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Show 8 VOYAGE FROM NEW YORK. that the fossil shells and corals which arc fo~nd imbedded in their mountain tops, are often prcn~cly the same kinds as are still discovered in the Carribcau seas. Our course lay through the "Virgin passage." Durin"' the clear but moonless night, we passed by a b ' s l 00 precipitous rock called "Sail rock.' uc 1 IS Its re-semblance to a ship in full sail, that, as the story goes, it was once battered, by mistake, as an enemy, by a French frigate. We seemed to be driving directly upon it, our mate having failed in his endPavou~s to steer to the leeward of it; but a sudden tack of the ship was effected, so as to prevent the too pro~ab~e contact. The next morning we were becalmed w1thm sight of Santa Cruz, though at a distance from that island of forty miles. To our right-also at a long distance-lay Crab island, which is said to be of considerable fertility and value. I understand that the chief part of it is still covered with fine forest timber, that parrots abound in the woods, with wild animals and game of various descriptions. For a long time this island continued unsettled and unclaimed ; but of late years it has fallen into the hands of Spain, and is said to be a kind of dependency on Porto Rico. The governor is a Frenchman; and slaves have already been introduced into the island. It is greatly to be feared that it not only afFords a refuge for the slavers of Cuba and Porto Rico, but that it will itself be gradually peopled with slaves from Africa. It seems to be a question· able point whether Great Britain is not in possession of the first claim on this island. If so, it is surely most desirable, for mercy's sake, that she should assert VOYAGE FROM NEW YORK. 9 her rights. As we lay motionless, on the deep, we observed two negro boys making their way towards m, from a far distant sloop, in a crazy little boat which they were skilfully working with paddles. We fondly hoped that they were bringing us a supply of fruit; but on their arrival, we found that their mission was to beg for a little water and provision. The interview, however, was one of considerable interest ; for they were the first of the emancipated British slaves whom we saw in the West Indies. They came from Virgin Gorda, and were employed by the Captain of the sloop, himself a negro, with three others, in cutting wood on Crab island, for the use of the hospital in Santa Cruz. Their wages were five dollars and a half per month, for each man, besides board; thus, under tbe new system, they were earning their living by honest industry; and they appeared to us to be at once well behaved and contented. In the evening-when the patience of some of our company was beginning to flag-a favorable breeze sprang up ; the night was mild and clear, and the sky studded with stars; our passengers assembled on the quarter deck, enjoying the scene; every body was in good humour in the prospect of a speedy tt'rmination of our voyage; and fair was the wind, the next morning, which wafied us safely to our harbor. The appearance of Santa Cruz, as you approach it from the North, is picturesque and pleasing-to us who had been so long at sea, and were strangers to West Indian scenery, it seemed clad with beauty-a succession of rounded or conic·al hills ancl mountains, |