jo^ JAMAICA. 



general Hate of air is found to approximate nearcfl: to that of the 

 Southern provinces of Europe. 



The account I have given of thefe mountains is, I confefs, very 

 imperfea ; no peifon, I believe, has hitherto vifited them with the 

 profefled defign of examining all their natural productions, or ob- 

 taining a regular information of the temperature of their at- 

 iiiofphere througI:iout the year, or of afcertaining their height by 

 accurate barometrical obfervations. Taikj of this fort are referved 

 ior men who are at entire leifurc from tlie avocations of bufinefs 

 and office ; and who, to the incentives of a laudable curiofity, can 

 join all the abilities, both of genius and fortune, that are neceflary 

 to purfue its full gratitication. There is good reafon to believe, 

 ihat a gentleman who is duly qualified to explore them would 

 meet with ample materials to recompenfe his toil ; and it is greatly 

 to be wiflied, that they may undergo a further fcrutiny. Sir Hans 

 Sloane poflefied all that difcernment and knowledge requifite for a 

 cultivation of natural hiftory. But he was fettered by the duties 

 of the place he enjoyed under the duke of Albemarle ; and, befides, 

 the ifland was, in his time, in fo rude a ilate, that it might have 

 been impradlicable for him to have examined much of its moun- 

 tainous diftri6ts, even if he could have found fufficient leifurc. 

 And hence the many inaccuracies in his work; for he was obliged 

 to rely chieflv on the writings and informations of other men, for 

 want of opportunity to ground his defcriptions on the refult of his 

 own perfonal experience. Much ufeful information of thefe in- 

 terior regions might perhaps be gained, if the aflembly of the 

 ifland were to grant an annual peniion of three or four hundred 

 pounds fterling to lome perfon thoroughly qualified in the branches 

 of natural ftudy : I mean thofe in particular which have relation to 

 agriculture, hulbandry, food, medicine, minerals, and conimerce. 

 The advantages to be reaped from fuch an appointment would de- 

 pend on the ability and fpirit of the perfon chofen. In the prelent 

 age, it would not be difficult to engage one competently qualified ; 

 fince there never was a period in which this ftudy employed fuch 

 numbers of ingenious men in our mother-country. This patriotic 

 ardour for promoting fcience in general, and in particular natural 

 hiftory and hulbandry, has not been confined to focieties only: 



private 



