THE HISTORY OF AMERICA. AF BOOK VIII. VIII. policy and Spanish FTER tracing the progrefs of the Spaniards в O O K in their discoveries and conquefts during more than half a century, I have conducted View of the them to that period when their authority was trade of the established over almost all the vast regions in the colonies. New World still subject to their dominion. The effect of their fettlements upon the countries of which they took poffeffion, the maxims which they adopted in forming their new colonies, the interior structure and policy of these, together with the influence of their progreffive improvement upon the parent ftate, and upon the commercial intercourfe of nations, are the objects to which we now turn our attention. VOL. IV. B THE BOOK VIII. Depopula merica the firft effect of them. THE first visible confequence of the establishments made by the Spaniards in America, was tion of A- the diminution of the ancient inhabitants, to a degree equally astonishing and deplorable. I have already, on different occafions, mentioned the difaftrous influence under which the connection of the Americans with the people of our hemifphere commenced, both in the islands, and in feveral parts of the continent, and have touched upon various caufes of their rapid confumption. Wherever the inhabitants of America had refolution to take arms in defence of their liberty and rights, many perished in the unequal contest, and were cut off by their fierce invaders. But the greatest defolation followed after the fword was fheathed, and the conquerors were fettled in tranquillity. It was in the islands, and in thofe provinces of the continent which ftretch from the Gulf of Trinidad to the confines of Mexico, that the fatal effects of the Spanish dominion were first and most sensibly felt. All these were occupied either by wandering tribes of hunters, or by fuch as had made but small progrefs in cultivation and induftry. When they were compelled by their new masters to take up a fixed refidence, and to apply to regular labour; when tafks were impofed upon them difproportioned to their strength, and were Caufes of this in the inlands, and fome parts of the con tinent. exacted |