-22 CUBA AND PORTO RICO 



Fifteen miles west of Kingston is the interesting old 

 Spanish Town (population five thousand), which until 

 late years was the political capital of the island. Its 

 original name was Santiago de la Vega, and it was settled 

 1 y Diego Columbus in 1525. The administrative buildings 

 of the colony, rather imposing structures, including an 

 ornate arcade with a statue of Admiral Rodney, are situ- 

 ated here, but are now unused. The town has an air of 

 peace and quiet. Although the seat of a large population, 

 there is no evidence of business activity, and the most 

 interesting feature of the city is the old church and church- 

 yard, where the inscriptions of the tombs recall lives and 

 events in the past history of Jamaica. Among these is 

 one which cannot but touch the hearts of Americans. It 

 is a marble slab at the right of the south door, near the 

 middle of the churchyard, and bears the following inscrip- 

 tion: 



EN 

 MEMORY OF 



GEORGE WASHINGTON REED, 



Master Commandant in the Navy of the 



United States. 



Born at Philadelphia, May 26th, 1780. 



Captured in the U. S. Brig of War Vixen, 



Under his command, 



By H. B. M. Frigate Southampton; 



He died a Prisoner of War at this place, 



January 4th, 1813. 



Unwilling to forsake his companions in Captivity, 



He declined a proffered parole, and sunk under a 



tropical Fever. 



THIS STONE 



Is inscribed by the hand of affection 



as a memorial of his virtues, 



and records the gratitude of his friends 



For the kind offices which 



in the season of sickness and hour of 



Death He received at the hands of 



A generous Foe. 



