[ 211 ] But this is not all. The fituation and difposition of our islands give us, in respect to this power, still farther and greater advantages. Our northern islands will remain what they always have been, a perpetual check to them on that fide. Dominica lies, as we have shewn, in the very center of their possessions, fo as to comfnand and to diflrefs the navigation equally of Marlinico and Guadaloupe. At the fouthern extremity again, we have Granada and all the iflands belonging to it, connected with St. Vincent, from whence we have an eafy and constant correfpondence with Barbadoes, and a number of fafe and commodious ports, to which our fleets may at all times refort ; and thefe circumstances taken together may certainly banish the apprehensions of any danger to our old or new colonies, in cafe of a future rupture with France. We ought next to shew, what thofe benefits are, that will probably result from thefe new acquisitions, to the prefent and to future ages. It will however be previoufly necessary to obferve, that upon the first view some prejudices may arise, from the fmallnefs of thefe islands, which are in truth very diminutive, if put into the balance with the French, and still more fo, if they should be compared with thofe that the Spaniards poflefs in the West-Indies. It does not however follow from thence, that they are either insignificant or inconfiderable. It may be, when we come to examine this matter more attentively, we shall find, that this very circumstance, P 2
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