Let. 8.]                MILITARY   DEPOT.                       115
ritory of Portugal, which opens to our enlightened govern-
ment a vast field for speculation, agricultural, commercial,
and military."
This is a very broad hint, if we are willing to embrace
it in its limitary import ; but, Sir, as we are now situated,
it is almost impossible to curb, in these parts, the gigan-
tic strides of the aspiring views of the Corsican, unless
Trinidad is made a military depot of seasoned whites ;
if sent when young, they will be able to undergo the
baneful effects of military hardships. Surinam is the
only place to the southward where the French can esta-
blish themselves for military purposes : the colony is fer-
tile, capable of furnishing provisions sufficient for an ex-
pedition of many months. By having a few ships of
war in constant readiness at Trinidad, any expedition
they might plan there, would be easily frustrated. The
distance is short from the east point of this island to Su-
rinam, which is laid down in N. lat. 5° 52* W. long.
55° 2' it may be reckoned 438 miles on a south-east half-
east course. Whatever may be his views, let us only
strengthen ourselves in this island with a white popula-
tion, and we shall always be ready to make conquests
highly important to the British empire, or to yield suc-
cours to Jamaica, in case it should be attacked. That
it will be attacked, if the negroes maintain their inde-
pendence against the French in St, Domingo, is most
certain : probably the period is not very remote. My
reason for yielding to this belief, is grounded on several
conversations I had with General Christophe* two years
ago, relative to the re-population of St. Domingo.    Citi-
* This Negro General is a native of St. Christopher} was bred a
taylor, and speaks English as correctly as any Creole. He is now
second in command in the Empire of Hayti.