Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1808-11-05
Observations on the ENLARGE.

Having lately been in several OF the W.
India Islands, and consequently IN sitaa-
ton to observe the noble and great effects
o,,r,e,nbareo has had on the colonies, | now
offer some few Of them for theperusal OF the
public. Having in the course OF the month
of September, visited the islands OF News,
ST. Kits, St. Bartholemews and ST. Mar
tins, and my business being OF such nature
that have oi.,n been conversant with sevc-
raj of the planters as well as men OF mer-
camille business in each OF said islands, |
an, enabled to form a pretty just idea OF the
distrcsscs and embarrassment that the dill
ferent islands have been placed in by this
time by our embargo, and ct their future
prospects Of living without the least assist
ance from America. In the first place, they
acknowledge that the embargo had been Sc
verely felt, but that severity was most ielt
for three or four months after the embargo
was laid-by It's berg SO unexpected, and
consequently had to curtail their allowances,
hut it took place at the proper time OF the
year for planting their grounds and to re-
medv the evil they planted on an average
Of the estate, ABOUT twenty acres OF ground
with vans and potatoes ana sweet pumpkins
for food for the negroes, and the potatoes,
and pumpkins are aowrlpe and almost gene
the crop of vans viii be ripe the Erst OF no
ycmber, and with what the negroes raise On
their own ground, lave gwen them great
plenty, and have enabled them (the negroes)
10 sell at market in the different towns SUI
6cient for tie supply ofthe inhabitants, and
yams being good substitute Tor bread, the
inhabitants have so accustomed themselves
TO the Use of them that they consume very
little bread--so little that the sales Of -four
are not SO much by two thirds what it was
previous TO the embargo. Although the
amount of -four in the island OF ST. Kits at
the time | sailed, was, as stated in theli,
monthly report, said to be $500 barrels,and
spoiling in lac stores. Their supplies from
Europe have been great. In the month OF
Sept. there were four large ships arrived
from different ports N Europe, and with
different kinds ofprovisions for the island
there were also three briggs aid two schr,s.
arrived from Haiiiax, enc of which touched
at Barbados and Dominica for q marke:,
but found none stopt at st. Kits and from
thcuce proceeded to ST. Croix, and St. Tho
mas.
All South America as well as the Spanish
Islands have now a free trade with the Eng
lish, and the Spaniarss are .lockins3 in TO
the winiward islands, with cattle, mules,
sheer, goats and poultry IN great abundance
SO much that they arc enabled to supply
the English troops and navy with their usn-
al quantities OF fresh provisions. viii
also add there are letters from Liverpool
and London to their correspondents in St.
Kits, stating that their fishing last season
has been preat, that India rice has arrived
in abundance, and that they can supply the
colonies with almost every article they may
want that their African ships are all out Of
employ, and would fit out for Nova Scotia
for the purpose Of supplying the colonies
with lumber and other articles that might
be wanted; but have been afraid that the
Americans will take off the embargo
Knowing that they can furnish those arti- |
cles necessary for the colonies at cheaper
rate than they can do, and if they should |
attempt the prosecution of such voyages, by |
the time they could arrive at the islands the
embargo would be of, and the islands filed |
with American produce, and they must |
make losing voyages; and further, that they I
are about to petition parliament to lay an
embargo on Americans for six months, af-
ter she has taken of the one she he's laid
that they can then prosecute their intended
VOYAGES with assurance OF market. ] also |
have learnt that the windward islands are I
supplied with six months provi-
sions. The planters also say the embargo
has had good tendency in some respects,
for it has learnt them by experiments which
they never should have tried, that they can