Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/119

 ale for their commodities, or work in their line of buines, withdrew themelves to places where trade and commerce were more brik; and the planters, from being deprived of the means of furnihing themelves with uch articles as were immediately neceary for their new elates, were driven to abandon, or to potpone the further improvement of them.

In this deplorable tate was the iland of Dominica when it fell into the hands of the French on the 7th day of September, 1778. Some months previous to this calamitous event his Excellency, Thomas Shirley, Eq. then Commander in chief of the iland, knowing the defenceles tate it was in, and being apprehenive it would be attacked, in cae of a rupture with France, which was then threatened, employed a number of men for the defence of fort Cahacrou; diftributed the few oldiers then in garrion into uch places as were