BOOK II. CHAP, VIII. 165 



The firft vifit paid to the Hygasian fount is generally attended 

 with fome terror ; but this foon wears off; and I have known 

 ladies, who, from a very cautious fnail's pnce, proceeded gradually 

 to a quick trot, and at laft to a hand-gallop, along this road, em- 

 boldened by habit, and animated by the infpiriting effeils of the 

 water. To prevent getting wet with ludden fliowers, which fre- 

 quently defcend from the furrounding cloud-cnpped fummits, little 

 (heds are erefted at fliort intervals, ftretching acrofs the road, under 

 which the bobelins may take refuge. Thefe fliowers are generally 

 tranfient, though fometimes heavy while they lafl. The hill-fide 

 along the road, for the moft part, confifts oi Jirala and large mafles 

 of a brown, brittle flone, which Aides off in thin flakes, fmooth, 

 and fliining. The foil above is a deep, rich mould, chiefly vege- 

 table ; and it abounds with fnull rills of very fine water. The 

 extraordinary cures performed by the Bath-fpring induced the le- 

 giflature of the ifland, from motives of humanity, to take it under 

 their fandion, and extend fo noble a remedy to thofe poor inhabi- 

 tants who might want the means of procuring fubfiftence and me- 

 dical advice, whilft under its operation. They formed the town 

 into a corporation by law j granted it a public fcal ; diredled the 

 manner of laying out and afligning the lots of ground ; caufed 

 thirty Negroes to be purchafed, for keeping the road leading to the 

 fpring in conflant good repair, and planting vegetable provifions 

 for the ufe of poor peifons reforting hither ; and appointed a libe;al 

 falary for a phyfician, to be refideiit in the town, atid adminifter to 

 the poor gratis. For the better accommodation of the latter, they 

 founded an liofpltal in the fquare, divided into convenient wards and 

 apartments. The reigning fpirit of the inhabitants zealoufly feconded 

 thefe charitable provifions. Many pcrlons of fortune took up lots, 

 and began to eredl houles. The Iquare was foon adorned with the 

 hofpital, a public lodging-houfe, and a billiard-room. It became 

 the fafhion every year for a crowd of company to aflemble here 

 from all quarters of the ifland. The pow'ers of mufic were exerted; 

 the card-tables were not idle; and, in fliort, from a dreary defert, 

 it grew into a fcene of polite and fecial amufements. This (alas !) 

 was of no long continuance. The unfortunate [lolitical divifions, 

 which afterwards prevailed iluring the adminilbation of a certain 

 2 hot- 



