STUDY XIII, 



147 



the palmift. The cocoa-tree, which is a treafurc 

 to the Eaft-lndies, comes to great perfedion in 

 our iflands, and fcarcely any ufe is made of the 

 fruit, or of the threaden hufk that covers it. They 

 cuhivate indigo, but employ it in no procefs 

 whatever of dying. Sugar, then, is the only ar- 

 ticle of produce which is there purfued through 

 the feveral necelTary procefles, becaufe it cannot 

 be turned to commercial account till it is manu- 

 faflured ; and, after all, it muft be refined in Eu- 

 rope, before it attains a ftate of full perfedion. 



We have had, it muft be admitted, fome fedi- 

 tious infurredions in our Colonies ; but thefe have 

 been much more frequent in their ftate of weak- 

 nefs than in that of their opulence. It is the inju- 

 dicious choice of the perfons fent thither, which 

 has, at all times, rendered them the feat of difcord. 

 How could it be expeded that citizens, who had 

 difturbed the tranquility of a long eftabliftied ftate 

 of Society, (hould concur in promoting the peace 

 and profperity of a rifing community ? The Greeks 

 and Romans employed the flower of their youth, 

 and their moft virtuous citizens, in the planration 

 of their colonies ; and they became themfelves 

 kingdoms and empires. Far different is the cafe 

 with us : bachelor-foldiers, feamcn, gownmen, 

 and of every rank ; officers of the higher orders, 

 fo numerous and fo ufelefs, have filled ours with 



L z the 



