BOOK If. CHAP. VII. 39 



lioufc. Each fide, througli a fecret jealoufy, is too apt, by an uni- 

 form fvftem of oppofition, to rejedl various meafures of public uti- 

 lity, which are greatly wanted, for the improvement and general 

 benefit of the ifland. It is much to be regretted, that fuch ani- 

 mofities (hould (till prevail ; and more fo, that caufe fhould be given 

 for keeping them alive. An artful and malevolent governor alone 

 could wifli to foment the fpirit of dilcord, with a view of turning 

 it to his own advantage, by fiding with the flronger party, and thus 

 acquiring a fet of advocates ready to promote or vindicate his rapa- 

 cious and unjufl: proceedings. A wile and good governor will think 

 he befl ferves the king and his iubjefts by fleadily difcouraging 

 every attempt towards re-kindhng this deftructive flame. 



The fituation of this town, (o centrical with refpect to the whole 

 ifland, renders Jt^extresiiely convenient for holding the chief courts 

 of juflice ; and to this end it is ftill further adapted, as being un- 

 difturbed by the noife and tumult ufuai in places of great trade. 

 The records are fafer here; becaufe, upon the invalion of an enemy, 

 it is too diftant from the feacoafl: to be firfl: attacked, and there 

 would be ample time for removing them into Sixteen-mile-walk ; 

 or, fl:ill further, to the inmofl: recefles and fortrefles of'the ifland, 

 for their fecure prelervation. Thus, although the town might be 

 afterwards taken and plundered, the records would be fafe ; nor 

 could an enemy follow them expeditioufly, if they may be fup- 

 pofed an objeft worth acquiring ; the road leading to Sixteen-mile-, 

 walk being full of places proper for ambu leading, or eafily ren- 

 dered impafl'ible by felling of trees, and throwing down fome of 

 thofe huge rocky maiTcs which over»hang it. The town ferves be- 

 fides as a grand flore-houfe, or magazine, for fupplying great part of 

 the county of Middlefex with articles of cloathing, hufljandry, 

 falt-provifion, and other neceflaries, mort: of whicli are brought 

 from Kingflon, which therefore is very much benefited by this ex-. 

 tenfion of its inland commerce ; an advantage it would not, in all 

 likelihood, enjoy without the affillance of Spanifh Town ; for, in 

 this cafe, not only the confumption of fuch articles muft be greatly 

 diminiflied, but many of the planters would probably rather import 

 what they wanted, or eftablifh a new mart at Paflage Fort, as being 

 far more convenient for their bufinefs than Kingfton. Confidered 

 4 aho 



