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and order and fccuiity of the feveral branches of the revenue, fuch as the Secreta- 

 ries, Receiver-generals [a), Commifiioners, Controllers, and naval officers, Sec. 



The ifland was no fooner fettled under this agreeable form of government than it 

 began to profper; the fettlers became daily more numerous and began to carry their 

 induftry further into the country ; the woods began toopen,and the lands to yield the 

 recompence of the labourers toil in every field ; the parifh of St. Katharine's was al- 

 ready open and well inhabited j the fettlcments in St. David's, St. Andrew s, Fere, 

 and Clarendon were very thick, and the marks of induftry beginning to appear in the 

 moil: remote parts of the ifland -, to which the wealth of Port Royal, the feat of the 

 moneyed-men, and the trade lately eftablifhed thereby the Ailiento contract (b), had 

 greatly contributed. Port Royal was then probably the richeft fpot of its fize in the 

 ■world, nor could any people live more at their eafe, or in greater luxury, than the 



inhabitants of St. jfago de la Vega, or Spanifo-town ; when, on the 7th of Ju 

 1692, a moft terrible earthquake (c) came on, which in a very little time dc/lroyed 



that famous and opulent town the gi iteft part of its houfes, wealth, and inhabitants be 



ingburied in the common ruin, many fathoms under water. Nor wasthedeftruclionof 

 Port Royal the only misfortune the iiland had fuftained by this dreadful (hock ; moll of 

 the heavy buildings were every where deftroyed j the (battered mountains ruined many 

 of the neighbouring fettlements in their fall; and a general ficknefs enfued, which 

 fwept away numbers of thofe that efcaped the firft calamity. The terror with which 

 people were ftruck on this dreadful occafion, put every thought of order and induftry 

 out of the minds of the remaining few, nor was any thing but confudon and diforder 

 to be feen throughout the ifland ; fuch as efcaped the deftrucf ion of Port Royal could 

 no longer think of redding there, and the generality of thofe who had depended 

 before on their growing fettlements, now reduced to the (late of beginning fettlers, 

 could find no means of reftoring the ufual order to their affairs ; by which the ifland 

 was again laid almoft defolate. 



But as thofe who efcaped the common calamity began to recover from the fright, 

 they endeavoured to regulate their affairs, and to renew that fpirit of induftry which 

 had formerly manifefted itfelf in every fettlement, and furni(hed the vigilant and 

 laborious with affluence ; mod: of the principal people who had efcaped the fate of 

 Port Royal, and the greater part of thofe who depended on their credit and friends 

 in England, having refolved to fettle on fome part of the main land, which they 

 wifely judged to be more fafe, and nearly as convenient as the former. This gave the 

 firltrifeto the fettlement of the town of Kingjlon i which, for con veniency, regularity 



(a) The Receiver of his Majefty's Revenues in that Ifland, was, by a late regulation, alfo appointed 

 Receiver of the public duties ; but the law has not yet obtained the royal afiint. 



t r > tm ■ . rt iJ* *^-- 1 i r . if fS.~ 



[b) This contract was made in 1690, and 



managed for 



many years by Don 'J ago del C iflcUo> who 



was knighted by king JVilUam^ and generally known by the name of Sir James i '/led : he refide'd 

 many years in that ifland, and built a very fpacious and well fortified houfe about a mile or two to the 

 eaft of the harbour ofKbigjioni but it is now in ruins. 



(t) At this time the ifland of Jamaica was in a very flourifhing condition ; the white inhabitants were 

 very numerous, and computed to amount to 16000 fouls at leaft; of thefe St. Katherim s was deemed 





to maintain 6270, Port Royal $500, St. John's 996, St. Andrew's 1552, Clarendon 1430 , St. David's 

 969, St. Thomas in the Eaft 590, and the more remote fettlements about 2000. 



The earthquake came on between n and 12 at noon, and in lefs than three minutes fhook down or 

 funk nine tenths of the opulent and populous town of Port Rsyal. The wharfs firft gave way, and foon 

 after the greateft part of the town ; while the remainder was overflown to the upper rooms* This was 

 no fooner over than the ftreets began to gape, and fwallowed up numbers of thofe that thought to feci: 

 for fafety in the open air ; of whom feveral were again returned, fome by the fame, and fome by 

 difrant apertures, either in the town or in the harbour indiscriminately. Nor was Port Royal the only 

 place that felt the effects of this dreadful fhock, which was fo univerfal as to be felt in many very diftant 

 parts of the world ; the mountains rumbled, cracked and opened in feveral places ; thofe at the entrance 

 of Sixteen-mile walk) whofe interval yields a paflage to the Rio Cobie^ were clofed together, and the 

 courfe of that large river left dry to the fea for fome days: and, on the north fide of this ifland, a fpace of 

 r.bout 1 ceo acres, with its Settlements and inhabitants, was alfo funk under water. There was no lefs 

 than 3000 people loft by this dreadful fhock, and a general ficknefs enfued, which, with the other mi* 



feries the conftant companions of fo univerfal a diforder, left the ifland almoft defolate. 



and 



