inspissating the blood, and rendering it less fit for circulation, produces inflammations of the viscera, fevers, and apoplexies. On account of the quantity of sugar that enters the composition of chocolate, it ought to be avoided by those who are subject to hypocondriac flatulencies; and the disadvantages arising from the immoderate use of this drink, considered as prepared with warm water, must be plain to every one who reflects that the frequent use of warm water relaxes the organs of digestion, and the solids in general, and must consequently prove pernicious. It is said that in New Spain there is such a quantity of chocolate made as to use annually twelve millions of pounds of sugar*. Believe me, very sincerely, Yours, &c. * Beauties of Nature and Art Displayed, in a Tour through the World. LETTER IV. Wonderful interposition of Providence in procrastinating the Author's Life-Estimate of the Arable Lands in Trinidad-Exports for the Years 1799, 1800, and 1801-Reason why so diminutive-The Natural Histories of the Cotton and Coffee Trees, with their Medicinal Virtues. Head-Quarters, PUERTO DE ESPAÑA, Feb. 1803. BUT let us try these truths with closer eyes, That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast. DEAR SIR, GOLDSMITH. THAT excellent Divine, Dr. BLAIR, has somewhere observed, that if we believe in GoD at all as the Governor of the Universe, we must believe that without his Providence nothing happens on earth—that there is not a day of our life, nor an event in that day, but was foreseen by HIM, who brings forward every thing that happens in its due order and place. To elucidate this I must stoop to egotism; but really in this instance I cannot resist the temptation, as it will teach me in future not to repine at whatever afflictions Providence may inflict on me. To do this I must recur a few months back. In the evening I began to reflect on the mysterious ways of Providence, and was now more than ever convinced, that there is often a hereafter in the course of our present lives which discloses and justifies the ways of God. Mystery and darkness, therefore, must of necessity take place in the course of things. Our present state can be no other than a state of twilight or dawn, where dubious forms shall often present themselves to us, and where we shall find ourselves in a middle condition between complete light and total darkness. Had we enjoyed no evidence of a just Judge ruling the earth, and of his Providence interposing in our affairs, virtue would have been altogether deprived of its encouragement and support. Had the evidence, on the other hand, been so strong as to place the hand of the Almighty constantly before our eyes, the intention of our present existence would have been defeated, and no trace of virtue have remained. Instead, therefore of complaining of the obscurity which at present covers the conduct of Providence, we see that, on the whole, we have reason to submit and adore*. Had not the Almighty afflicted me with this fever, I should have embarked in the above-mentioned Brig, and consequently would have shared the same fate; but for some wise purpose or other my life was preservedprobably to bring the crimes of a second Nimrod before the face of day!--Graham was a native of Knapdale, in the county of Argyle. He had been the greatest part of last war Commander of a Revenue vessel at New Providence, and acquired a handsome fortune by captures; but it is in such hands as his relatives will never make honest. Dr Bhair The following statement, though not perfectly accurate, will, however, tend to give you an idea of the portion of land capable of cultivation : Of the above 400-lots I find an inconsiderable number only under cultivation, which will be seen from the following view of the exports to Britain for three years : As I cannot get admittance to the Custom-house books, I am unable to give you an account of what is exported to the United States and other parts; but I know it to be considerable, for this reason, that the majority of the planters are so much involved in EngJand-(old arrears, contracted before they ran away from other Islands)-that it is their interest to send their produce to the United States. One planter, particularly, of the name of L...., formerly of Antigua, stands, I am certain, as conspicuous as Fifty Thousand Pounds Sterling, in the ledger of the late John K....n, Esq. of Lime-street, London. But, as my subsequent correspondence will treat of such characters, I beg leave, for the present, to lay them aside, to pursue a different enquiry. I say, they consider it their interest to export the whole of their produce to the United States, whence they drawtheir supplies, instead of sending it to the Mother country, to whom it is legally due; hence the benefit accruing from this colony is comparatively small, as you will observe by the above statement. The loss-for I consider it a real loss-is the baneful manœuvre of the late Governor and Council, the major. part of whom stand in the same predicament with "An honest man's the noblest work of God." Mr. K----n was upwards of fifty years an eminent merchant in London. Without exaggeration, he was a man of real worth, and added lustre to the character of a Eritish merchant. An incorruptible integrity marked his characteristic features to his latest moment. He died at Bath much lamented by all who knew him, some time in the latter end of 1798. I was abroad when I heard of his death, but I did then, what I do now, bestow a sigh to his memory. To apply the words of POPE, Worth makes the man, and want of it the fellow; |