SECOND EDITION. XXIX 



" and worthy kings." After several unsuccessful attempts, 

 the introduction of the Bread Fruit was happily accomplished, 

 in January 1793, by the arrival at St. Vincent of his majesty's 

 ship Providence, captain WILLIAM BLIGH, and the Assist- 

 ant brig, captain NATHANIEL PORTLOCK, from the South 

 Seas ; having on board many hundreds of those trees, and a 

 vast number of other choice and curious plants, in a very flou- 

 rishing condition ; all which have been properly distributed 

 through the islands of St. Vincent and Jamaica, an^ already 

 afford the pleasing prospect that his majesty's goodness will be 

 felt to the most distant period.* Tbe cultivation of these va- 

 luable exotics will, without doubt, in a course of years, les- 

 sen the dependance of the sugar islands on North America for 

 food and necessaries ; and not ordy supply subsistence for fu- 

 ture generations, but probably furnish fresh incitements to in- 

 dustry, new improvements in the arts, and new subjects of 

 commerce ! 



The assembly of Jamaica, co-operating with the benevo- 

 lent intentions of his majesty, have lately purchased the mag- 

 nificent botanical garden of Mr. East,f and placed it on the 



* Extract of a letter to Sir JOSEPH BANKS, from the Botanic gardener 



in Jamaica ; dated December 1793. 



" All the trees under my charge are thriving with the greatest luxuri- 

 ance. Some of the bread fruit are upwards of eleven feet high, with leaves 

 thirty-six inches long j and my success in cultivating them has exceeded 

 my most sanguine expectations. The cinnamon tree is become very 

 common, and mangoes are in such plenty as to be planted in the ne- 

 gro-grounds. There are also several bearing trees of the Jaack or bas- 

 tard bread fruit, which is exactly the same as the nanka of Timor. We 

 have one nutmeg plant, which is rather sickly, &c. &c. 



f On the death of HIMTON EAST, Esq. the founder of the botanic 

 garden, it became the property of his nephew, EDWARD HYDE EAST, 

 Esq. barrister at law, and member of parliament for Gieat Bedwin, \vho 

 with gieat generosity offered it to the assembly of Jamaica, for t'ne use of 

 the public, at their own price. 



