660 
sidering them as so many asylums of 
pleasure and of happiness. 
.“ In stead of sending thither, as was 
formerly the case in France, all those 
whose conduct was equivocal, or whose 
offences were commuted into transpor- 
tation; Spain, either more just or more 
tender in respect to her colonies, without 
being more fortunate than other nations, 
continues to employ ail her attention for 
the express purpose of maintaining good 
morals, of preventing the germs of cor- 
ruption from being imported from Eu- 
rope. Since the 7th of August, 1584, 
no one has been able to obtain permis- 
sion to repair to the West Indies, without 
an authentic testimonial of a sober life, 
and good morals. It is not long since a 
person, who had a passport for any par- 
ticular province, was prohibited from 
repairing to another without a new per- 
mission signed by the King; he was ac- 
cordingly obliged to proceed directly to 
the place of his destination.” 
We are assured that emigration from 
Spain to the Terra Firma, is not tre- 
quent; but on the other hand, when ad- 
venturers repair thither, they seldom 
return. The Biscayans and Catalonians, 
are the only persons in whose bosoms the 
love of their country is never extinguish- 
ed; accordingly they generally revisit 
their native soil. As to the inhabitants 
of the Canaries, they transport them- 
selves frequently to America, where their 
industry, and their attention, render them 
more prosperous than the other subjects 
of the King of Spain. 
While treating of the slaves, M. de 
Pons informs us, that the number in the 
Captainship of the Caraccas amounts 
to two hundred and eighteen thousand. 
He reproaches their masters with neg- 
lect, in respect to this unhappy portion 
ef the human species; but on the other 
hand, he launches into an eulogium on 
the excellence of the juridical institu- 
tions. 
“ Every where else, (says he) the 
slave is condemned for life, to suffer 
under the tyranny of an unjust master; 
among the Spaniards, he may atany time 
relieve himself from the dominion of a 
man who abuses his right of property. 
The. law, indeed, insists that he should 
declare the motives; but this beneficent 
system of jurisprudence is satisfied with 
complaints of the slightest kind. The 
most trifling allegation, whether true or 
false, is sufficient to force the master to 
sell the slave who does not choose any 
longer to serve him. In addition to this, 
Retrospect of French Literature—Hisiory. 
he cannot exact an arbitrary price for 
his liberty, and the maximum is regulated 
at three hundred piastres,* whatever may 
be the talents of the slave; if any infir- 
mities have deteriorated the value, the 
judge makes the necessary deduction. 
Every bondman is allowed to purchase 
his freedom, at prime cost, while the 
master is not permitted to chastize him 
so as to make the blood flow, without 
exposing himself to punishment. In 
fine, the governors nominate an advo- 
cate, who is to support the rights and the 
claims of the slaves. This institution 
demonstrates the wisdom and the hu- 
manity of the legislature. How many 
calamities would.the colonies of other 
European nations have avoided, if similar 
laws had been promulged by them! The 
Spaniards, hitherto so frequently ac- 
cused of cruelty, are nevertheless the 
very people, whose code is the most sage, 
and whose customs are the most worthy 
of being imitated.” 
We are further informed, that out of 
the seven hundred and twenty-eight 
thousand persons, contained in the Cap~ 
tainship of the Caraccas, the number 
of those enfranchised, amounts to 219,000. 
“This is the less astonishing, (adds he} 
as the Spaniards consider the liberation 
of their slaves, among the most merito- 
rious acts enjoined by their religion.” 
We nowcome to the Indians, who are | 
described as being in general more at- 
tached to their mothers, than their 
fathers. The Goahiros, are represented 
as the most ferocious, as well as the most 
perfidious, of all the neighbouring tribes. 
They are cannibals, and if by chance 
any vessel is cast ashore by a tempest, 
they constantly murder the crew and 
feast on human flesh. M. de Pons offers 
up his vows for the subjugation of this 
people, in order that they might be 
obliged to renounce the customs and 
habits of wild beasts. 
It is far otherwise with the civilized 
Indians; and the Spaniards, who are fully 
sensible of the difference, have not only 
renounced all the rigorous measures 
hitherto adopted by their ancestors, but 
now actually treat them with paternal 
kindness. td 
“ But few authors, (we are told) 
have rendered that justice to the Spanish 
government which is due to it, relative 
to the mauner in which the Indians are 
regulated. The Abbé Raynal, that ar- 
* The piastre is a dollar, but the text men- 
tions § trois cents piastres fortes.” »—Ed. 
dent 
