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independent of the mother city； they were at liberty to manage
their own affairs in the way that they judged was most suitable
to their own interest。
The history of the Roman colonies is by no means so
brilliant。 Some of them； indeed； such as Florence； have in the
course of many ages； and after the fall of the mother city； grown
up to be considerable states。 But the progress of no one of them
seems ever to have been very rapid。 They were all established in
conquered provinces； which in most cases had been fully inhabited
before。 The quantity of land assigned to each colonist was seldom
very considerable； and as the colony was not independent； they
were not always at liberty to manage their own affairs in the way
they judged was most suitable to their own interest。
In the plenty of good land； the European colonies
established in America and the West Indies resemble； and even
greatly surpass； those of ancient Greece。 In their dependency
upon the mother state； they resemble those of ancient Rome； but
their great distance from Europe has in all of them alleviated
more or less the effects of this dependency。 Their situation has
placed them less in the view and less in the power of their
mother country。 In pursuing their interest their own way； their
conduct has； upon many occasions； been overlooked； either because
not known or not understood in Europe； and upon some occasions it
has been fairly suffered and submitted to； because their distance
rendered it difficult to restrain it。 Even the violent and
arbitrary government of Spain has； upon many occasions； been
obliged to recall or soften the orders which had been given for
the government of her colonies for fear of a general
insurrection。 The progress of all the European colonies in
wealth； population； and improvement； has accordingly been very
great。
The crown of Spain； by its share of the gold and silver；
derived some revenue from its colonies from the moment of their
first establishment。 It was a revenue； too； of a nature to excite
in human avidity the most extravagant expectations of still
greater riches。 The Spanish colonies； therefore； from the moment
of their first establishment； attracted very much the attention
of their mother country； while those of the other European
nations were for a long time in a great measure neglected。 The
former did not； perhaps； thrive the better in consequence of this
attention； nor the latter the worse in consequence of this
neglect。 In proportion to the extent of the country which they in
some measure possess； the Spanish colonies are considered as less
populous and thriving than those of almost any other European
nation。 The progress even of the Spanish colonies； however； in
population and improvement； has certainly been very rapid and
very great。 The city of Lima； founded since the conquest； is
represented by Ulloa as containing fifty thousand inhabitants
near thirty years ago。 Quito； which had been but a miserable
hamlet of Indians； is represented by the same author as in his
time equally populous。 Gemelli Carreri； a pretended traveller； it
is said； indeed； but who seems everywhere to have written upon
extremely good information； represents the city of Mexico as
containing a hundred thousand inhabitants； a number which； in
spite of all the exaggerations of the Spanish writers； is；
probably； more than five times greater than what it contained in
the time of Montezuma。 These numbers exceed greatly those of
Boston； New York； and Philadelphia； the three greatest cities of
the English colonies。 Before the conquest of the Spaniards there
were no cattle fit for draught either in Mexico or Peru。 The
llama was their only beast of burden； and its strength seems to
have been a good deal inferior to that of a common ass。 The
plough was unknown among them。 They were ignorant of the use of
iron。 They had no coined money； nor any established instrument of
commerce of any kind。 Their commerce was carried on by barter。 A
sort of wooden spade was their principal instrument of
agriculture。 Sharp stones served them for knives and hatchets to
cut with； fish bones and the hard sinews of certain animals
served them for needles to sew with； and these seem to have been
their principal instruments of trade。 In this state of things； it
seems impossible that either of those empires could have been so
much improved or so well cultivated as at present； when they are
plentifully furnished with all sorts of European cattle； and when
the use of iron； of the plough； and of many of the arts of
Europe； has been introduced among them。 But the populousness of
every country must be in proportion to the degree of its
improvement and cultivation。 In spite of the cruel destruction of
the natives which followed the conquest； these two great empires
are； probably； more populous now than they ever were before： and
the people are surely very different； for we must acknowledge； I
apprehend； that the Spanish creoles are in many respects superior
to the ancient Indians。
After the settlements of the Spaniards； that of the
Portuguese in Brazil is the oldest of any European nation in
America。 But as for a long time after the first discovery neither
gold nor silver mines were found in it； and as it afforded； upon
that account； little or no revenue to the crown； it was for a
long time in a great measure neglected； and during this state of
neglect it grew up to be a great and powerful colony。 While
Portugal was under the dominion of Spain； Brazil was attacked by
the Dutch； who got possession of seven of the fourteen provinces
into which it is divided。 They expected soon to conquer the other
seven； when Portugal recovered its independency by the elevation
of the family of Braganza to the throne。 The Dutch then； as
enemies to the Spaniards； became friends to the Portuguese； who
were likewise the enemies of the Spaniards。 They agreed；
therefore； to leave that part of Brazil； which they had not
conquered； to the King of Portugal； who agreed to leave that part
which they had conquered to them； as a matter not worth disputing
about with such good allies。 But the Dutch government soon began
to oppress the Portuguese colonists； who； instead of amusing
themselves with complaints； took arms against their new masters；
and by their own valour and resolution； with the connivance；
indeed； but without any avowed assistance from the mother
country； drove them out of Brazil。 The Dutch； therefore； finding
it impossible to keep any part of the country to themselves； were
contented that it should be entirely restored to the crown of
Portugal。 In this colony there are said to be more than six
hundred thousand people； either Portuguese or descended from
Portuguese； creoles； mulattoes； and a mixed race between
Portuguese and Brazilians。 No one colony in America is supposed
to contain so great a number of people of European extraction。
Towards the end of the fifteenth； and during the greater
part of the sixteenth century； Spain and Portugal were the two
great naval powers