Description

William Walton (?1783-1857) was British agent at Santo Domingo (Haiti), over which the British had briefly fought with the French before it proclaimed its independence in 1804. Returning to England in 1809, he began to write on Spanish and South American affairs. The Present State of the Spanish Colonies was published in two volumes in 1810. Volume 1 deals with the island colony of Hispaniola (now divided between the Dominican Republic and Haiti). Walton discusses the history and geography of the island, and particularly the natural resources and wildlife. Volume 2 examines the history and resources of the Spanish settlements in South America, describing the Indian, Spanish and Creole inhabitants and their culture, and the relationship of the colonies with Spain. There is much of interest in his study of the origins and culture of the native tribes, and the impact on them of colonization and religious conversion.