CHAP, v.] WEST INDIES. 237 



six shillings and three pence. Silver coins are Spanish 

 milled dollars at six shillings and eight pence, and so 

 in proportion for the smaller parts of this coin; the 

 lowest coin is called a bitty equal to about five pence 

 sterling. A guinea passes for thirty-two shillings and 

 six pence. This however is considerably more than 

 the usual rate of exchange, by which . IOC sterling 

 gives ^.140 currency. 



From the situation of this island amidst potent and 

 envious rivals, and the vast disproportion between the 

 number of white inhabitants, and the slaves, it may 

 be supposed that the maintenance of a powerful and 

 well-disciplined militia, is among the first objects of 

 the policy of the legislature : accordingly all persons, 

 from fifteen to sixty years of age, are obliged by law 

 to enlist themselves either in the horse or foot, and to 

 provide at their own expense the necessary accoutre- 

 ments; but this law, I doubt, is not very rigidly en- 

 forced, as the whole militia, which is composed of 

 three regiments of horse and fourteen regiments of 

 foot, does not consist of much more than 8,000 effec- 

 tive troops; neither do the usual employments and 

 habits of life, either of the officers or privates, con- 

 duce very much to military subordination. J How- 



J The following is a return of the cavalry and infantry on the 



January 1792 : 



Cavalry. Infantry. Total. 



County of Surry 366 2,141 2,477 



Middlesex 375 2,647 3,022 



Cornwall 368 2,305 2*673 



Effectives - - - 8,172 



