thirty fathoms. Upon the coast of Paria its soundings are much less. In fact, this gulf is a real port, which, for excellence and extent, vies with the handsomest in the world. It has a muddy bottom except near the coast of Terra Firma, where there are shoals and banks of sand,

Some authors, not very reputable for their accuracy, have asserted that the waters of this gulf are fresh. I attest that they are as salt as those of the sea. It receives, on the S. S. W. a considerable volume of water by different mouths of the Oronoko, which enters it with a velocity that very much incommodes the vessels which steer that way upon their passage. There is some reason to believe that a part of those waters of the Oronoko have in the progress of ages, detached from Terra Firma what is at present called Trinidad, and that their ravages will not cease, till they have opened the mouths of the Dragon and thrown themselves into the ocean. Indeed, the currents are always carried to the sea by the channels of these mouths. It is therefore impossible to enter, particularly by the small ones, unless highly favoured by the winds.

It is at least as difficult to enter the gulf on the south as it is on the north. The wind must be from the south-east, to be able to enter with any certain prospect of safety; then they must coast it to the south of the island of Trinidad as far as point Hicacos, which they must approach within two cables' length, in order to pass between that point and a shoal, which is in the middle of the channel formed by the small island of Soldado and the same point. After ad

vancing two-thirds of a league to the north, they may approach within one league of the coast to the west of Trinidad, till they come to anchorage in the port of Spain. For there is mooring there to the distance of two leagues from the coast with water from five to eighteen fathoms deep.

There are several ports and roads along the coast of Paria which greatly facilitate the communication with Trinidad. That advantage is at present exclusively in favour of the English, who are the possessors of that island.

The tide is not only perceptible, but even formidable in the gulf of Paria, where it discovers a violence not to be conceived by those who are not well acquainted with the great ebbings and flowings of the

sea.

POPULATION, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

Want of an exact census-Census made annually by the curates-Division of the population-Difficulties which the Spaniards experience in going to America-Those which foreigners experience are still greater-Mortifications which foreigners incur, who settle in the Spanish possessions-Hardly any emigration from Spain to Terra Firma-Attachment of the Creoles to their country-Public education→→→ Aptitude of the Creoles for science-Reform in their costume-Habit of the afternoon nap-Marriages-The Spaniards marry very young-The power of the parents over their children is less than in other countries-Happy reform-Causes of unhappy marriages—Apparent submission of the children to the parents-Etiquettes-Their bad effects-The Spaniards are religious-Extremely prudent in their undertakings-Conspiracy of Venezuela-Causes-Formed by three state-prisoners-Its discovery-Measures of government-Honourable act of Charles IV.-Prosecution by the tribunals-Reflections on that conspiracy-Slaves-The Spaniards do not carry on the slavetrade-Number of slaves-How they are treated-Every thing is done to make them good christians-Carelessness of the masters with respect to the wants of the slaves-Reforms contemplated—Advantages which the laws offer to slaves-Freed-men-Their number→→→ Restrictions imposed on their freedom-Causes of these restrictions. -The freed-men can hold no public office-The law subjects them to an impost, which they do not pay-Sumptuary laws with respect to freed-men-Case, where the freed-man forfeits his freedom-The king gives dispensations for colour-Marriages between white persons and those of colour-Some are yet to be seen amongst men of colour and whites-That is owing to the horrid practice of exposing illegitimate children-The necessity of an hospital for foundlingsFreed-men are allowed to practise physic.

Want of an exact Census.

AFTER the most diligent researches, I have not been able to procure a correct statement of the population of the provinces dependent on the captain-generalship of Caraccas. In the archives of government no papers are deposited by which it that any appears census has ever been taken of the inhabitants of a country subject to its authority. The registers of the intendancy are also, altogether unprovided with those documents, which in all political establishments are most carefully preserved, as the most essential provision to form the basis of an enlightened administra

tion. It was not till I had sacrificed much time, and labour, that I discovered that the ecclesiastical authority performed in favour of religion, what the civil authority had neglected in favour of political economy. The active interference of a friend, whose name it is painful for me to be under an obligation to conceal, speedily procured for me, from the official records of the bishop, statements of the population of Caraccas, for the years 1800 and 1801, particularly specifying that of cities, towns, and villages. But the opportunity which I have had of observing by what process these statements were acquired, left an impression on my mind, which did not permit me for a moment to hesitate what degree of credit I ought to attach to their accuracy. Their nature and object will be discerned from the particulars which are here subjoined.

Census taken annually by the Curates.

In the Spanish domains the duties of religion are not left as in all other christian countries, to the discretion and conscience of the faithful. The ministers of the church exercise, in this respect, a superin-* tendence, which extends to all religious practices, but principally to the annual confession. Whoever fulfils the paschal duty, receives from the confessor a small ticket, upon which is written the year; after that this single word confeso, together with the signature of the priest. At church, when they receive the sacrament, they present to the curate the ticket of confession, which he keeps; he then gives another

signed by himself, and under the year, is written the word comulgo; he has received the sacrament.

In Lent, the curate, or one of his superiors, goes round to each house, takes down all the persons who are or are not arrived at the age necessary to make confession. After Easter is passed, the same priest, or another in his behalf, returns to their houses, to take up the communion or at least, the confession ticket; and on closely comparing the number of tickets with that of the persons whose names he had marked down on his first visit, he detects frauds and proceeds accordingly. This ungracious custom, which creates aversion instead of attachment to the tribunal of penitence, is a temptation to try every expedient to impose on the pastor. Old women during Easter, go divers times to confession, and receive a ticket each time. They reserve one for themselves and sell the rest. Their ordinary price is one dollar; it rises in proportion as the term of exhibition approaches. Those who can conveniently leave their homes, chuse the very season when the confession-tickets are to be collected, to indulge themselves in excursions on business or pleasure. Others, on the first visit of the curate, inform only against a part of those who live in the house, or compose the family; finally, there are some who, on the approach of the collector, shut their doors and leave him to knock till some neighbour informs that nobody is

at home.

Had I undertaken to prove the inutility of the precautions which are taken to make good christians, the subject would furnish matter for a long disserta