I mean to give you the outlines before that period, which is fast approximating. The Bay of Paria is one of the safest and most spacious in any part of the world. It is in the form of a horse-shoe, extending above seventy miles, having a depth of water of from five to sixteen fathoms, where ships may anchor in all places within a mile of the shore in good holding ground. Abercromby Tower, situated on a height above the Port, serves as an excellent landmark, and may be seen from the Bocases. As I learn there has been much money expended, to no purpose, on this folly, but to benefit some folks, I had the curiosity to examine it the other day. Ascending the height, I discovered an old tract of lava, calcined lime-stone and cinders. I traced it a considerable distance, until I arrived almost at the Tower, when I observed two craters of considerable depth, but not very wide. I threw several large stones into the cavity, and heard them rolling for ten seconds: hence I have no doubt of its having been a volcano at some period or other. I mean before I leave the Island to pay them another visit, prepared with a line to measure the depth and diameter of both. This Tower, facing the bay, is defended with something in the shape of an half-finished battery, and a few pieces of ordnance carelessly lying about dismounted, though a great quantity of stone, lime, and wood are here heaped together, and must have cost the nation a pretty penny before they were dragged up this height; I am certain it would puzzle VAuban, if he were alive, to discove. the intent and meaning of erecting this stately pile, unless to commemorate the action of Aboukir-be this as it may, I am sure there is not such another folly between this and Scanderoon! Ah! John Bull! I have seen on my travels, much, too much of thy hard earnings squandered away, on many a foolish project in this, as well as in other colonies, particularly in the provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, &c. These are mere bagatelles- your generous mind revolts at inquiring after items. A I am just returned from paying my respects to the First Commissioner, Colonel FULLARTON, which something or other prevented me from doing before. secret satisfaction unaccountably stole across my mind. as I approached him, for affability was depicted on his countenance : To man he pleads in truth and wisdom's cause, Supports the pulpit, and supplies the laws *. POPE. I spent an hour with this excellent man in his study. It was the most agreeable hour I ever spent: probably I shall never experience such another, but 'Tis not for mortals always to be blest. ARMSTRONG. In private and in public, no man is more deservedly esteemed ;-few men will be ranked with him on the score of virtue, humanity, and benevolence, for his heart is dilated with the milk of human kindness. The praise that's worth ambition, is attain'd By sense alone, and dignity of mind. Virtue, the strength and beauty of the soul, Is the best gift of heaven: a happiness That even above the smiles and frowns of fate, Exalts great Nature's favourites: a wealth That ne'er encumbers, nor to baser hands * Colonel Fullarton has been many years Member of Parliament for the shire of Ayr in Scotland. D Can be transferr'd: it is the only good Man justly boasts of, or can call his own. ARMSTRONG. In a word, this amiable man will prove a blessing to the wretched inhabitants of this colony, consequently they will soon be as happy as they have hitherto been miserable! Experience proclaims his value, and the murmurs of discontent are rapidly vanishing away, The sacred olive wreath shall grace his head, That wreath, so often purchased by his care. There are two Negro Regiments stationed here, composed of negroes taken from the French colonies, and commanded by French officers. The arming and training so many of these hirelings, after the mournful scenes and horrid barbarities of their committing we have witnessed in St. Domingo, is surely not the prudent dictates of wisdom. It has probably been done for the best intention, to save the valuable lives of Europeans; but it is like "sparing the rod and spoiling the child," and the latent seed, though benevolently sown, will yet prove a curse to the British Empire. Pray, what tie is there to bind a black hireling to be faithful to his duty? Has he that vernacular attachment, animated with the sacred flame of amor patria, that distinguish the soldiers of other free nations? No, my friend, all his actions spring from lust and brutality, without which his bosom would be an empty void. The late ferocity of one of the Negro Corps in Dominica, where they murdered their officers (mostly British, I believe), is a striking presage of their future conduct. A worthless sort there are of human kind, Many of them were, you know what, in St. Domingo, &c.-Hence, devoid of every principle which distinguishes the human species from the brute creation, a ferocious excitement stimulates them to crimes, as much as the crocodiles of the Nile when they seize and devour young children. It may be asked, What has hitherto restrained them from evincing their natural propensity? I say the fear of the European troops, and nothing else.-Believe me, SIR, I tremble for the fate of the colonies, if the evil is not removed, especially as the Island of St. Domingo will, in the end, be free *. I have heard, before I left England, some of the advocates for maintaining a Black force in the West Indies assert, that every dependance might be placed on the loyalty of the black troops, and have felt inclined to believe them like other soldiers in a relative degree; but since I have been among them in St. Domingo, where they were kept under the greatest subjection by officers of their own colour, I am fully convinced to the contrary, and look upon them, when I see them pass my window, with abhorrence. I am also convinced they do not know the meaning of loyalty. To find a Negro that does, would be as singular a phenomenon as a preposterous birth-fishes feeding on dry land-or a pregnant mule, which Naturalists, with much truth, maintain to be incapable of breeding-or even a shower of pebbles from the clouds!!-It is but justice to acknowledge how well they stand fatigue in this climate; this does not, however, create astonishment; white Creoles will stand it equally as well, because it is * This prediction is since verified. more congenial to their constitutions, than it is to those of the majority of Europeans; this is particularly striking and evident from the number of New Negroes who perish the first year of their importation. With a view to prevent, or, in some degree, meliorate this calamity—I mean that of losing so many fellowsubjects-permit me, SIR, to propose a scheme, which, I apprehend, would go a great way to avert the evil you complain of, and might be carried into effect with very little expence, and maintained without difficulty, espe cially as there is no law to prevent the female sex from breeding in this colony. This project I have had in view ever since I travelled in St. Domingo-it is a White Population, which ought to consist of Scotch Highlanders-a hardy race, that will vegetate in any climate, and less given to intemperance than others. I have had an opportunity of seeing them prosper in other climates, more destructive to the constitution than the climate of Trinidad*. In the East Indies, it is a well known fact that the climate agrees superiorly with them, or they agree with the climate. Here, indeed, it is more salubrious; which, in the course of my correspondence, I hope to be able to prove from physical events. Would it not be generous as well as politic, in the Government to bestow a little attention, to inquire into the present situation of the Highlanders of Scotland?-thousands of whom have been driven, as it were, to seek shelter in the United States of America. How many hundreds of them have been discharged since the treaty of Amiens, who can never look towards home but with a tear!-Yes, the avarice of the landholder has made them exiles !-hence, these very land *The swampy shores of North and South Carolina. |