ST.
D O M I N G O .
13
parts of her extenfive dominions ; and a thoufand circumftances demonftrated that great and important changes and convulfions were impending. T h e neceffity of a fober and well-digefted arrangement for correcting inveterate abufes, both in the mother country and the colonies, was indeed apparent; but, unhappily, a fpirit of fubverfion and innovation, founded on vifionary fyftems inapplicable to real life, had taken poffeffion of the publick mind. Its effects in St. Domingo are written in colours too lafting to be obliterated; for the pride of power, the rage of reformation, the contentions of party, and the conflict of oppofing interefts and paffions, produced a tempeft that fwept every thing before it. T o trace thofe effects to their proper caufes, to develop the atrocious purpofes of pretended philanthropy, political fanaticifm, and difappointed ambition ; and to defcribe the vaft and lamentable ruin which they occafioned, thereby to furnifh a profitable leffon to other nations, is the aim of the following pages.
CHAP.
CHAP. I.