holders may be said to be the vital enemies of the country, for their sordidness has almost depopulated the Highlands of Scotland. America, by her prudent foresight in cultivating the peaceful arts, has extended her philanthropic arm to embrace, from each quarter of the globe, the distressed of every nation*, whether virtuous or vicious, and where suffering humanity (to use Jefferson's language) 'will find (except the million of negroes already in slavery) a secure retreat from oppression. Thus we see the United States every day acquiring wealth and strength by the cruel rack-rented policy of the land-holders of Britain. These are lamentable facts, worthy the atten tion of those British patriots who extend their views to Sierra Leone, Otaheite, &c. instead of looking at home, in a corner of the Island, for suffering humanity, whose situation has been admirably depicted by the learned and pious Dr. SMITH, of Campbeltown, Argyleshire; to which, if you will pardon the digression, I shall beg leave to add a circumstance which came within my own knowledge in the early part of 1796. It is thus:-Lord soon after the late war commenced, raised three Fencible battalions on his estate in the counties of Argyle and Perth, levied on his tenants and taken away like the conscripts in France, and carried in covered waggons, some chained, with "B........ Volunteers" painted on it! The factor or steward manages all the business. It so happened that there was an old man living on some part of the estate in the county of Argyle, who occupied a miserable hut, and a small piece of *Since this letter has been written, the State of South Carolina has opened her ports for the introduction of slaves only, from Africa. Notwithstanding their boasted freedom, and acclamations of inde pendence, &c. the little Island is still the seat of real liberty. sterile ground round it, and withal very poor, but who, by some means or other, had contrived to give three sons he had, a classical education. The poor old man was ordered to appear before the Steward Bashaw, when the following conversation ensued: Bashaw-John, I understand you have three sons capable of bearing arms, and as my Lord wants men you must surrender them immediately. Poor Man.-It is true I have three dutiful sons, but they have been long independent of their father. Were I so ridiculous as to make a proposition to them of this nature, I fear they would imagine my senses had left me. What, said the old man, leave their present pursuits to shoulder a musket-fye upon it! Bashaw. Pray, Sir, what are your sons more than those of any other of his Lordship's tenants? A gentleman present answered the Bashaw; his eldest son, Sir, is a merchant-the second is in London, following one of the liberal professions--and the youngest is studying physic; it is not, therefore, probable that either will go to be common soldiers, to please you or their father. Bashaw-It makes no difference; if we cannot get his sons he must provide substitutes; if not I'll eject him instantly. What business had the old fool to give any education to his children-he ought to have kept them at our disposal. The poor old man was partial to the barren spot on which he had lived all the days of his life; and before he could think of being turned away from it, rather chose to furnish substitutes; but the second son hearing of this transaction, threatened to expose the noble Lord if he did not disavow the knowledge of those proceedings, and turn away his steward-with which his Lord ship thought proper to comply. I have related this circumstance merely to shew you how the Highlanders are treated by their Landlords, which forces them to emigrate Yet those I have seen in the United States are, nevertheless, discontented, and wish themselves again on their native hills. The advantages which would result from an industrious White Population are various, to dilate which will form a part of my future letters. At present it will be necessary to turn my attention towards describing the Island as well as I am able from the information I have already collected. TRINIDAD is the largest and southernmost of all the Leeward Islands, measuring, as it is said, in its extreme length from east to west, 60 British miles, and from north to south 45 miles, containing 2,400 square miles, superficial measure, possessing many superior advantages over any other Island in the West Indies, and, like Tobago, without the reach of hurricanes. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus, on his third voyage, July 31, 1498, and so named from its appearance at thirteen leagues distance from the S. E. part of it, having three heads or mountains above all the rest. He found it inhabited by Caribs, who were almost all destroyed or carried away in the year 1518, when the inhuman Spaniards made captives of all the free and happy Aborigines they could find, to work their mines. What good the Catholic Religion has done for other nations I am not able to discriminate, but it has exterminated millions of inoffensive mortals in. this part of the world; still priests tell us, that the light of the gospel has proved a blessing to other countries, but, alas! we see the baneful effects it has produced in the western hemisphere. Perhaps it is prudent to let the Catholic religion alone; for, by descanting on the lamentable scenes acted by Cortez and his followers, I may stand a chance of encountering some Papal thunder, or the hurricanes of his priests, and as I wish to avoid both, I shall return to the Indians again. There are eight settlements of them in the Island, viz. Arima, Toco, Gayaco, Comana, Montserat, Savana, Grande, and Siparia. From the census taken soon after the Island was conquered in 1797, it appears there were 305 Men 401 Women 190 Boys 186 Girls Total 1082. They are sober, peaceable, and industrious; expert in clearing land, and gave great satisfaction to those planters who employed them. Inspired with a wish to see those innocent children of Nature, I set out one morning-took the road to Arima—and reached St. Joseph de Oruna, formerly the capital, and residence of the Governor, about seven miles to the eastward, in little more than a couple of hours. (Just before I approached this city, so called, (although it does not deserve the name of village I laid myself down under the shade of a linden-tree; feeling in my coat-pocket, I found a little volume which was given me by) an amiable young lady, Miss Franks, of Philadelphia. In many of my former letters † I have had occasion to mention * What constitutes a City in the United States of America is a Tavern and a Blacksmith's shop.. †The Letters here alluded to, contain the Author's Travels in the United States of America, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, St. Domingo, &c. which will probably be published when he is more at leisure. this lady, who is the patroness of every thing excellent and praise-worthy-distinguished for intelligence, modesty, virtue, and religion—is indeed an ornament of the American fair, and to the nicer sensibilities of the heart adds the grateful garb of humanity. Who can "estimate female worth?)Who can be indifferent to the "charms of female excellence ?"—Under Mr. Hastead's roof, in the woods near Perth-Amboy, I spent the most agreeable part of the last summer, in the company of this lady and the Miss Hastead's, equally amiable, To perceive them vying with each other in expressions of filial affection, smoothing the brow of declining years, and diminishing the burden accumulated by the decriptitude of age, might gratify the benevolence of an angel. To their lot (especially the youngest) had fallen no uncommon share of beauty-their tempers were sweet-and their minds were improved by a suitable education. When at leisure we rambled through the woods; but every morning we hailed the rising sun, and our spirits were exhilarated by contemplating the beauties of nature. The mocking bird entertaining us with variety of notes-the song of joy and the laugh of mirth were heard among us—but the period of departure surprised me by its sudden arrival-and I bade the happy family adieu, not without the tenderest sentiments of regret-yes, to exchange those peaceful shades, (For) distant climes, a dreary scene, Where half the convex world intrudes between, E |