Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/88

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76
The History of the

ceſſity of abandoning their poſſeſſions to the mortgagees in Europe.

Theſe latter, it is preſumed, having taken an unfavourable opinion of the mortgaged premiſes, from having been ſufferers already in the loſs of conſiderable ſums they had lent on them; and not knowing, or not conſidering the value of ſuch property at a future period, are unwilling to advance more; at leaſt the majority of the mortgagees ſeem to be diſpoſed to let their lands remain in the ſame neglected, abandoned ſituation they have been in theſe ſeveral years paſt, to the great hindrance of the proſperity of that valuable iſland, as well as their own detriment.

It is computed, that on an average, one year with another, there are not more than three thouſand hogſheads of ſugar made annually in Dominica. This is certainly a very

ſmall