.THE MEMOIRS O F A N AMERICAN. VOL. II. *;.. MEMOIR,^ O F A N AMERICAN. W I T H A DESCRIPTION O F T H E KINGDOM OF PRUSSIA, AND THE I S L A N D OF ST. D O M I N G O. Translated from the FRENCH, IN TWO VOLUMES. V O L. II. LONDON: Printed for F. and J. No at E, at their refpeftive Circulating Libraries, near Middle Rtnv^HQjtornt and Saint Martin's Court > near Leicefter Sqpari* MDCCLXXIH. p/-fw. , >*'.. ID 37" b I E had now been more tnan a W <* month upon the wide ocean which feparates Europe from America, when a favourable trade wind carried us towards the ifland which gave VOL. II. B me 2 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. me birth. One day that Mr. Marfilla, the mate of the fhip, and myfelf, were walking on the deck, we admired the pure and unclouded fky, and its refplen- dent azure roofj the finking fun yet darted its rays in the air, but the wide ocean feemed to open its bofom to re- ceive that brilliant orb, as the evening now approached. We perceived, all of a fudden, a frefh cold breeze which curled the waves, the heavens foon be- came overcaft, and the waves fwelled, and were mortly covered with foam. I foretold to Mr. Marfilla a violent tem- peft, and defired him to defcend. The young mate prevented him, and laugh- ed at my fear. The night advanced, and we could fcarce diftinguifh objects the MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 3 the neareft to us. As I was going off the deck, a large fea broke upon our quarter ; happily for me I had faft hold of the ropes, but heard a violent fcream immediately. I called feveral times to Mr. Marfilla and the mate, but received no anfwer, and I immediately fulpect- ed they had both of them been warned overboard. The tailors, frighted by my fufpicion, immediately backed the fails. I prefently afterwards met the captain, to whom I communicated my fears. He ordered Mr. Marfilla and the mate to be fought for, but we were ibon confirmed in the truth of my fu- fpicions. Mrs. Marfilla, from whom it was impoflible to conceal the melan- choly cataftrophe, was in the greateft B 2 agonies ; 4 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. agonies j fhe attempted to throw her- fe'lf into the fea, it was fcarce poflible to prevent the effects of her defpair. The danger had caft a fear throughout the fhip, our vefTel was as nothing be- fore the winds, fhe mounted with the roaring waves, and feemed prefently af- terwards' to 'fink into the deep abyfs. The night was exceedingly dark, except at intervals, when the forked lightning glanced upon the waves. With my eyes fixed upon the water, I fought, with but little hope, a glimpfe of the friend I had loft. The vivid light- ning afforded a tranfient light upon the waves around us, and I thought I could once difcover fome perfon flrug- gling againft the waves. His ftrength feemed MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN". 5 fecmed increafed upon the fight of the vefiel> towards which he extended his hands i but d-arknefs immediately fuc- ceeded, and I could fee no more. I informed the failors of what I had ob- ferved, who called with all their ftrength, at the fame time throwing out ropes ; but the noife of the thunder and waves drowned their ufelefs clamours. Irr- fpired with hope, I threw into the air a rope lighted at the end feveral times, and all the failors did the fame. By the light of one which I threw, I thought I could again perceive the unfortunatg being. He feized it with his hands, I was prefently fenfible of the refiftance; and therefore called for more help; Wonderful efcape ! I flipped down the 6 fide 6 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. fide of the vefTel, and hawled the al- moft expiring body into the fhip. I could fcarce know my dear friend Mar- filla again, he was fo much disfigured. Exhaufled with fatigue, he could not fupport his head, and ftill grafped, vio- lently, the cord which had faved him. I am unable to defcribe the joy, the ec- ftafy of his wife, when me was inform- ed, that her hufband, whofe death fhe lamented, yet lived, and was aboard the fhip. Whilfl they got off Mr. Marfil- la's wet clothes, his wife chafed him with her warm hands. The furgeon* after making him throw up the water he had fwallowed, had him put into a warm bed. Whilft he repofed, we con- fidered his good fortune as a miracle j his MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. f his wife took my hands and kifled them with tranfport in the excefs of her gra- titude : the unfortunate mate was never feen more. The winds were fhortly difperfed, a calm fucceeded the tempeft, and the rays of the rifing fun again fhone upon the water. Contemplating on that vaft ocean, the fea, where the largeft veflel is only as a grain of fand in fize ^ la-. fcnfible as we are, I laid to myfelf, how will intereft thus lead us into the midft of dangers ? Why mould we change into evil, the good which the Author of nature has deigned to create for the pre- fervation of his work ? If th impetu- ous winds fwell the waves, and raife a B 4 tempeft, S MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. tempeft, is it not to purify that ele- ment, that the continued calm, by cor- rupting the ftagnant air, fhould not de- flroy thofe who breathe it ? Oh men, who fear death, do not feek it ; do not go beyond the bounds nature has pre- fcribed j do not confide in a perfidious calm ; to-morrow the fmooth furface may be ruffled by the wind ; the waves, white with foam, will prefent to your terrified minds deep pits, where death is inevitable, and then you will lament your departure from the more. After repofmg myfelf for fome hours, I returned to Mr. Marfilla, who was now pretty well recovered from the trouble which his fatigue and fear had caft MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 9 caft him into. He had taken fome re- ftoratives, which had recovered his fpi- rits, and brought his weak fibres to their wonted ftrength ; but his voice was {till feeble. Whilfl I had been abfent, his wife had informed him that he owed his life to me - f therefore, as foon as I entered,, he took my hand and carried it to his lips, at the fame time his tears- ftole down his cheeks. Affected with his gratitude, I could not prevent my tears mingling with his. In a few days Mr. Marfilla was per- fectly recovered. I was exceedingly hap- py in the thoughts of my having fnatch- ed him out of the arms of death r and reftored life to that virtuous, tender wo- B 5 man, to MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. man, who could not have furvived his lofs. We now approached the ifland of St. Domingo, where my family lived in fplendor. An unhappy uncertainty ftill affefted me ; I fcarce dared to flat- ter myfelf with feeing my mother again. I was afraid me would ftill preferve her refentment, which had caufed her indifference as to my fate ; that pride would fupprefs the joy which every mother muft feel upon the fight of a fon after many years abfence. At the time thefe unhappy thoughts affected me, Mr. Marfilla came up to me, and faid in the language of friendfhip, " I " fee you do not think me worthy your " confi- MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN, n *< confidence; I am fure you are not " happy, but you conceal the caufe, - dereft kind, which I warmly returned. She informed me, that her mother had juft left her. I then imagined that the perfon whom I had met y and whofe face occafioned me fome little confufion, was the perfon who had given me birth. My fitter afked me if I wifhed to fee her, MEMOIRS or AN AMERICAN. 21 Jier, and offered to accompany me. " I " have fcarce been a moment in your *' houfe," I replied, " and you are al- " ready defirous of fending me away.* 1 She blumed, and embraced me, at the fame time affuring me of her friend- mip and affection. She foon afterwards led me to an apartment which flie in- treated me to confider as my own, and gave me a flave to attend and wait on me. She called her two fons, who im- mediately came in the mod chearful, fprightly manner to kifs me. I took them in my arms. " Amiable chil- " dren," I faid to myfelf, " you are " dear to her who brought you into " the world, you do not fear her an- 22 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN, " ger ; how much happier is your lot " than mine !" The next day I defired my fifter to inform my mother of my arrival, and to endeavour to difiipate her refentment againft me which I had fo little merit- ed. At the moment me was promising me her fervice, two negroes appeared, opened the door of the faloon, and pro- nounced the arrival of my mother. My fifter made me a fign to be filent, and not difcover myfelf. When I faw that venerable woman appear, already funk in years, weak and enfeebled by . long difeafes, I felt the fincereft love and refpeft for her ; I could fcarce con- tain my tranfports -, I wifhed to throw myfelf MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 23 myfelf at her feet, and prefs her hand to my lips ; I beheld her with reverence. When I heard her call my fitter by the tender name of daughter, I turned a- way my head, to conceal my diftrefs. *' Am I not alfo your fon ?" I faid to myfelf. " Why fhould you not acknaw- ledge me fuch ?'* " I never had the honour of feeing " that gentleman before," faid my mo- ther, turning herfelf towards my filler : " does he belong to this part of the " ifland?" " He is a friend of my hufband's," replied my fitter, " juft arrived from " France.'* " From 24 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " From France !" faid my mother ^ " Alas ! I had a fon there" ' " Has death deprived you of him ?" interrupted I, in a feeble voice. i " He is alive for any thing I know," replied my mother ; " but no longer fo " to me," She pronounced thefe laft words in a manner which aftonifhed me ; but look- ing at her daughter, " I am very good, " I think," faid Ihe to her, " thus to " come to fee you every day." " I am very grateful for the favour, * l my dear mother," replied my fifter. Whilft MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 25 Whilft fhc fmilhed thefe words, we heard a tumultuous kind of noife j the door opened, and the two children im- mediately ran to their grand-mother, who lavifhed her carefies on them : they prefently afterwards came to me, took me by the hand, and called me. their dear uncle. My fifter immediately call- ed them, and fent them away. My mother looked earneftly at .me ; fhc obferved my confufion and embarraff- ment, and began to fufpect who I was. " What," faid flic, " are. you that " fon, who has diflionoured himfelf by " an unworthy alliance ; who has taken " pleafure in precipitating himfelf into " indigence and infamy j who has at- VOL. II. C " tached 26 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " tached his deftiny to that of an un- " fortunate creature born in fin ?" " Oh ' my mother," 1 cried, " what " is it you are faying ?" At that moment I faw her grow pale, her eyes turned from me, and feemed to avoid mine. My fitter flew to receive her in her arms , I ran to her alfo, took her hand and imprinted a thoufand kiffes on it. She faw me at her feet, and obferved my tears. Affected with the -fight, her tears flole down her cheeks, and for fome time me could not utter her words. Unfortu- .MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 27 " Unfortunate young man," fhe cried, " you will be the death of me." " Oh ! my dear, my tender mother, *' if you could but fee her who has ren- " dered me criminal in your eyes " " I fee her ! I do not wifh," me con- tinued, " to infult her in her diftrefs ; " but I hope, at lead, that you have fo " much refpecl for me as not to bring " her into my prefence." At thefe words I kifled her hand, and retired further : at that inftant my fif- ter's hulband made his appearance. C 2 Well, 28 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " Well, Madam," faid he, " you " behold your fon, whom you thought " you never more mould have feen-, *' will you not reflore him to your af- " fedion ?" " If he was once dear to me," an- fwered my mother, " ought he to have " compelled me to hate him ?" " Hate me!" I replied, " hate your " child ! Oh ! my mother, that child * c always She looked at me with more tendernefs j my carefles, and my lifter's intreaties, foftened her heart, and me called me her fon. In the evening fhe permitted me MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 29 me to conduct her to her houfe, which was at a little diftance from that of my brother-in-law, and me offered me an apartment to pafs the night in. I was extremely impatient .- ^^m^ to Marfilla to fee my wife and friends again, to let them partake of my hope and joy, in my account of my interview with her whofe implacable hatred' / fear- ed; from which they formed the moil fanguine expectations. " You will recover a mother," faid Mr. Marfilla to me, " and we, per- 4 'haps, fhall -lofe a friend." C 3 "For 30 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " For my part," replied his wife, looking tenderly at mine, " I am lure " of preferving this friend here :" and immediately thofe charming women, like two beautiful lilies which th^ a~~ tie bn"^* ~-~*j " as leparated,, embraced, and vowed eternal friendfhip to each other. * I had not even told my filler that my wife was at St. Domingo : I was will- ing that Ihe mould be prefented by my friend as his relation , flattering myfelf that chance would one day make her known to my mother, from which event I hoped for every thing, as that tender woman feemed to attract the love of all MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 31 all others, as by an irrefiftible charm. My hope was not ill-grounded. We had fcarce been a month at St. Domingo, when Marfilla told my bro- ther-in-law, with whom he had feveral times before bartered foe different things, that he would one day bring Mrs. Mar- filla, and prefent her to his wife ; which iny brother feemed very defirous of; The day they came to vifit my filler, 1 was there too, and pretended not to know of their defign of coming. Some days afterwards I accompanied my fif- ter to Mrs. Mariilla's, where my wife faid a thoufand agreeable things, which highly pleafed her. At our return, fhe alked me what I thought of the niece C of 32 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. of Mr. Marfilla ? meaning my wife. " She is well enough," I replied. " Well enough !" me anfv/ered very tartly, " have you ever feen one more " amiable ? As for myfelf, me appears " charming to me -, and without being " \villing to depreciate the merits and " accomplishments of your Parifians, " I very much doubt whether you " could find one there to excel her." 4 I was pleafed with her admiration, and provoked her to go further, by fay- ing, " What is it, pray, that you find " fo aftonifhing in her ?" " She MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 3.3- " She has," fhe replied, " in the firft " place, a very noble, engaging coun- " tenance, which upon acquaintance " appears as the index of her mind;; " a happy choice of expreffion, a fim- " plicity of manner at the time fhe is " faying a thoufand agreeable things, " which in other women would be ut- " tered with an air of importance j a " foft engaging manner at all times ; " in fhort, fhe is in poflefTion- of every " thing which enables our fex to tri- " umph over yours." " Ah, but, filter," I replied, " thoib " good qualities of hers, which feem to " aftonifh you fo much, all. women are " in pofleffion.of. 5> 5 " That 34 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " That is your French gallantry and " politnefs, brother : for my own part, ** although a woman, I can with truth " fay r that,, among two thoufand whom " I have feen, I know not one who re- " fembles her. Thofe who have fenfe,. " depreciate or debafe in an unbecoming " manner all thofe who furround them. " If they are handfome,, their manner " always Tays to all men,. Adore me, " btit expecl nothing in return; and " deftroy, by their imperious and haugh- ** ty looks, all the effect of their charms. u Others prefent a regular aflemblage ** of ^features happily formed; but eve- " ry one fays, after viewing them, Why, "has heaven refufed her fenfibility of ** foul? How much are thofe charm- " ing MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 35 " ing faces expofed. by laughter with- " out fenfe, by flupid filence, by an- " fwers without precifion, or, what is " ftill worfe, by a proud and haughty " difpofition ! I do not mention thofe "who poflefs neither beauty nor good: " qualities, but there are thofe who> " poflefs neither." My fitter's hufband was of her opi- nion.; and they together, after ace ufmg me of injuftice, compelled me to do homage to her whofe fweetnefs and af- fability had fo much charmed them. In . the joy of my heart I faid to myfelf), That beautiful creature will alfo fubdue her who now defpifes her, and , we mall yet be happy. C 6 The- 36 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. The eftcem of my fifter for my wife, made their mutual vilits fo frequent, that they were almofc always together. My mother, when flie faw her, to whom a long feries of misfortunes had given a peculiar delicacy and foftnefs, felt the fiime affection for her which all did who knew her. A moft intimate friencr- fhip immediately fucceeded. I had the fatisfaction of beholding her every day furronnded by my family, which with her great good qualities increafed my love every day. The kind of con- ftraint which the prefence of my rela- tions impofed on me, contributed to the pleafure which I experienced in hearing and feeing her near me. The diiTimulation which made us referred, which MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 37 which fometimes prevented my carefles, my defires,, and the inchanting fmile which accompanied her refufal, all to- gether increafed the fincere affection I had for her. However, my mother always preferv- ed an involuntary refentment againft the perfon whom me fuppofed my wife. The idea of my marriage never prefent- ed itfelf, without her conceiving a vio- lent diilike to me, and contempt for her who had deprived me of my liberty. One day that we were alone, " My " fon," fhe faid, looking in an unhap- py manner at me, " if you had not " difpenfed with the firft law impofed " by , 417579 38 MEMOIRS OF AM AMERICAN. ** by nature on a child well bred; if " you had refpected your mother and " the honour of your family ; if you " had been cautious of imbittering the " days of her who gave you life, by " forming a Ihameful dilhonourable al- " liance ; , foft pleafmg hopes would play " at this time round my heart: yes, I " could then flatter myfelf with feeing " you the hufband of a pretty, tender. ** and well-bred woman ; at whofe ex- " iftence we mould have no reafon to u blufh. I mould have faid, with joy, " when prefenting her to my friends, " This is my daughter, .. this . is the ** wife of my fon j I mould not have ** trembled whilft informing them to " whom fhe belonged ; I mould have " openly MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 39 " openly named her parents ; then, " tranquil and happy, I fhould have " formed no wifhes but for the happi- " nefs of my children; I Ihould have " congratulated myfelf on feeing them, " and the worthy fruit of their love. " Oh, my fon, why would you fo cru- " elly afFe6l me ? By liilening to your * defires, you have drawn misfortunes " upon yourfelf, and difgrace to thofe " belonging to you." I could fcarce contain myfelf whilft my mother was fpeaking -, I wifhed to difcover the perfon who appeared fo con- temptible to her, to prefent her before her, and fee her blufh at her injuftice and cruelty. " But," me continued, in, a more 40 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. a more tender manner, " is the difeafe " then without a cure ? That woman " to whom you have attached yourfelf, " without having a proper power, for " whom you have violated laws the moil " facred, is fhe dearer to you than your " mother? You cannot be ignorant, " my fon, that the chain you formed " unknown to me, at an age when your " . will ought to have been fubmitted to " mine, juftice may break, and I de- " mand of you to break it. Become " free ; you may aflure the unhappy " wretch an eafy fortune, and I promife ." you it fhall be better than me can " have reafon to expect." " What, MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 41 " What, my mother," faid I, inter- rupting her, " do I hear this from you ? " Can this be a woman to whom ho- " nour is fo precious, who thus advifes " her fen to become perjured, to vio- " late the mod folemn oath, to aban- " don, to caft off, an unfortunate wo- fct wan, who has no other fupport than " him ? Alas ! what has that tender " virtuous woman done, that I mould " put her away ? Would me receive " prefents bafely offered by a criminal " hand ? I have not fold you my love " and favours for money, me would " fay j reftore me my innocence, and " take your gifts away. No," I cried, ftretching out my hands and clapping them on my breaft, " No, good and " virtuous 42 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " virtuous woman, I will not add to- " thy misfortunes, by expofing you un- " defervedly to the malicious ceniure " of the world as an infamous crea- " ture -, the man you love will s not thus " wafte your tears , he already has fuf- " ficient troubles, but the moft cruel " would be to lofe the wife whom his " heart has chofen." " Oh, very well," replied my mother, 44 preferve moft carefully that woman " who is fo dear to you ; prefer with " her, fhame, indigence, I will not fay " my hatred, as that can no way affeft " an unnatural child ; pafs both of you " your wretched days far diftant from * a family, on whom you have firft " brought. MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 43 " brought fhame by your unworthy " love ; never prefent yourfelf before " me , you are no longer my fon , you " have yourfelf renounced that title, " by difpofmg of your hand without " my confent; you have trampled on " all laws, you have defied me; but " you mall fuffer for it, your lot is " caft." She pronounced thefe laft words in a terrible voice, her eyes became red with paflion. I was fo affected, that I was unable to anfwer her. I could only fay, in a trembling voice, taking hold of her hand, " Oh, my dear mother !" when {he pufhed me away, and immediately quitted the room. This 44 MEMOIRS OF AN This converfation deftroyed all my hopes; with an almoft broken heart, I determined to diflipate my wretchednefs near my dearly belov^rl wife, and im- mediately retired thither. Some days had intervened fmce my laft vifit there, becaufe my filler had detained me to look over fome old papers, and fettle an affair which very much puzzled her hufband. When my arrival was pro- nounced, Mrs. Marfilla repeating 'my name, faid with a fmile to my wife, " Madam, do you know that gentle- " man?" " I believe I have feen him before," me replied, with a fmile, full of fweet- nefs and love -, " but it is fo long fince, " that MzMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 45 " that I have only a confuied idea of him." The gaiety of thofe amiable women infpired me with chearfulnefs. " I fee," I replied, " that no perfon " is fooner forgot than a huiband -, I " mall therefore take care for the fu- " ture not to abfent myfelf fo long." " Sir," replied that charming woman whom I adore, " have you the honour " of being married, and dare abfent " yourfelf fo long a time from your " wife ? There is great reafon to be- " lieve that me is not yOur wife." " Alas, 46 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. Alas," I faid to myfelf, they " are willing to deprive me of that ti- " tie. She is mine," I continued, raif- ing my voice, " me is the happinefs of " my life," taking her in my arms at the fame time. I was unwilling, left I mould efface her joy, to relate the con- verfation of the morning with my mo- ther. I faw my dear Marfilla prefent- ly appear ; I put away my chagrin, and gave myfelf up to the tranfports of love and friendlhip. The next day, that dear woman, who fo well underftood how to read my ve- ry heart, and difcover all its motions, feeing me uneafy and unhappy, imagin- ed that fome new mortifications threaten* ed MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 47 ed us. She queftioned me ; I was will- ing to diflemble, but her fears were in- creafed. I found myielf forced to recite to her the converfation which I had had with my mother. After my afluring her that I had not difcovered the fecret of our marriage, fhe refolved to go to fee her ; fhe flattered herfelf with re- conciling two hearts which pride and prejudice had feparated ; but prejudice is oftentimes flronger than reafon. My wife was immediately conveyed to my mother's houfe, when me found her ftill reftlefs. Whether her prefence again brought to her remembrance the 4 entered into, to reftore him to that 4 honour which he has defpifed. If " he MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 51 " he would, he might yet recover his " liberty, and efface the blot winch he " has brought on himfelf and family ; tc but, blinded by a foolilh pafilon, he " flights the counfels of friendfhip and " maternal affection ; he attends only " to his love, and reckons as nothing " the happinefs of his mother.'* " Do him more juftice, Madam ; " whoever fhe is that is the object of ** his affection, I am certain you will " always be dear to him 5 fhe who has " gained his heart muft be very defpica- " ble, if fhe effaces the pureft fenti- " ments." D 2 c Alas, 52 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " Alas, Madam, fhe is an unfortu- " nate creature born in obfcurity, with- " out fortune, without parents Yes, " Madam, without parents." " Unfortunate indeed'! fhe has rnofl " reafon to complain !" " Undoubtedly fhe has reafon to com- " plain. But ought my fon to have " married her ? If he felt fome incli- " nation for her, might he not have " offered her afiiftance, fnatched her " from indigence ? I Ihould not have " thought his companion a crime : " but to choofe her for a wife, to in- " troduce her into a good family, to " expofe himfelf to want, and at length " to MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN". 53 " to the refentment of his parent, whom " he has offended and debafed ; is not 4t this, Madam, the height of folly ? " After having carried it to fuch a de- " gree as to entertain contempt and dif- " dain for the author of his exiftence, " can. he ftill flatter himfelf with pre- " tenfions to my friendfliip, to my * heart ? If there is an obedience due " from children to parents, ought I to " acknowlege him for my fon ?" " I will not attempt to vindicate him ; " he ought not to have difpofed of his *' hand without your confent : but per- " haps the woman he has chofen is not " fo contemptible " D 3 I do 54 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. " I do not know the unfortunate be- " ing , I never faw her ; it is too much " for me to complain incefTantly of the " wife of my Ion, and not dare to pro- " nounce the name of mother before " her." ** You will be her mother ^ could " fhedefire a better?" " What is that you fay, Madam? " Shall I adopt as my child the off- 4t fpring' of crime and debauchery? The " very thought makes me fhudder." " Though the child of fin, fhe may *' perhaps be virtuous.'^ " I hope MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 55 " I hope fo, Madam , but my foa " is not the lefs culpable." " If he lofes your affection for ever, " he would be too feverely punifhed " for his offence." " That will be to him the leaft of ** his troubles. Alas, how happy would *' he have been ! Yes," purfued my mother, looking at my wife, " if he " had paid his court to a fenfible and ** beautiful woman, who unites the " charms of the perfon with the beau- " ties of the mind, I dare flatter myfelf " that fhe would not have difdained " his affection, and that her hand would " have been his reward." D 4 The 56 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICANS The amiable perfon to whom this language was addrefied, turned away her eyes and blumed. " Charming girl !" continued my mother, cc why were not his eyes plac- " ed upon you the day that he delivcr- " ed himfelf up to that fatal pafiion " which deprived him of his reafon ? " If he had feen yon, he would have " adored you, he would have been " your huiband, and I mould have " been honoured in calling you daugh- " ter." " Madam," replied my wife, in a feeble manner, " your fon would not *' have been more happy, and my " fortune MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. 57 " fortune would ftill have been the " fame." " My dear friend, .do you fay, that " he would not have been more happy ? " Could the infenfible creature have " complained ? would he not be fenfi- " ble of the value of honour and vir- " tue ?" " Virtue and honour are often con- " cealed under fhame and poverty.", '* Madam," replied my -mother, " I " do not comprehend you : would you. " compare yourfelf to that obfcure girl, " who never knew the authors of her " days?" D 5 "Alas! 58 MEMOIRS OF AN AMERICAN. the other at Port-au-Prince. They were formerly * The king, by an edicl of March the eigh- teenth, created a third tribunal. H 5 com- 154 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. compofed of a certain number of citi- zens, elected from the moft rich, fenfi* ble and honeft of them, who left their habitations voluntarily, to render juftice gratis to the people; their fittings were fomerly for a month. The king, wil- ling to give a form more permanent to his councils, and a more ready road to juftice, by his edict of January, 1766, has ordered, that the titular coun- fellors, the general proctors and their deputies, mould refide at the Cape, and Port-au-Prince, and that their fittings fhould not be interrupted. His majefty appointed to each counfellor a falary of 12000 livres. By another edict of the fame year, he affigned nobility to the DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 155- the office of titular counfellors and ge- neral pro&ors a&er twenty years duty. Thefe employments cannot be enter- ed upon before the age of twenty-feven. To be a counfellor, it is necelTary to attend the* bar of the parliament -of Pa- ris^ or in the royal courts of juftice, for the fpace of four years. The fovereign council of Port-au- Brince, and the fuperior council of the Cape, hold audiences three days in a week. At the firft audience, fummary caufes, and fuch as require difpatch, are pleaded in the fame manner as in the parliament of Paris. In thefe two councils, the governor holds the firft H 6 places j 156 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. place i he has only one voice, as well as the intendant, who can* aflemble them upon extraordinary occafions, after giv- ing his reafons to the governor. In his abfence, his fub-dc-legate general pre- fides as firft counfellor. * The. legiflative power is not fo ex- tenfive in St. Domingo, as in France-, beneficial and feodal matters are not known, nor intails and feoffments of truft; nor all thofe great affairs of fuc- ceffion and wills; their jurifprudence is not clogged with that difference of cuf- * The oldeft officer in rank has a right, when the governor is not prefent, to affift at the coun- cil of Port-au-Prince; and he occupies the firft f lace, after the vacant one of the governor's. torn. DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 157 torn, which makes ours fo complex. The knowledge of the common law in matters of obligation, the cuftom of Paris, and its decrees, are fufficient for the counfellor who defends a caufe, and the judge who pronounces fentence. I do not propofe to examine whether the legiflature is well adapted to the manners of the inhabitants, to the na^ ture of their fortune, to the unufualnefs of their cafes, the immenfe gains of the munnuring creditors, and the un- happy events which ought fometimes to -prolong the terms of engagements. A difcuffion of fuch a nature would lead me too far. Man arrives at per- fection by flow degrees j it is not till after 158 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. after long and continued error, that he {tumbles on the road which leads to peace and equity. . I : . fliall not fay more of the abufe which arifes from intereft or negligence of the regifters and fubaltern officers, than that . it is necefTary to reftrain their greedinefs. - There are two fprings which affect .all our actions ; honour, and inte- reft. The art of government .is to in-, creafe the force of . one, and diminifh that of. the other. . THE INSTITUTION OF THE MILITIA.- The inhabitants of St. Domingo, till lately, were never fubjeft to any mili- tary fervice : the king quarters troops in DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 159 in the colony which ought to defend it; but S. M..has created a new militia within thefe two years, the companies o which confift of the inhabitants. The governor appoints the officers from amongft the richeft and moft. diftin- guimed. This inftitution laboured un- der fome difficulties at firft : but the fe- ditious have been frighted, and have at length funk under the weight of autho- rity. The duty of the militia is but light, they are only obliged to prefent themfelves in their uniforms and under arms at two reviews made every year by the governor. This militia is nothing equal to that we fee in France, formed by the unhap- py 160 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO^ py inhabitants of the country, who re- luctantly "carry the arms which force has placed in their hands. It is a troop of men richly cloathed, whole appear- ance is very brilliant. It is divided in- to infantry and cavalry; the officers enjoy military honours, and are in hopes of the crofs of St. Louis. Befides thofe companies, there are others alfo formed of free negroes and mulattoes; they are commanded by white men, and are chiefly employed in difcovering . the run-away Haves and deferters. The counfellors of the fuperior coun- cil, the practifmg advocates, the mem- bers of the fociety of agriculture, &c. DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 161 &c. are exempt from ferving in the militia ; but they are obliged to have two mufkets, and a certain quantity of powder and ball. Notwithstanding thefe precautions, the iftand of St. Domingo is fo extenfive, and fo indifferently de- fended by nature, that It would be very difficult to prevent a furprife, or make long refiftance againft a powerful ene- my, who wanted to plunder the inha- bitants of their riches. OF THE NEGROES. It is a very humiliating fight for man, to fee that part of the human fpecies placed in the rank of domeftick ani- mals -, but, fuch is his misfortune, that having once violated the laws of nature, the 1 62 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO; the evil becomes neceflary to him : be- caufe he has once done wrong, he is always to do fo ; but his crime is not vmpunifhed ; he is unwilling to acknow- ledge his like in a flave, and he dif- covers in him the ferocious creature that feeks to fly from, or devour the hand which torments it. If by the ef- fect of a wife polity, which is lefs atr tended to, becaufe it depends more oiv manners than die laws, the planters would foften the fate of thofe unhappy wretches, and invite them to popula- tion by their gentlenefs, there would re- fult immenfe wealth to the colony -, the inhabitants would not give their mer- chandife in exchange for flaves, whiclv commanders bring from that country which DESCRIPTION or ST. DOMINGO. 163 which intereft and war depopulate every day, and their flaves would be better and more robuft, from being born upon that fpot to which fervitude had attach- ed them. Thofe unhappy creatures, upon their arrival at St, Domingo, are in general attacked by that frightful difeafe, which is become more fatal to the Europeans, than the treafures of the new world has been advantageous to them. The libidinous difpofition of the negroes per* petuate it, and has made it fo common, that they have no other way of prevent- ing their children having it, than by their being nourifhed by goats milk. They 164 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO: They are fo fully perfuaded at St. Domingo of the neceffity of fervitude, and thofe bafe maxims of punifhment are fo cruelly adopted, that it would be futile to examine whether it is not pof- fible to employ free hands for the cul- tivation of the land ; and whether it is true, that a bafe treatment is the only method of inticing to labour the flug- gifh flave - t it is certain that the Eu- ropean would with difficulty fuffer that fcorching heat which the negroes bear. But becaufe the more robuft African is necefiary to a delicate and proud people, is it necefiary to condemn him to per- petual flavery ? how much worfe is his condition, than that of the beafl who labours in our fields ? This thought alone DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 165 alone is enough to flrike the foul with horror. What a wretch muft that maf- ter be, who can hear the cries df a flave with unconcern, who with dry eyes can fee his blood fpilt, and not flop the hand that meds it ? OF DISEASES AND THEIR CAUSES. Almoft all the white people who go to St. .Domingo, not only thofe who come from Europe, but alfo thofe who go from the iflands and continent of America, are attacked, foon after their arrival, with a .malignant fever, the fymptoms of which are convulfive fpafms, delirium, and fometimes lethar- gy. The danger fometimes continues fo long as to the twenty fifth day. To 1.66 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. To obviate this difeafe, it is faid to be necefiaiy to bleed before embark- ing for the ifland, and to live regular- ly during the voyage. The light air, which 'univerfally prevails at fea, occa- fions a great appetite : if it is too much indulged, it increafes the quantity of juices, and retards the circulation of the blood. The warm latitudes increaf- ing perfpiration, there remain only in the veflels the grofler fluids which occa- iion too much refiftance to the moving fibres and propelling power of the heart : by which that equilibrium which is the principle of life is deftroyed ; hence difeafes and death. Upon DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 167 Upon his arrival, the new-comer ought to obferve the ftricteft regimen, and not fuffer himfelf to be drawn too eafily into thofe pleafures which the lafcivious African entices him to. Another caufe of feveral difeafes to which the inhabitants of St. Domingo are expofed, is the variation of the airj the evenings, nights, and mornings, are very cold, compared to other hours of the day when the heat is exceflively great. Neverthelefs the men continue the fame cloaths, which are very light ; they take no care to prevent the ill ef- fects of the chilly dampnefs of the even- ing; hence arife thofe difeafes which are common to the autumn in Europe. OF 1 68 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. OF PLANTS. Beneficent nature covers the earth with her "gifts -, mother of all that breathe,' fhe offers to her children her riches and bofom ; fhe caufcs the tops of trees for the winged inhabitants of the air to perch on the branches, and feek for fhelter againft the winds -, fhe meliorates and caufes to fall the fruit which, whilft fufpended, her children perhaps cannot reach ; fhe rolls her lim- pid ftreams through the wavy fields, where the weary hunter may allay his thirfl -, fhe caufes herbs to grow for the nourimment of cattle, and enamels the gay meadows with flowers, from whence the induftrious bee extracts his fweets ; from DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 169 from whence likewife may be culled the falutary felf-healing plants, fo excel- lent in the cure of wounds. The lands of America, more cherifhed than thofe of Europe by the burning ftar that af- fords us day, are always in vegetation. A light mower makes a thoufand dif- ferent plants fpring up in a day, which the negroes as foon deftroy. Chance has difcovered the excellence of fome, which are carefully preferved. The tree that bears the caffia, the fena ufed by thephyficians, and the calibam whofe fruit is very falutary ; jalap, ipecacu- anha, pine apples, citrons, and an infi- nite number of other plants, both ufe- ful and agreeable, afford the inhabi- tants of St. Domingo articles of com- VOL. II. I merce^ 170 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO, merce, which very much enrich thofe who cultivate them. Father Labat and Mr. Chevalier have defcribed them more fully and treated on their utility. DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTHQUAKE. Thefe tranfient thoughts on the go- vernment and actual fituation of St. Do- mingo, were reduced to writing, when the moft frighful accident diffufed dif- trefs and terror, and made the inhabi- tants afraid of being cruflied in pieces, and buried under ruins. The third of June, 1770, the day of Pentecoft, about a quarter after fe- ven in the evening, there was felt an earthquake throughout the whole ifland of DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 171 of St. Domingo, preceded by a dull rumbling noife like the lowing of a cow, and a confiderable commotion in a line from eaft to weft. A thick horizon, a burning atmofphere, and heavy air dur- ing the day, foretold that event. F\>r- tunately, almoft all the inhabitants of the city of Port-au-Prince, had walked 'out of their houfes or into their galle- ries : hence they had time to throw themfelves at the firft fhock into the middle of the ftreets, which are very fpacious and fhaded with trees as we before obferved, when fpeaking of that city. The two firft fhocks, which fol- lowed each other almoft inftantaneoufly together, continued not much lefs than four minutes. During that fpace the I 2 wind 172 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. wind was in all points of the compafs ; it might be faid, that at that time the earth boiled, and that it was become fluid, for its motion imitated the waves of the fea. The moment which fuc- ceeded this melancholy cataftrophe was horrible indeed : the duft with which the air was filled, which almofl prevent- ed breathing , the groans, the lamenta- ble cries, the heart-rending groans of the wounded and dying; the fear of being either drowned or fwallowed up ; every thing in fhort infpired horror. The pale glimmering of the moon, by exhibiting the rubbiih and ruins, Hill more increafed the general condensation in that dreadful moment , death every where prefeated itfelf under the moft ghaflly DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 173 ghaftly appearances. As foon as the people were recovered from the firft im- preflion of fear, each demanded and anxioufly fought for his friends and re- lations : the mother who was happy enough to fee her fon again, felt in the midft of the publick calamity, joy mixed with grief. After thofe terrible Ihocks, there fuc- ceeded feveral more, which though (ligh- ter than the former, were fufEcient to deftroy whole cities : during the reft of the night the earth was always in mo- tion and floating as it were ; the differ- ent mocks which agitated it, fucceeded at very fliort intervals, and at almoft always different fpaces of time. The I 3 day 174 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. c!ay at length appeared to enlighten the accident, and prefent to us the mofl dreadful fight. The earth was opened in a thoufand places ; the foldiers, wor- thy of a more honourable death, lay buried under the ruins of the barracks and hofpitals i the mountains that com- manded the town were walled and con- fiderably funk ; the publick buildings, fuch as the governor's houfe, the inten- d ant's, the afTembly houfe, and the moft fubftantial folid buildings, fuch as the new church, the new guard-houfe, the powder magazine and fome fingle houfes, were nothing but a heap of duft j fuch was the firfl appearance of the calamity experienced at Port-au- -Prince. Although the number killed at DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 175 at Port-au-Prince by this accident did not exceed two hundred, yet there is no doubt but that earthquake was more fevere than that felt at Lifbon. If we confider the breadth of the flreets, which placed the inhabitants in fafcty ; if we attend to the day and hour as w&ll as expectation of fuch an accident, which occafioned moil to be out of doors, it will readily appear that to thofe happy circumftances we owe the prefervation of our lives. What ftill more proves that the mocks at Port-au-Prince were more violent than thofe at Lifbon, is, that according to the mod authentic account of the misfortune at the latter place, I 4 two 176 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. two thirds of that city refitted the vio- lence of the fhock, and moft certainly that capital could not have refifted thofc Jhocks which deftroyed and threw into ruins in an inftant the moft folid and flrongeft buildings at Port-au-Prince. It is neverthelefs certain that the ac- tion of that concealed force in the bow- els of the earth, does not difcover itfelf every where with the fame ftrength, and that the larger a city is, the more build- ings ought to efcape the commotion, which becomes weaker by extending itfelf. The fliocks which were afterwards felt, were innumerable for fifteen days, and DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 177 and they were even perceived for a month after the firft. The plain,, and what is called the Cul-de-fac^ have not been more fpared than the city ; all the houfes and fugar manufactories were thrown down ; the earth opened and fwallowed up a great number of plantations j many houfes eftablifhed in the coffee branch were de- ftroyed ; the river of the Cul- de-Sac was dry for fixteen hours, at the end of which time it returned with great impetu- ofity ; the black mountain, another which is fuppofed to contain fire within its bowels, in a place commonly called the Whirlpool, where at all times are to be heard lowings like thofe which have I 5 preceded 178 DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. preceded all the mocks, and the moun- tain of Guimbi fhattered with the com- motion have deftroyed all the old roads. The city of Leogane experienced the fame difafters ; the church, which was pretty and large, the meeting-houfe, the garrifon, the powder magazine, the military hofpital, which had withftood the earthquake in 1751, and the terri- ble hurricane that fucceeded it, were unable to refift that aftonifhing trepi- dation, and fell to the ground ; the reft of the city was likewife in ruins, and fifty perfons killed. The DESCRIPTION OF ST. DOMINGO. 179 The plain of Leogane equally fufFer- ed ; the works, whether of fugar or coffee, were either totally deftroyed, or very much damaged ; the rivers left their old, and formed new beds : the fame caufes produced the fame effects every where : it left only one houfe (landing amidft the ruins of little Goava. The northern part of the ifland felt kfs of it than the fouth, but it has not difconraged the inhabitants, who are to this day employed in rebuilding their houfes : the hopes of gain, that power- ful chain, has fixed them to that peril- ous earth, and made them forget all the dangers they have efcaped. 16 A P P E N- APPENDIX. T Would have concluded the Memoirs * of an American by a defcription of the manners of that people, facrificed to the fanaticifm and cruel ambition of the Spaniards. I propofed to myfelf to have difcovered the falfehood of thofe. celebrated hiftorians who have loft the truth in the furmifes of a flighty imagi- nation ; who by a ftroke of the pen have raifed fuperb temples in countries where the firft rules of architecture were unknown j who have fertilized fields where depopulation and favage cuftoms have left the cultivation of the earth to nature, APPENDIX* l8l" nature , who have defcribed a wife fyf- tern of government, where horrid de- fpotifm ruled without controul ; who have built immenfe and well fortified cities, where none but draggling and indefenfible villages were ever feen. A philofophical writer has prevented me. I could have proved how much the haughty Spaniard had impofed on our credulity ; I could perhaps have de- monftrated that that people plunged in, ignorance,, who had no idea of naviga- tion, who never fufpeded there were men feparated from them by immenfe feas, i 82 APPENDIX. feas, were not fo numerous as they would compel us to believe. I might have proved, that America, v.'hen the Spaniards firft entered it, was inhabited only by fmall troops of fa- vages, who lived ftraggling, under the laws of a diftant prince, becaufe agri- culture, and the fine arts, which only could form them into focieties and civi- lize them, were unknown. If other- wife, would the Spaniards, after fuch victories, have experienced the horrors of famine in a cultivated country ? would they have found the lands every where over-grown with brambles which occafioned them no fmall trouble ?- they have been forced to kill their APPENDIX. 183 their horfes which made them fo formi- dable, to feed on their flefh, if great depopulation had not caufed thole coun- tries to be extenfive defarts ? Would they have patted through immenfe forefts, without being wounded by the arrows of their enemies, who would have placed themfelves fecurely under cover with their dreadful arms ? In ihort, if the Mexicans and Peruvians had acquired that knowledge of the arts, that the Spaniards honour them with, there would have been feen in their temples the vefTels ufed at their religious ceremonies ornamented with engravings , there would have been pictures feen, and their mythology would have been defcribed. The fun, which 184 APPENDIX. which they adore, would have received homage from fuch talents j there would have been feen that bright ftar animat- ing all nature, railing from the bofom of the earth the flowers which enamel it ; its image would have been repeated a thoufand times upon the porticos of the temples : their altars would have been loaded with its attributes. The chiefs of their enemies, fo zeal- ous to carry over to the court of Spain the grains of gold, the pearls and all the precious trifles that the Americans gave them, would not have failed carry- ing in triumph the magnificent fpoils of the temples fo much boafted of. Ma- drid, enriched by the mafter-pieces of opulence APPENDIX. 185 opulence and tafte, would at this day have been the richeft city in the uni- verfe. If fanaticifm had placed burning torches in the hands of the Spaniards, and had conducted them to the gates of the temples, where idolatry did ho- mage to the fun ; if they had put their torches to every thing that thofe wor- Ihippers of fire employed in the adora- tion they paid to that planet which en- lightens them, they would at leaft have fpared the cities and palaces of the In- cas. But they were willing to deftroy every thing that could difcover the ig- norance and weaknefs of thofe people, whom they had fo cruelly annihilated. They t$6 APPENDIX. They have mentioned wonders in thehr hiftory of the conqueft of Mexico, for the fame reafon, it may be faid, that engaged Alexander to bring fhields and bucklers of an aftonifhing richnefs. Perhaps alfo the Spaniards, by in- crealing the number of their enemies, have been willing to apologize to pof- terity for their unparalleled barbarity on that account, and prove to them, that it would have been impofiible to have conquered fo numerous a people, to have deprived them of their riches, if they had not ufed difpatch during their furprife to annihilate them. A faith- APPENDIX. 187 A faithful hiltory, an exact defcrip- tion of a world fo long unknown, and whofe exiftence was fcarce fufpeded, would be a very ufeful and interefling picture. What new objects would have prefented themfelves in thofe vaft coun- tries, where the inhabitants had man- ners fo oppofite, a form of genius fo different ! What valuable difcoveries might not have been made by a nice obferver, well-grounded in the know- ledge of phyfick, natural hiftory, and phyfiology, if after having vifited with candour and j-uftice the melancholy re- mains of that degenerated fpecies who inhabit the new world in the centre of the torrid zone, he had afterward car- ried his obfervations to thofe little, wan- dering, 188 APPENDIX. dering, and difperfed tribes in the north- ern parts of America ! How many fyftems, adopted through ignorance and prejudice, had never been hazarded, if man had carried his ob- fervations further, if he had not pinned his faith on another's fleeve ! But it is fo eafy to broach opinions, and fo pleafing to make them received, that there i$ often more time loft in defend- ing them, than is neceflary for the dif- covery of truth. A philofopher cannot but obferve and compare how much men will fay and difpute, and irritate each other, who have never fludied in their lives, nor fubjected their ideas to experience. Memoirs APPENDIX. 189 Memoirs written by avaricious mer- chants or zealous mifiionaries, who un- doubtedly, could be but indifferently in- formed, have been for a long time the fources from whence Europe has form- ed fuch falfe, ideas of the origin and genius of the Americans. They have been willing to rejeft the truth for falf- hood, and the whole is become one continued error. The hands of avarice have raked from the earth, have ex- tracted from its bowels the gold which it concealed ; but the piercing eye of the philofopher has not penetrated into the heart of the melancholy and fufpi- cious cannibal, of the Efkimaux who feed on frozen fifh, nor of the Patago- nian 190 APPENDIX. nian who wanders fo wretchedly in fo- litude. Man has braved infirmities and death by finking into deep mines, by plung- ing himfelf into the Tea to feek for pearls ; yet is afraid to penetrate into the midft of the frigid zone to obferve naked and uncouth nature, which would increafe his knowledge, and teach him how to know the human fpecies under every appearance. The defire of diving into the origin of the Americans, and difcovering the time when the new world began to be inhabited, is to fink into eternal dark- nefs in fearch of light. If the foil, obfcured APPENDIX. 191 obfcured by immenfe forefts, filled with wild and poifonous plants, growing in ftagnant water ; if a country where are none to be feea but weak men emacia- ted with difeafe, the primary caufe of which exifts in the air they breathe, and the reptiles they feed on ; in fhort, if a dull and unfociable difpofition, which in general prevails in monfters, whilft the more noble and grand productions are degenerated, pronounce an origin not very diftant, there is reafon to fay it was in its infancy, and that the new world was in a weak date when the European entered it. But how many unknown caufes might have contributed to diffufe over the fur- face 192 APPENDIX. face of America that melancholy alte- ration ? By how many unhappy events might the human race have again funk into that ignorance and degeneracy which characterized thofe indolent and pufila- nimous beings who were drowned in feas of blood ? In vain do we per- plex ourfelves in conjectures on the caufes of this phcenomenon ; we fhali never perhaps difcover the truth. This is certain, that at the time America was firft difcovered, that cli- mate was unhealthy to the human fpe- cies. Third after gold made the Spa- niards furmount all dangers, and if I may be allowed fuch an expreflion, placed them cut of the power of di- eafe. APPENDIX. 193 cafe. In the fouthward parts and moft of the iilands of America, a marfliy land, where the waters ftagnated and became . putrid, produced an infinite number of poifonous trees and plants : from which the favages exprefTed a juice to dip their arrows in, which by only wounding the (kin gave fpeedy death. By an unexampled fatality attached to that wretched fpecies of men, the Americans eftablii'hed on the eaftern fide fed upon a poifonous plant, which necefTity had infpired them with the means of making falutary. * * See thefirft volume of the Philosophical Re- fearches. The root here alluded to is the caflada. VOL. II. K Ought 194 APPENDIX. Ought we then to be aftonifhed at rhofe unhappy creatures, when fore prefTed by hunger, devouring their ene- mies ? ought we to feek further in fuch diflrefiing neceflity, the caufe of thofe horrid repafts, where man ferves as food for man ? Yes, it was only in the greatnefs of hunger and famine, that the Anthropophagi, after having fearch- ed the woods through in vain, flew up- on any other hunter that chance prefent- ed, and fixed his murdering tooth upon his limbs. When man has once vio- lated the firft law of nature, he places no bounds to his favage difpofition, and becomes more cruel than any other animal The APPENDIX. 195 The people who cultivate peace, have gentler and more fociable inclinations : thefe latter formed the empires of Mexico and Peru; but thefe unhappy wretches had ftill another enemy to engage with as terrible as famine ; it was a difeafe fo dangerous and conta- gious, that it might be received by in- fpiration only, and had already carried off a greater prrt of the inhabitants of the new world. It is true that, by an inftinct common to all animals, they at length found the means of palliating the destructive effects of that difeafe, lefs fatal in the country where it ori- ginated, than in Europe, where it has fpread horrid defolation, K 2 Such t$6 APPENDIX. Such was the terrible fituation of the Americans, when, to fill up the meafure of their evils, they faw a body of Spaniards land on their coafts. One of their leaders, named Nunnez, pre- ceded by a pack of dogs, began by cauf- ing one of their chiefs to be devoured by thofe animals, yet more terrible than their matters. If we attend to the weak- nefs, divifions, and ftupidity of thofe degenerate men, we cannot be furprifed at the rapidity with which the Spani- ards made themfelves mailers of their empires. The famous battle of Caxamalca, which yielded all Peru to Spain, did not coft the lives of ten foldiers. The pioneers, APPENDIX. 197 pioneers, who were the chief of the Sp..nim army, had under their command a hundred and fixty foot, and thirty horfe; they cut to pieces and put ro flight the numerous troops of Lincas Atalabila, who was himielf taken pri- foner, amidft his lazy foldiers, by a French pioneer. It coft Cortez no more difficulty to conquer Mexico. The only enemies that frightened the Spaniards were the Caribbees, who, armed with poifonous' darts, gave certain death, and would have deflroyed tl.iat troop of barbarous ufurpers, if they had made longer refilt- ance. K ? What 198 APPENDIX, What greatly contributed to make the Spaniards matters of America, and put the finishing (troke to the inhabi- tants deftruction, was the bafe perfidy of the women, who proltituted them- felves to the murderers of their huf- bands, who guided their fteps, and difcovered to them the retreats where the timid combatants had concealed themfelves. Of all the people of America, thofe who inhabited the northern parts of it, or fled there, were the only ones free from perfecution, and the torments of flavery. The Efkimaux, thofe mifera- ble beings, the lead and moft deform- ed of their fpecies, from being born in APPENDIX. 199 in a country where the cold is fo ex- ceflive, that trees do not vegetate, where the ground is for nine months in the year covered with fnow and froil, con- tinue their liberty and life. It is in cafting ones eyes over thofe: cold and frigid regions, that a new or- der of things prefent themfelves to the obfervation of the traveller ; he would imagine himfelf at the boundary, 'where nature, weak and exhaufted, had juft given exiftence to fome rare and mifera- ble beings, whom fhe could not nou- rifti , yet when he confiders that under thofe vaft bodies of ice which cover the- furface of the ocean, there fwims the Leviathan, the prodigious whale, which. K 4 grows 2oo APPENDIX. grows to an enormous fize, and con- ftantly fwallows with its breath a thou- fand animals, nature appears more powerful, more fruitful to him, than in thofe regions he has travelled through, and his ideas are plunged into an abyfs of uncertainties. We mall not in this appendix flop to defcribe the characteriilick form of the Southern Americans, who are very well known, as many travellers have, be- fore treated on them. Every body knows that they have long hair, and are of a copper colour, which appears furprif- ing, when we obferve under the fame parallels of the torrid zone, black men with woolly heads. This difference muft APPENDIX. 201 muft be attributed to the heighth of the land, which cools the atmofphere, which is very probable, fmce upon the high mountains, even under the line, there is a very fharp air. The great extent of the forefts which (hade the earth, and continue for a long time the humidity of the mowers, contribute likewife to frefhen the air. If this is the caufe of the different made we ob- ferve between the Peruvians and true negroes expofed under the fame pa- rallels, we ought not to be ftirprifed that the people of America, more dif- tant from the line, are as fair as the Italians and Spaniards. It would be more difficult perhaps to account for their want of beard. It has been ol> K 5 ferved 202 APPENDIX; ferved that all the Indigenes have hair upon no part of the body, the caufe has been fought for in their aliments : but there is fome reafon to think that it is a coniequence of the weaknefs of their conltitution. We fhall hazard fome reflections on the manners of the Efkimanx, and their exiflence. We are not afraid of adopting the ideas of the author of Pbilofopkical Refearches, as the fyftem appears to us, fupported upon excel- lent foundation. It may perhaps be objected to him, not placing fufficient bounds to his ideas, for having fuffered fome contradictions to efcape him in his work. For inftance, it is difficult to APPENDIX. 203 to believe him when he fays, that a million of natives, at St. Domingo, were extirminated by the fwords of the, Spaniards, and to imagine that there are deferts on the continent of America, where population muft have been great- er than in the Antilles. It is fcarccly to be imagined, that men who knew the means of giving to copper the tern-' per of fteel, and forming axes and other inftruments for the railing of edifices, and cutting of ilones, mould have no .knowledge of the arts. I doubt him equally, when he perfuades us that an European will in America, in the third generation, become as ftupid as the ori- ginal inhabitants were; fmce we every day obferve the defendants of thofe K 6 who 204 APPENDIX. who firft fettled in Martin ico, and Sc. Domingo, fhew great knowledge in their affairs. If the fciences do not flourifh in America, it is becaufe intereft fup- prefies them in embryo, and directs the active difpofitions of its inhabitants to other objects. Notwithflanding thefe defects, the work we mention is at leaft the beft, and moft philofophical of all that have been written on America. The pro- voft has confulted elegance, more than truth, in his travels; he has written his memoirs in a beautiful ftyle; fuch de- ceitful guides lead us into error; but he has every where interfperfed fuch beauties, APPENDIX. 205 beauties, that it is pleafmg to follow him even in his errors. Dom Perneti has furniflied fcience with fome ufeful obfervations; he has extended the knowledge of natural hif- toryj but his memoirs would have been more interefting if he had had fewer of thofe trifling hiftories, and had diffufed more philofophy throughout his work. The ftudy of the human fpecies is what feems the leaft of any to attract the attention of travellers ; there are but few, who, like Mr. de la Condamine, carry among the inhabitants of diftant countries, the fearching eye of obfer- vation: nothing however can be more worthy their attention, than the man- ners, 206 APPENDIX. ners, inclinations, faculties and ideas of a people when firft prefented to their obfervation, and form fo fmgular a con^ traft with them. We have been favour- ed with long defcriptions of the drefs and manner of life of the Efkimaux, but we are ftill unacquainted with their genius and difpofition. We know that thofe little men never exceed four feet in ftature: it has been repeated a hundred times to us, that they have a large deformed head, a flat face, a round mouth, a fmall nofe (but not flat) full, yellowifti eyes, unequal lips, a fwarthy complexion, which latter ought to be attributed to the exceffive cold they are fubject to, the contrary extremes often producing the fame ef- fefts. APPENDIX. 207 fects. We know that their Ihort fmall feet, their thick clumfy hands, indicate their being ftinted in their growth by the cold, and never increafmg to their full fize. It has been aflured to us, that thofe men, who appear fo hi- deous to us, are themfelves happy in their perfons, and attached to women ftill more ill-favoured and deformed than themfelves arej fo true is it that' beauty is only relative in our ideas. We know that thofe pigmies, who are fuch poltrons, fo timid before other men, encounter, notwithftanding all the dangers of the fea, go conra^eoufly and wage war againfl the fea dogs and whales, whofe oil ftrtngthens, and for- tifies 208 APPENDIX. tifies their ftomach; that their canoes are fo light and well made, that they will always fwinv, notwithftanding the waves may overfet them they cannot fink them. But it would be ftill more interefling to know the ideas of thole people upon the origin of man, princi- ple of life, and on death. If we are to believe the author of the Philofophical Refearches, the Efkimaux have not any ideas of a divinity, of the immortality of the foul; their idiom is even defti- tute of words to exprefs it. Their in- duftrious life, the barrennefs of their country, which obliges them to conti- nual aftion, undoubtedly contributes to that inertia of the mind, which has pro- longed their ignorance. Perhaps they are APPENDIX. 209 are more happy, in not being tormented with thofe dull, melancholy thoughts, which incefiantly haunt thofe who deli- ver themfelves up to fears and dreams of futurity. The attachment they have for their country, evidently demonftrates, that man may find happinefs in the want of fuperfluities, and in a coun- try covered with fnow and ice. The greateft liberty, and happy equality, amply compenfate for that magnifi- cence, for that profufion, which gene- rally accompany fervitude and flavery. They are never humbled by the pre- fence of a great man, nor the haugh- tinefs of a defpot. Huts haflily execut- ed and built upon the fea coaft, are their palaces. Necefiity, an indifolu- ble 2io APPENDIX. ble knot, unites them. The divifion of their fpoils, affembles them toge- ther. The Efkimaux, compelled to de- rive their nourilhment from the fea, would foon experience famine, unlefs their numbers were equally divided, one part feeking for provifion, while the other refted, and thus alternately. There is good reafon to believe that their po- verty, and the hideous appearance of their dreary waftes, will ever preferve them from the yoke of flavery. By what ftrange fatality do independance and happy fecurity, unite themfelves in that terrible climate ! If we may confide in fome travellers, they have difcovered a fpecies of men, very APPENDIX. 211 very different from that of the Efki- maux. Giants of a prodigious fize, of invincible ftrength and courage, fpread over immenfe waftes, and defended from the approach of ftrangers: with their robuft and nervous arms, they raife up an European as a weak timid dwarf: the carefles of the women, hurt the ftrangers who engage with them; in fhort, it is almoft as dangerous to be beloved by them as to difpleafe them. The difccr/ery of thefe aftonifhing people have been referved for fome modern obfervers; through their per- fpeftives they pretended to difcover fu- perb temples, ruins, and immenfe gar- dens, but on their nearer approach, they 212 APPENDIX. they faw no more than rude fketches on a wall. What is called the defart coaft of Patagonia, is almoft deftitute of inha- bitants. It is a dry fandy defart, with fome few groves of trees, but it does not produce any alimentary plants. Ac- cording to all appearance the Pata- gonians have withdrawn themfelves into the more internal parts of the Streights of Magellan, where the foil is lefs barren, and there is greater plen- ty of game. The author of the Phi- lofophical Refearches, has upon good grounds rejected the fables of commo- dore Byron, concerning the Patagonians, whom he had feen at Terra del Fuego. He APPENDIX. 213 He tells us in the hi (lory of his voy- ages, which appeared in 1765, that on his touching at that land, his crew had been frightened by a troop of giants, nine feet high, mounted upon fmall lean horfes. After having encouraged his companions, he courageoufly addref- fed them, and fhewed fuch intrepidity, that thofe high men, to whofe waift the talleft of his people could fcarce reach, were complaifant enough to difmount, and feat therafelves on a bank, that they might not be higher than his crew. If they took him and his men, as he fays they did, for meflengers of heaven, they certainly entertained no very great idea of celeftial beings. The women, he continues, were fo liberal of, and warm in .214 APPENDIX. in their carefles to him and his lieute- nant, that it was with difficulty they could difengage themfelves from their embraces. There is good reafon to be- lieve that commodore Byron, has di- verted himfelf with the credulity of his countrymen, who are extremely fond of the marvellous. He has copied the recitals of fome Spaniards accuftomed to meet in the new world, with fmall, weak, daftardly men only, and after- wards had been repulfed by favages as tall as themfelves-, who were courage- ous, becaufe they were hunters; whofe organization had not been nipped by too cold an air; and whofe ftrength had not been exhaufted by an exceflivc heat, like the people of the fouth. The APPENDIX. 215 The editor of the voyages of Dom Perneti, to the Malouin Ifles, deceives himfelf, when he fays, that the relati- on of a man who tells us he has feen, proves more than the opinion of a hun- dred who have not. How many people have feen ghofts, witches, monfters and many other extravagancies, who never- thelefs are undeferving beHef ? When he compares the proofs of the exiftence of thofe men, fo prodigioufty great, with thofe we may draw from nature, he will be convinced that his delight is in fables rather than truth. In fact, we ought to give more credit to Mr. Du- clos, as well as to a letter from Mr. de Bougainville, who wrote to Dom Perneti in 1765: We have made an alliance witb tbofi 216 APPENDIX. thofe Patagonians fo muck talked of, whom iue have not found taller, nor yet fo bad as other men. Mr. Duclos himfelf does not give us any fixed idea as to the fize of the Patagonians. He fays that he meaiured fome who were five feet feven inches, and that there were others much taller i but even fuppofing there were fome who were five inches higher, they would not be of gigantick fize. Mr. de la Giraudais, cited by the fame author, fays, that among the different acl:s of p.olitenefs the Patagonians mewed to his people, and what appeared moft incommodious to him, was their lay- ing themfelves pell-mell, three or four upon each of his men, to preferve them from the cold. Is the European flrong enough APPENDIX. 217 enough to avoid being crufhed to pieces by fo great a weight as that of four giants of monftrous fize extended upon him ? Until thofe philofophical voyagers, after going over all the countries near the ftreights of Magellan, mall con- vince us that men nine or ten feet high exift there, and of courage equal to their ftature, we mail confider the Pata- gonians as the tallefl and bravefl of all the favages that wander in any of the known countries of America; but we cannot believe that nature has given them that height and enormous fize that fome travellers have been willing to ter- rify our imagination with. VOL. II. L What 2i 8 APPENDIX. What we have the beft authenticated about the Patagonians is, that they are beardlefs lita other Americans ; that they have a large face, thick forehead, fiat nofe, large mouth, white and ve- ry fharp teeth, a fvvarthy complexion, black hair, broad cheft, and large and nervous limbs. They often paint their face and body with blood. They are ex- tremely fond of red, and received with great pleafure the pots of vermillion which were prefented them. The com- plexion of the women is lefs fwarthy than the mens, but they are nearly of the fame ftature. Travellers very much difagree as to their manner of cloath- ing. Some afiert that they cover only their fiioulders, and that when they ufe APPENDIX. life any exercife they go quite flaked. According to Mr. Duclos, they -have cloaks made of the fkins of fea-wolves, which they throw over their moulders ; they cover their privities with the fkin of a bird, and go with their head nak- ed. Mr. de la Giraudais on the other hand, gives us a long detail of their drefs ; he informs us, that they are cloathed with the fldns of different ani- mals, ditched together like a cloak, which hangs very low ; that their legs are covered with boots of the fame kind, the hair and wool of which they wear within fide j their cloaks are paint- ed with blue and red figures, which L 2 fome- 220 APPENDIX. fomewhat refemble Chinefe characters, but that they are all alike. He fays likewife, that they wear on their head a cap ornamented with feathers, like thofe of the Spaniards. Mr. Duclos and Mr. de la Giraudais, who made their obfervations of the Patagonians at the fame time, do not agree, as we have obferved, in the defcription they have given us of their drefs. The one tells us they go almoft naked, the other, covered from head to foot. If they contradict each other fo flatly upon fo evident a fact, who can believe them when they fpeak of the manners and difpofitions of thofe favages ? Accord- ing to Mr. Duclos they are cruel, un- couth, and thieves. They brifkly at- tacked APPENDIX. 221 tacked his people at the moments they leaft expected it, and are always pre- pared with cords to bind their prifoners with. The French were obliged to take to their arms and kill all they men with, in order too keep thofe furious enemies at a diftance. Mr. de la Giraudais on the contrary, pretends that they are gentle, humane, a-nd officious. One of them boldly jumped into the fea and fwam after a boat that was adrift ; the lofs of which very much alarmed his crew. They ufed every effort to detain them amongfi: them, and offered them a part of their game. L 3 However 222 APPENDIX. However frightful the life thefe peo- ple lead may be, who go a hunting over a barren country, who have often to flruggle with hunger and thirft, and are conftantly expofed to the intem- perance of the weather, they ought to wiih that we may never approach their dreary wafles. There has not yet been a voyage made to the ftreights of Ma- gellan, that has not coft the lives of many favages, or deprived more of their liberty. In the full of the moon the Patago- nians make great howlings and yellings, which would lead one to fufpect their worlhipping that nocturnal planet : but the APPENDIX. 223 the Hottentots, who do not acknowledge a divinity, do the fame thing. If this picture of the inhabitants of the new world is a faithful one, in what light muft pofterity view thofe barba- rous conquerors, who without remorfe extirpate a people who would willing- ly owe their happinefs to them ? Can they ever forgive them for fo cruelly abufing the ignorance and weaknefs of the Americans, whofe benefactors they ought to be ? If, like thefr gods who taught men how to till the earth, to plant the vines and deftroy the creatures that would devour them, they had pointed out the way to the wretched inhabitants of America, the art of improving 224 APPENDI x. improving a marfhy foil, and purify- ing a corrupted air which enervated them ; if they had infpired them with horror for their abominable repafts, their horrid facrifices> gratitude would have raifed them altars, and the difcovery of America, fo fatal to humanity, would have diffufed happinefs and riches over both worlds.. The favage, on fight of a piece of gold, will he not fay, it is the god of the chriftians ? For this they will quit their country, for this they come to perfecute us, to drive us from our ha- bitations : will he not fay with grief on the fight of an European, If you take from us the fmall portion of land we APPENDIX. 225 we have left, what will become of the poor Caribbee ? Muft he inhabit the fea with the fifh ? 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