They had to give it up, but the French claim to the
island began then and was maintained ever after.
After a long struggle the Caribs were overcome,
being partly slaughtered and partly transported to
Dominica and St. Vincent. Slavery was introduced
and sugar plantations grew up, while coffee came in
somewhat later.
The English made several attacks on the island
during the wars, and in 1759 it was captured by
Admiral Moore and General Barrington, but was
restored by the treaty of 1763. It was one of the
French possessions that fell into British hands with
Rodney’s victory in 1782, but again it was restored
by the treaty of 1783. In 1794» the English,
under Sir John Grey and John Jervis, took it,
but the commissioner of the new French republic,
Victor Hugues, declared the emancipation of slaves
and turned the negroes against the invaders and
drove them out. In 1802, Napoleon re-established
slavery, which caused a bloody insurrection. The
blacks fought desperately, and many killed themselves
rather than submit. Others were ruthlessly
slaughtered, and many were transported. During
the “ Hundred Days ” in 1810, the English got
possession once more, and held the island until after
the peace of 1814, but since then the French control
has been uninterrupted. Slavery was abolished
in 1848, but was followed by a system of long-con-
tract service. Latterly many of the blacks have
become small landowners. L a Soufrière has contributed
one or two exciting incidents to the history
of the island. As lately as 1797 it had an alarming