a large island in the South Sea, and one of the most considerable of those of Solomon, being about 250 miles in circumference. W. Long. 130° O. S. Lat. 10° 21'.

**Santa Cruz**, or St Croix, a small and unhealthy island, situated in about 64 degrees west longitude and 18 north latitude. It is about eighteen leagues in length, and from three to four in breadth. In 1643 it was inhabited by Dutch and English, who soon became enemies to each other; and in 1650 were both driven out by 1200 Spaniards, who arrived there in five West Indict ships. The triumph of these lasted but a few months. The remains of that numerous body, which were left for the defence of the island, surrendered without resistance to 160 French, who had embarked in 1651, from St Christopher's, to make themselves masters of the island.

These new inhabitants lost no time in making themselves acquainted with a country so much disputed. On a soil, in other respects excellent, they found only one river of moderate size, which, gliding gently almost on a level with the sea through a flat country, furnished only a brackish water. Two or three springs, which they found in the innermost parts of the island, made but feeble amends for this defect. The wells were for the most part dry. The construction of reservoirs required time. Nor was the climate more inviting to the new inhabitants. The island being flat, and covered with old trees, scarce afforded an opportunity for the winds to carry off the poisonous vapours with which its marshes clogged the atmosphere. There was but one remedy for this inconvenience; which was to burn the woods. The French set fire to them without delay; and, getting on board their ships, became spectators from the sea, for several months, of the conflagration they had raised on the island. As soon as the flames were extinguished, they went on shore again.

They found the soil fertile beyond belief. Tobacco, cotton, arnott, indigo, and sugar, flourished equally in it. So rapid was the progress of this colony, that in 11 years from its commencement there were upon it 822 white persons, with a proportionable number of slaves. It was rapidly advancing to prosperity, when such obstacles were thrown in the way of its activity as made it decline again. This decay was as sudden as its rise. In 1696 there were no more than 147 men, with their wives and children, and 623 blacks remaining; and these were transported to St Domingo.

Some obscure individuals, some writers unacquainted with the views of government, with their secret negotiations, with the character of their ministers, with the interests of the protectors and the protected, who flatter themselves that they can discern the reason of events amongst a multitude of important or frivolous causes, which may have equally occasioned them; who do not conceive, that among all these causes the most natural may possibly be the farthest from the truth; who after having read the news, or journal of the day, with profound attention, decide as peremptorily as if they had been placed all their lifetime at the helm of the state, and had assisted at the council of kings; who are never more deceived than in those circumstances in which they display some share of penetration; writers as absurd in the praises as in the blame which they bestow upon nations, in the favourable or unfavourable opinion they form of ministerial operations: these idle dreamers, in a word, who think they are persons of importance, because their attention is always engaged on matters of consequence, being convinced that courts are always governed in their decisions by the most comprehensive views of profound policy, have supposed that the court of Versailles had neglected Santa Cruz, merely because they wished to abandon the small islands in order to unite all their strength, industry, and population, in the large ones; but this is a mistaken notion. This determination arose from the farmers of the revenue, who found that the contraband trade of Santa Cruz with St Thomas was detrimental to their interests. The spirit of finance hath in all times been injurious to commerce; it hath destroyed the source from whence it sprang. Santa Cruz continued without inhabitants, and without cultivation, till 1733, when it was sold by France to Denmark for 3,750l. Soon after the Danes built there the fortres of Christianstadt. Then it was that this northern power seemed likely to take deep root in America. Unfortunately, she laid her plantations under the yoke of exclusive privileges. Industrious people of all sorts, particularly Moravians, strove in vain to overcome this great difficulty. Many attempts were made to reconcile the interests of the colonists and their oppressors, but without success. The two parties kept up a continual struggle of animosity, not of industry. At length the government, with a moderation not to be expected from its constitution, purchased, in 1754, the privileges and effects of the company. The price was fixed at L.412,500, part of which was paid in ready money, and the remainder in bills upon the treasury, bearing interest. From this time the navigation to the islands was opened to all the subjects of the Danish dominions. Of 345 plantations, which were seen at Santa Cruz, 150 were covered with sugar canes, and every habitation is limited to 3000 Danish feet in length, and 2000 in breadth. It is inhabited by 2136 white men, by 22,244 slaves, and by 155 freedmen.

**Santa Cruz**, in Teneriff. See **Teneriff**.

**Santa Cruz**, a town of Africa, on the coast of Barbary, and in the province of Suez and kingdom of Morocco, with a harbour and a fort. The Moors took it from the Portuguese in 1536. It is seated at the extremity of Mount Atlas, on the Cape Aguier. W. Long. 10° 7'. N. Lat. 30° 38'.

**Santa Cruz de la Sierra**, a town of South America, and capital of a province of that name in Peru, and in the audience of Los Charcas, with a bishop's see. Santalu, see. It is seated at the foot of a mountain, in a country abounding in good fruits, on the river Guapay. W. Long. 59° 35'. S. Lat. 20° 40'.

Santa Fe de Bogota, a town of South America, and capital of New Granada, with an archbishop's see, a supreme court of justice, and an university.

The city is situated at the foot of a steep and cold mountain, at the entrance of a vast and superb plain. In 1774 it contained 1770 houses, 3246 families, and 16,233 inhabitants. Population must necessarily increase there, since it is the seat of government, the place where the coin is struck, the staple of trade; and lastly, since it is the residence of an archbishop, whose immediate jurisdiction extends over 31 Spanish villages, which are called towns; over 195 Indian colonies, anciently subdued; and over 28 missions, established in modern times. This archbishop hath likewise, as metropolitan, a sort of inspection over the dioceses of Quito, of Panama, of Caracas, of St Martha, and of Carthagena. It is by this last place, though at the distance of 100 leagues, and by the river Magdalena, that Santa Fe keeps up its communication with Europe. There are silver mines in the mountains about the city. W. Long. 60° 5'. N. Lat. 3° 58'.