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alarmed at hearing the thunder roll beneath their feet, than Enropeans are at hearing it in the elouds, so soon does confidence spring up in the human breast, and we learn to bear with fortitude the evil that is unavoidable.

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But the Earthquake which this gentleman described, was not to be compared with that which destroyed Caraccas, in 1812, and which Philips afterwards heard related in another company; Caraccas is the Capital Town of a province of the same name, belonging to Spain, and going by sea, is about sixty leagues from Cumana. The twenty-sixth of March, the day on which it happened, was Holy Thursday, and a great part of the people was collected in Churches at four o'clock the first shock was felt, and it was sufficiently violent to ring the bells of the Churches- -a tremendous noise succeeded, and the ground began to heave like a wave of the sea, and to be pushed upwards, as it were from below. The consequences were dreadful— the town was entirely overthrown; between nine and ten thousand people were buried under the ruins of the houses, and the Churches. This number however, did not include those who died afterwards from their wounds. Of these nearly two-thousand were dug out of the ruins--never said the person who related the catastrophe, was piety more affectingly shewed. Implements for digging and clearing away the ruins were entirely wanting, and the people were obliged to

use their bare hands. on the banks of the river Guayra, but they found no shelter, except under the trees. Beds, linen, medicine and food, were buried under the ruins, even water was scarce, for the falling in of the earth, had choked the springs which supplied the city, and it became necessary to send for it to the river. What a scene of desolation was witnessed in the night of that day; the thick cloud of dust which had darkened the air, had then settled on the ground; no shock was felt, and never was a night more calm. The moon was nearly full, and it shone brightly upon the Earth, which was covered with the dead, and heaped with ruins. Parents were seen carrying their children in their arms, whom they hoped to recal to life, and the people pressed along the streets, cach seeking a relative or a friend. But how were such numbers of dead disposed of said Philips. I recollect that during the great plague of London, the Magistrates were at last obliged to have the dead interred without distinction. That said his informant was impossible, from the number, Officers therefore were appointed to burn them, and for this purpose, piles of wood were collected in the neighbourhood of the ruins, on which the bodies were laid, and the whole set fire to. Happy Ireland thought Philips, as the gentleman concluded his account, how gratefully should we thank the

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Almighty, for placing us far away from such awful visitations.

The lodging which the Governor had assigned to Philips, was situated in a very handsome square, part of which had an arcade, with a long wooden gallery at top, but though the situation was the best in the town, it caused him to witness many afflicting sights, for it was here that those unfortunate negroes, who had been brought from the Coast of Africa in slave ships, were sold, they were principally young men from fifteen to twenty years of age, and often did the colour rush to his cheek, when he saw those who came to purchase them examining their teeth, to judge of their health and age, forcing open their mouths as we do those of horses át a market. It was in the course of his further travels, that he even saw, some mark their slaves, with a hot iron, to know them again if they should escape. Are these men, he would say, who are thus obliged to submit to the will of a cruel master? they speak and talk like us, they stand on their feet as we do, and can be grateful to those who do them a kindness, and yet I see them treated like beasts of burden.— They are human beings and they deserve the name better than those who abuse them, who forget, that we are all the workmanship of God, that he is the Father of the whole human race, and that when the soul shall leave the body, it will be impossible to tell whether

the dust to which it must return, has belonged to a black or to a white man. It was a few days after these reflections, that he had occasion to go to a plantation at some short distance from the town, where he saw some bonfires kindled, it was the evening of a holyday, and the slaves were assembled round their fire dancing to the music of the Guitar, with the most light-hearted gaiety: let no one blame them, however that after days of painful labour, when a holyday comes they prefer this innocent amusement. It is this disposition so kindly given by providence, which lessens the bitterness of a life of slavery.

It is easy to collect from what has been said, that at the time Philips was in this Colony, Spain to which it belongs, had not abolished the Slave Trade. Our fellow creatures in no respect differing from us except in the colour of their bodies, were bought and sold like cattle, after having been torn from their own country; nor was this all they had to endure; divided amongst the different plantations, it was their business to toil at their cultivation, under the superintendance of an overseer, who if he happened to be of an unfeeling disposition, used to punish their slightest faults, with unrelenting severity. Many have died under the lash, and some been put to death in the most cruel manner. To this however, there were exceptions, though it is deeply to be regretted, such exceptions were not numerous. The Negroes are in general,

in this place, the only fishermen, and are regu Jarly trained to this profession by their masters, who make them pay out of what they catch a certain sum weekly. If they are expert and industrious they soon acquire money for themselves, and some even become rich, but on the contrary, if they are indolent, they not only fail in their weekly payments, but are certain of being punished.

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This custom is also common to many other trades, and by perseverance and sobriety, they are actually enabled to live happily. Thus for example, Philips found slaves at Surinam, who had bought slaves for their own use, some also had purchased their own freedom from their master, whilst others kept their money, preferring to continue the slave of an indulgent master, being, so long as they were not free, exempt from all duties and taxes. A particular instance of this kind, was a Negro named Joseph, a blacksmith, who was offered his freedom which he positively declined, chusing rather to be the slave of a worthy master. man had several slaves of his own, kept a decent house, with handsome furniture, plate, &c. and when visited by his humane master, used to entertain with Port and Claret, this however, was a rare instance.

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It has been mentioned before, that Philips had often occasion to admire not only the fertility of the country, but the variety of curious plants

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