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156 1795 provinces" [E & W. Florida] "have belonged to Spain for thirteen years, yet there are very few Spaniards here. such is also the case with Louisiana. Except the military, custom house officers, & persons holding places under government, there are not perhaps a hundred Spanish families through-out this large plain. The bulk of the inhabitants consist chiefly of French, who had settled here originally, and of Germans, who have remained here, after the cession of the country to Spain. Some French, English & Spanish families, are proprietors of lands, but they are few. almost all the lands belong to the Crown, which neither sells nor grants them for a ground rent, but always gives them away at pleasure. This power rests in the hand of the Governor, who receives money for it, but who insures the possession only so long as he holds his situation." xxxxxx "It must be a matter of surprize, to find that the whole of West Florida, which belongs to Spain, is supplied with European goods from England. This, however, is true; and can only be attributed to the laziness of the Spaniards. The crown has granted to two English houses, one of which trades under the firm of Penton & [?Eorner?], the exclusive privelege of supplying the