enge."

"But do you think that this is likely to occur?"

"I do, most certainly, if those who govern continue to listen to the
insidious advice of the party denominated `Saints;' and I afraid that it
will not be until these islands are separated from the mother-country,
that she will appreciate their value. Our resolution once formed, white
slaves (for slaves we are) will not flinch; and the islands of the
Caribbean Sea will be enrolled as another star, and add another stripe
to the independent flag, which is their natural protector."

"I trust that will never come to pass."

"And so do I, Mr Berecroft, for I am an Englishman, and love my
country, and the loss of these colonies would be blow from which England
would never recover."

"You forget her extensive colonies in the East."

"I do not; but the West Indies add to her wealth and her commercial
prosperity, to her nursery of seamen and her exhausted revenue. They,
on the contrary, add only to her grandeur, for they cost the country
three millions a year; and I doubt whether at that expense it is worth
while to retain any colony, however vast and extensive it may be. I
consider, that if the East India ports were open to all the world, and
the territory governed by its former princes, England, with all the
competition which would take place, would yet be a gainer; and, on the
other hand, I know that by the loss of these islands, she would find a
decrease of millions in her revenue."

"Then the philanthropists must pay the national debt," observed Newton,
laughing.

"They be damned!" replied Kingston, who was warm with his argument;
"they would not pay a farthing."

VOLUME ONE, CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

The sea-breach'd vessel can no longer bear
The floods that o'er her burst in dread career.
The labouring hull already seems half fill'd
With water, through an hundred leaks distill'd:
Thus drench'd by every wave, her riven deck,
Stript and defenceless, floats a naked wreck.
FALCONER.

Newton remained at Bridgetown, under the roof of Mr Kingston, for more
than three weeks, by which time the brig was laden, and waiting for
convoy to proceed to England.

Mr Berecroft had made every preparation for his voyage, when an
unexpected circumstance occurred, which eventually proved the occasion
of great hardship and danger to Newton. This was, the master of a large
ship, belonging to the same owners, and then lying in Carlisle Bay, to
proceed homewar