 
that he has, more than once, feen 60,000 
men reviewed, at one time, on the plains 
of the Cape, in complete fubordination 
in the field, and whofe united determi- 
nation againft an invading enemy would 
be victory or death. He fays, that their 
promptnefs and dexterity in manoenvering 
would aftcnifh an European, who had 
known any thing of their previous fitus 
ation. , 
The following well written work ap- 
pears to be publithed by the author, with 
the hope of obtaining fome indemnifica- 
tion for the fevere fufferings he has under- 
gone:—‘* A Relation of feveral Circum- 
ftances which occurred in the Province of 
Lower No:mandy, during the Revolu- 
tion, and under the Government of 
Robefpierre, &c. &c."” The author left 
his mative country for the purpofe of fu- 
petintending the efiate of the Prince of 
Monaco, at Torigny: the numerous agri- 
cultural remarks which occur, fhow that 
he was by no means unqualificd for the 
important truft. 
“© The Hiltcry of the Rebellicn in the 
Year 1745, by Joun Home, efq.” It 
is af unaccountable fa&, that this fhould 
be the firft regular hiftory of a rebellion 
which had tor its object no lefs than the 
reftoration of a family to the threne of 
thefe realms, who had been expelled from 
if 
