"have destroyed all sorts of provisions and cattle. Nothing "but ruin attends them wherever they go. Dig or plant, they "neither will, nor can; but are determined rather to starve " than work." It is not surprising, that a distressing scarcity was the consequence of this imprudent conduct; which, to fill up the measure of their calamities, was accompanied with disease and contagion. To such a state were they now reduced, that unripe fruits, noxious vegetables, snakes, lizards, and even vermin, were eagerly devoured. This unwholesome diet, concurring with other circumstances, produced an epidemic dysentery, which raged like a plague. For a considerable time, one hundred and forty men died weekly, while Sedgwick himself fell a victim to the prevailing contagion.

Cromwell, afraid that the Spaniards would embrace this opportunity of invading the island, determined to support the colony. He immediately sent out a large supply of provisions, and granting a commission of commander in chief to Colonel Brayne, commanded him to sail to Jamaica. Brayne arrived with a reinforcement of troops, and found every thing in disorder; but before he could possibly remedy these evils, he also died after a residence of ten months. The command again devolved on Colonel D'Oyley, who happily possessed those qualities of prudence, courage, and perseverance, which were absolutely requisite for the preservation of this valuable colony.

The defenceless state of the island, the dissatisfaction of the troops, the straits to which they were reduced by famine, disease, and death, led the governor of Cuba to believe, that a favourable opportunity was now offered for restoring Jamaica to the dominion of Spain. Having received the consent and the aid of the viceroy of Mexico, he landed on the 8th day of May 1658, thirty companies of Spanish infantry, at Rio Nuevo,

a small harbour on the north side of the island. Twelve days elapsed, before D'Oyley, who was only forty miles distant, was informed of their landing, and six weeks intervened, before he could reach them by sea. The Spaniards were now established in considerable force, and were plentifully provided with provisions, ordnance, and ammunition. But D'Oyley, as soon as he arrived at Rio Nuevo with seven hundred and fifty men, attacked them in their entrenchments, carried by assault a strong fortress which they had erected on an eminence over the harbour, and compelled the Spanish commander to leave the island, with the loss of one half of his troops, and all his stores, ordnance, ammunition, and colours*.

After this signal defeat, the Spaniards seem never to have entertained any hopes of recovering their lost dominion. A few of the ancient inhabitants, however, still remained dispersed in the woods; but their negroes, having, in considerable numbers, deserted to the English, became extremely useful, both as soldiers and as guides, and discovered the retreats of their old masters. Being sensible, that if ever the Spaniards again gained the ascendancy, they would be exposed to the most cruel tortures, they fought with the utmost courage and desperation, and in several partial encounters, destroyed numbers of their former proprietors+.

Cromwell, gratified with D'Oyley's success, now appointed him governor of the island, and from the great prudence of his administration, its affairs once more bore a favourable aspect. The inhabitants had engaged in the culture of Indian corn, cassavi, tobacco, and cocoa, and being successful in their first efforts, they were encouraged to renew and increase their exertions. The arrival of several merchant ships also stimulated their industry, while the army, well clothed, and plentifully + See Note (c.)

* See Note (b.)

fed, was now become tolerably healthy. Favourable reports of the flourishing state of the new colony, having been, in the mean time, industriously circulated, numbers of discontented, as well as unfortunate individuals, repaired to Jamaica, as to a place of refuge from that vexation, injustice, and cruelty, which a revolution never fails to produce. By gradual accessions of industrious and intelligent settlers, the colony soon became respectable, and rapidly advanced to that height of prosperity, which it was afterwards destined to attain.

It is curious to observe the slow progress of the Spaniards in cultivating this colony. Their settlements were neither numerous, flourishing, nor valuable. They had murdered all the original inhabitants, amounting according to their own partial estimates to sixty thousand souls, and after a peaceable possession of one hundred and fifty years, there were only, including women and children, one thousand five hundred white inhabitants on the island. The negroes were not more numerous; and few in number as they were, it is difficult to discover, to what uses their labour was applied. Their principal exports, beside cocoa, consisted of hog's-lard, and hides. The sale of these commodities constituted the whole of their commerce. Of the valuable commodities which Jamaica is capable of producing, these slothful proprietors were either totally ignorant, or reared only what was sufficient for their own sustenance. Slothful, gloomy, unenterprising, poor, they passed their days in ignorance, wretchedness, and misery. Such are the effects of a false religion, and a despotic government!

CHAPTER IV.

Flourishing State of the Island.-Buccaniers.-Destruction of the Privileges of the Inhabitants attempted.-Their successful Opposition.-Partial Revolt of the Slaves.

JAMAICA had been four years in possession of the English,

when Cromwell died. The people of England, who, however their sentiments might differ, all concurred in detesting his usurpation, of two evils wisely chusing the least, rejoiced in the return of the Stewart family.. Charles was no sooner seated on the throne, than he turned his attention to Jamaica. The administration of Governor D'Oyley had been so prudent, and so moderate, that he acquired the esteem of all parties, and the respect even of his enemies. Charles, not yet blinded by power, or corrupted by debauchery, secured his interests by an act of justice, and continued D'Oyley in the exercise of his power. Under the excellent administration of this man, the island was delivered from the horrors and the danger of invasion; the lands were cleared, and plantations settled; commerce commenced; the inhabitants increased in number, wealth, and civilization; and the colony, flourishing, and respectable, became a plentiful source of power and opulence to the mother country.

One of those curious phænomena which sometimes appear in the political world, now turned the attention of Europeans to the transactions of the West Indies. A number of daring and desperate adventurers, called Buccaniers, infested the islands

of the western Archipelago. They entertained no fixed views of justice or policy, while the most rooted hatred, not unmixed with contempt, of the Spaniards, raged in their bosoms. Their origin is little known, and not very easily accounted for. They were not natives of any particular nation, but seem to have belonged to all the maritime powers of Europe, especially to Portugal, France, and England. The spirit of adventure which the discoveries of Columbus had excited, was not yet extinguished. The dissentions and revolutions which had since that period, taken place in France, England, Portugal, and Holland, produced a number of ambitious and restless individuals, anxious to distinguish themselves, and eager for a change. The high pretensions of the Spaniards to the exclusive navigation of the seas of the new world, led them to look upon as pirates, and treat with cruelty, the crews of all the trading vessels, which they met with in these regions. This injustice excited the resentment of these individuals, who, associating together, and being joined by numbers from Europe, soon retaliated, in a dreadful manner, upon the Spaniards Perhaps the wealth which the latter possessed was not the least powerful motive for their exertions. They were bold, hardy, and persevering. Their deeds c valour excite our astonishment, and we cannot but regret, that they were not performed in a better cause. Though they were the declared enemies of the Spaniards, and made them most generally the objects of their resentment, yet they sometimes attacked the vessels of other nations. If they acquired wealth, they were not very scrupulous about the means. Following an irregular course of life, they had no certain income; and money being necessary for the supply of their wants, they, in order to procure it, were easily stimulated to deeds of injustice, violence, and ferocity. Unacquainted with œconomy, perhaps despising it, they spent with profusion, what they suddenly acquired.