26 JAMAICA. 



fame fpirit of jealoufy which I have before noticed, and the difin- 

 clination of many to confider it as a matter of general benefit to the 

 ifland, the fcheme was laid afide [k]. So that perfons, trav 1 ng by- 

 land to and from Kingfton, or the Eaftern divifion of the ifland, 

 are obliged to ford or ferry over the river, and very frequently at 

 the peril of their lives. Ridiculous as the prejudices of faftion 

 are in (b fmall a community, yet they are capable of producing 

 milchievous effeds. Publick fpirit, and a liberal way of thinking, 

 naturally tend to the ornament and improvement of every country 

 where they refide. The contrary, or a perverfe and felfiili principle, 

 excludes every thing that is great and generous from its narrow 

 view, and wages eternal war againft the public welfare. I am 

 forry to fay the latter rule of conduft has been too predominant 

 in this ifland ; but we will hope for a time when good fenfe and 

 redlitude of heart ihall triumph over this falfe and groveling po- 

 licy. The flreets of the town, I have remarked, are rendered in- 

 conveniently narrow by piazzas added to moft: of the houfes ; the 

 worft efFed arifing from their want of due breadth is a great in- 

 creafe of heat during the fultry months of the year, the wind not 

 having fpace enough to circulate freely through them, and dif- 

 perfe the confined air, which becomes very difagreeable from the 

 refledion of fo many brick walls. They are repaired with pebbles 

 brought from the river-courfe, which prevents their being clogged 

 with mud, asfome other towns of the Wefl:-Indies are, and anfwer 

 the end of a regular pavement, by not admitting the rain-water 

 to ftagnate. They are kept tolerably clean by a publick fcavenger, 

 paid by an annual affeffment on the houfes; and the filth colle£led 

 from them is removed to certain places appointed on the outfide 

 of the town. 



The church-yard, being fituated in the windward part of the 

 town, is very injudicioufly allotted for the common burial-ground. 

 Dry weather occafions numberlefs chafms in it ; and the wet, which 

 ulually fucceeds, infinuating through thefe apertures into the graves, 



[k] It is true, an aft was pafled in 1767, and truftees named for carrying it into execution. 

 )5ut, as tills aft only empowered them to receive 5000/. from any perfons inclined to contribute 

 towards it by voluntary fubfcription, it feetns to have given no other power than what might have 

 been exercifed wiihout it. 



there 



