176 C H A P . XI.
H I S T O R Y
OF
France the whole of this great and noble ifland in perpetual fovereignty ! So extraordinary a circumftance will doubtlefs give birth to much fpeculation and enquiry, as well concerning the. value and extent of the territory ceded, as the prefent difpofition and general character of the Spanifh inhabitants. Will they reliih this transfer of their allegiance from a monarchical to a republican government, made, as it confeffedly is, without their previous confent or knowledge ; or may reafonable expectations be encouraged, that they will now -cordially co-operate with the Englifh, in reducing the country to the Britifh dominion ? Will fuch affi (lance effect the re-eftablifhment of fubordination and good government among the vaft body of revolted negroes ? Thefe are deep queftions, the investigation of which will lead to enquiries of ftill greater magnitude ; for, whether we con足 sider the poffeffion, by an active and induftrious people, of fo vaft a field for enterprize and improvement on the one hand, or the triumph of fuccefsful revolt and favage anarchy on the other, it appears to me that the future fate and profitable existence of the Britifh territories in this part of the world, are involved in the iffue. On all thefe, and various collateral fubjects, I regret that I do not poffefs the means of giving much satisfaction to the reader. Such information, however, as I have collected on fome of the preceding enquiries, and fuch re足 flections as occur to me on others, will be found in the ensuing chapter, which concludes my work.
C H A P.