the public, and examine with thy scientific eye the productions which the
vast and well-stored colony of Demerara presents to thee?

What an immense range of forest is there from the rock Saba to the great
fall! and what an uninterrupted extent before thee from it to the banks of
the Essequibo! No doubt there is many a balsam and many a medicinal root
yet to be discovered, and many a resin, gum and oil yet unnoticed. Thy work
would be a pleasing one, and thou mightest make several useful observations
in it.

Would it be thought impertinent in thee to hazard a conjecture that, with
the resources the Government of Demerara has, stones might be conveyed from
the rock Saba to Stabroek to stem the equinoctial tides which are for ever
sweeping away the expensive wooden piles round the mounds of the fort? Or
would the timber-merchant point at thee in passing by and call thee a
descendant of La Mancha's knight, because thou maintainest that the stones
which form the rapids might be removed with little expense, and thus open
the navigation to the wood-cutter from Stabroek to the great fall? Or
wouldst thou be deemed enthusiastic or biassed because thou givest it as
thy opinion that the climate in these high-lands is exceedingly wholesome,
and the lands themselves capable of nourishing and maintaining any number
of settlers? In thy dissertation on the Indians thou mightest hint that
possibly they could be induced to help the new settlers a little; and that,
finding their labours well requited, it would be the means of their keeping
up a constant communication with us which probably might be the means of
laying the first stone towards their Christianity. They are a poor
harmless, inoffensive set of people, and their wandering and ill-provided
way of living seems more to ask for pity from us than to fill our heads
with thoughts that they would be hostile to us.