CHAP. VIII.]        OR   SAINT   DOMINGO.                     207
fere when applied to upon the subject, the nature of
the application being such as to preclude the British
cabinet taking any part in it. Petion solicited the
aid of England to preserve his dominions against
the encroachment of his rival, in return for which
he offered to place the trade of the British upon a
more favourable footing than that of any other na-
tion : motives however of a political urgency in the
then state of the colonies of Great Britain induced
his lordship to reject the proposition ; but it is un-
derstood, and I believe generally admitted, that
there was an indirect suggestion made to Christophe
to suspend hostilities, and which succeeded; for we
do not perceive that any acts of aggression were sub-
sequently committed by either chief. It is also true
that Petion lowered the imposts on British goods
imported into his country from 12 to 7 per cent.,
giving them a preference of 5 per cent, over those
of other neutral nations.
Hostilities having been suspended, both these
chiefs began to turn their attention towards the im-
provement of their dominions, and to use every
possible effort for the encouragement of agricul-
ture and commerce ; but they certainly pursued
quite opposite courses to attain their end; and in a
few years it was evident, that the one who adopted a
system of rigid enforcement raised his country into
affluence, whilst the other who submitted to the in-
dolent habits of his people, and was regardless of