disavowed. A middle path has therefore been struck out, in which the providence of God is not reasonably admitted, nor totally denied.

The advocates for this middle opinion, admit a general providence as they term it, but utterly deny that which is particular, without once adverting to the absurdities to which such an opinion must necessarily lead. For it ought to be considered, that between these two points there can be no medium. We must either admit a particular providence, or we must deny the Divine interference altogether.

A general providence must without all doubt be of general application. I know of no other manner in which the term can be introduced. A general providence which comprehends a whole, must necessarily include all the parts of which that whole is composed; and consequently must apply to the parts individually as well as to the whole. If a general providence takes no notice of any given individual part, neither can it take notice of another part in the same situation; and by the same mode of reasoning, the remarks may be extended to every individual person or thing over which a general providence is supposed to extend. Can then that providence be of general application, which takes no cognizance of any one part to which it is supposed to be applied? Certainly this is impossible. The admission of a general providence must therefore include that which is particular, because it is impossi ble that the former can exist without the latter. The two ideas, if they be two, must stand or fall together. And those who admit a general providence, and deny that which is particular, involve themselves in contradictions.

CHAP. VI.

HISTORY OF JAMAICA.

Condition of the island when captured-difficulties which our first settlers had to encounter and surmount-prudent conduct and excellent character of D'Oyley our first governor. Unsuccessful attempt of Spain to recover the island-progress of prosperity under the direction of Lord Windsor-Jamaica enriched by the spoils of the Buccaniers-character and depredations of those pirates.

JAMAICA at the time of its capture was in a forlorn condition. The internal parts were mountainous and useless, and the shores presented little better than a desert that had never been inhabited by man. In taking a circuit round the island, it is of little consequence in what part we begin. Cultivation was confined to an inconsiderable portion; and cattle which were grown wild, inhabited all the rest. The progress of years which had multiplied their numbers, had provided for their defence, by inclosing them in impenetrable forests, and instructing them to ascend the mountains which had never been trodden by the foot of man. The perpetual verdure which clothed the surface of the island, provided for them an inexhaustible source of pasturage, which knew no suspension through the chills of winter, and which was never concealed by descending

snows.

The southern side of the island was alone occupied; and the inhabitants thereof, with but few exceptions, were confined to a narrow spot. In estimating therefore the condition of the island, it will be necessary to start from some particular point, while we survey its shores and their contiguous lands. We will therefore begin with Puerta de Esquivella, a place of considerable note in ancient days.

Puerta de Esquivella (Port Esquivel) so named in honour of the first deputy governor of the island, under Diego Columbus, was the harbour which received the Spanish galleons from the Havannah, and where they put in through stress of weather, and remained during the hurricanes. It is situated to the westward of Port Royal, and is now known by the name of Old Harbour, a tribute of respect which commemorates its ancient reputation. From this place to Punto Negrillo, the most west

erly point of the island, the whole of that great extent of country, except a small hamlet named Oristan, remained unsettled, though admirably adapted for cultivation. Returning eastward to the north of Port Royal, extensive savannas or plains overrun with horned cattle and horses, appeared to be almost destitute of human inhabitants; for the only plantation existing in this quarter, was that of a rich widow, who, according to Sir Hans Sloane, had a considerable sugar-work at a place called Hato de Liguany, a great number of negro slaves, and about 40,000 head of cattle in the adjacent savannas.

Most parts of the island abounded with horses and horned cattle, which wandered at large over the extensive plains, without owners and without controul. The multitudes of cattle which were found on the island, confirmed the opinion which has uniformly prevailed as to the indolence of the Spaniards; and the wildness which appeared in all of them, plainly proves that no method had been taken to subdue their native fierceness. A state of nature prevailed through the vegetable department; the animals which swarmed in all the country, participated of the same common condition; and the Spaniards who were on the island, exhibited signs of their approaching ruin. Industry had but partially visited these abodes of fertility; necessity, and not advantage, prompted the inhabitants to action. They knew not the value of the island which they possessed; and they had made but little improvement of those parts which they had selected for cultivation.

The northern coasts were totally uncultivated; and that side of the island presented only a wild desert of intermingled rocks, forests and plains, from the eastern to the western extremities of the land. From the best authorities we are likewise assured, that the Spaniards, in the long space of time they remained in peaceable possession of this valuable colony, not less than one hundred and fifty years, had not cultivated the hundredth part of the land which was best adapted to the purposes of produc-. ing abundant crops of sugar, cotton, tobacco, rice, and other profitable commodities for foreign commerce. The characteristic indolence of the Spanish nation was transported hither from their native country: and the settlers, even when they possessed such a number of negro slaves purchased or captured from Africa, as nearly equalled their own population, contented themselves with raising such a quantity of food and other produce as was sufficient for their domestic wants. Their only articles of exportation were a small surplus of cocoa, hog's-lard and hides, which, with some provisions, they chiefly bartered with the ships that occasionally put into their ports, for Euro

pean manufactures, particularly for woollen and linen cloths and hose.

Successive generations passed their days in gloomy languor, enfeebled by sloth and depressed by poverty: and not having either the conveniency or the ability to send their children to Europe for education, they proceeded from one degree of degeneracy to another, and would probably, if we had not captured the island, have met with a similar fate from their own slaves, to that which the original natives fatally experienced from their inhuman ancestors.*

But whatever was the condition of the inhabitants, or from whomsoever they were descended, nothing can justify the subsequent conduct of Venables towards the Spaniards who had surrendered upon certain express conditions, to which Venables had bound himself to adhere.

Among other particulars it was expressly stipulated, "first, that all forts, ammunition and necessaries for war, and all kinds of shipping in any of the harbours of the island, goods, wares, merchandise, &c. should be delivered up to Venables, or whom he should appoint, for the use of the protector of the commonwealth of England.

"Secondly, that all the inhabitants of the island should have their lives granted them. Those who liked to continue, should remain peaceably there; or, if they chose it, be transported to New Spain with their apparel, books, papers, &c.

"Thirdly, that all commissioners, officers, &c. should be permitted to wear their poniards, rapiers, &c. And, fourthly, that all such as continued in the island, should be entitled to the privilege of enjoying their goods and properties, provided they conformed themselves to the laws which should be established." (See Barrow's Naval History, vol. i. p. 268.)

Previously to its being attacked, the real condition of this island was not known either to Penn or Venables; and their failure before Hispaniola had induced them to act with the utmost precaution in this second expedition. Their former ill success had tarnished their reputed glory, and a similar disaster before Jamaica would have completely ruined their reputation.

It was on the third of May 1655, that general Venables issued among his troops the following order, "That if any man through cowardice should attempt to quit his station, or neglect his duty, the next person behind him should immediately shoot him; and in case that he should neglect to do it, the next in succession should shoot him; and that in regular progression each man should expose himself to the same punishment." With these orders they proceeded to attack the fort, which they carried; and then to storm the town of St. Jago. But the latter was unnecessary. The threats which were used with the inhabitants, produced the desired effect; and a capitulation shortly ensued. No evil consequences seem to have followed the indiscreet directions which Venables gave to his soldiers; which, if carried into execution, might have been productive of the most fatal consequences.

Cromwell's generals and the troops under their command began their career in perfect conformity with these articles of capitulation, and behaved with great generosity to the inhabitants. They were left in peaceable possession of their plantations, of their slaves, and of their personal property, with liberty to remain on the island, and to continue the free exercise of their religion. But it was not long before civil dissentions rose to a considerable height between the conquerors and their captive Roman Catholics; insomuch, that Venables, the commander in chief of the republican forces, suddenly deprived the planters of their slaves and effects; arrested the Spanish governor, who had surrendered the island under an express stipulation of unmolested residence; and forced him and his friends to sign fresh articles, by which they reluctantly agreed that all the Spaniards should quit the island. The reasons which urged Venables to adopt such severe measures, have never been satisfactorily explained. Those shadows which frequently conceal injustice, seem to obscure his conduct, and give us much reason to believe, that it did not arise from any well-founded complaints against them.

The Spaniards, at once astonished and exasperated at this flagrant act of perfidy, felt all the horrors of their situation." The new articles, whatever they were, were such as forbade their compliance; but their situation was such as placed resistance beyond their reach, and they were obliged to submit.

Venables, in his letters to Cromwell, assigns no reasons for his change of measures. He only observes in general terms, "The Portuguese we hope to make good subjects of; the Spaniards we shall remove." This sudden transition took place within one month from the time of their first surrender, and holds out an awful lesson to assure mankind, that terms of capitulation are too often held sacred no longer than while they accord with the will of the conqueror.

But be these things as they may, certain it is that while the better sort complied with this imperious injunction, numbers of the poorer rank, having no relations nor friends, nor any other country to which they could fly, betook themselves to the inaccessible mountains and impenetrable forests, determined to perish in these inhospitable retreats, rather than submit to beg their bread in a foreign clime: and many of their negro slaves accompanying them, they made together a formidable corps of concealed enemies to their unjust oppressors. Our commanders, during the first year of their conquest, were obliged to keep their troops constantly under arms and in military array, and to enforce the strictest discipline. The negroes accustomed to a savage life in their native land, and being delivered from all