good
fortune in that station. The director of the Danish trade also
becomes rich in a few years, and the inhabitants in general are
in very easy circumstances.

To this island the Spaniards are continually sending large
vessels to purchase slaves. This is the chief support of the
Danish and Brandenburgh commerce, as these slaves are drawn from
their settlements upon the coast of Africa, which, if they had
not this trade, would have long ago become useless, and
consequently deserted. The Spaniards also buy here, as well as at
Curacao, all sorts of European goods, of which there is always a
vast stock in the magazine, belonging chiefly to the Dutch. There
is likewise a great resort of English, Dutch, and French, vessels
to this port, where they can always depend upon the sale of
superfluous, and the purchase of necessary commodities. But
though a prodigious deal of business is transacted in time of
peace, in time of war it is vastly increased, for being a neutral
port, the privateers of all nations resort thither to sell their
prizes.

St. Croix is seated about five leagues east of St. Thomas's, and
about 30 west of St. Christopher's, in 18 deg.. north lat. and in
65 deg.. west longitude. It is about ten or twelve leagues in length,
but not above three broad. The air is very unhealthy but the soil
is easily cultivated; very fertile, and produces sugar canes,
citrons, oranges, lemons, pomegranates, and other excellent
fruits, and has several fine trees, whose wood is very beautiful,
and proper for inlaying.

This island has had several masters; but the French abandoning it
in 1696, it was purchased by his late Danish Majesty. It was
then a perfect desert, but was settled with great expedition,
many persons from the English islands, and among them some of
great wealth, having removed thither.--"_The World displayed or a
Curious Collection of Voyages and Travels_," 1769, pp. 127-129.

II

DANISH COLONIZATION IN THE WEST INDIES IN 1798

The Danes had no sooner submitted to one single chief, than they
fell into a kind of lethargic state. To those great convulsions,
which are occasioned by the clashing of important rights,
succeeded the delusive tranquillity of servitude. A nation, which
had filled the scene for several ages, appeared