In a message dated 7/18/02 10:56:18 AM, alfredjprufrock at club-internet.fr writes: << so i won't talk about the US, but it seems to me the colonies and the sugar trade was very instrumental in 17th century french wealth, at least. >> I'm not trying to be touchy, only clear. The above is true, but the wealth creators are the French, not the cane cutters.